"A number of researches show that we still have potentials, but currently, the potentials of large deposits are located in high-risk sites," Head of the Geological Survey Center, Eko Budi Lelono, said here Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Head of Oil and Gas Resources Division at the Geological Survey Center, Edy Slameto, added that exploration in high-risk sites was more difficult than that carried out 30 or 40 years ago.
This is because exploration should be carried out in a deeper ocean with a more sophisticated exploration methodology and technology.
"The efforts needed are greater. Do we still have the opportunity, I`m sure we do," Edy said after attending the 2018 oil and gas seminar entitled "Hunting for New Oil and Gas Fields in Indonesia".
The 2018 oil and gas seminar aims to discuss and disseminate geological and geophysical data from the Geological Survey Center which shows the potentials of hydrocarbons in areas with the most potential to have large oil and gas reserves, namely, Singkawang Barat and Kutai Basin in Kalimantan, Banyumas Basin in Central Java, and Agats Barat and Boka in Papua.
"The point of this seminar is to show data we have, so that the contractors will understand the real conditions in the field. If they want to explore the area, they know what data they can get from us," Eko said.
The contractors who are interested in exploring the new oil and gas fields can use data provided by the Geology Center, according to Edy.
Earlier, the Head of Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), Amien Sunaryadi, said oil and gas companies should find large oil and gas deposits.
"So far, Indonesian oil and gas companies have not found large deposits. We should encourage them to find these deposits," Amien said. Deposits are needed to enhance oil production as the domestic demand for oil are increasing, while the production of national crude oil is declining," he said.
Data obtained from the Special Task Force show that in September 2018 the volume of oil production was only around 775 thousand BOPD (Barrels Of Oil Per Day).
Reporting by Aji Cakti
Editing by Libertina, Suharto
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
