Pertamina Hulu Energi OSES Launches Indonesia's First Offshore Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi OSES (PHE OSES) has officially commenced the implementation of Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) at the Offshore Rama Field, Southeast Sumatra Working Area (WK SES). This milestone was marked by a first polymer injection ceremony held at the RDTX Square Multipurpose Room, Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/7).

The ceremony was attended by Head of SKK Migas Djoko Siswanto, Commissioner of PT Pertamina (Persero) Raden Adjeng Sondaryani, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri, Vice President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Oki Muraza, Commissioners of Pertamina Hulu Energi Nanang Untung and Nepos MT Pakpahan, President Director of Pertamina Hulu Energi Sunaryanto, Director of Development and Production of Pertamina Hulu Energi Rachmat Hidajat, General Manager of PHE OSES Antonius Dwi Arinto, and President Director of PT Elnusa Litta Indriya Ariesca.

Prior to entering the implementation phase, the project underwent a comprehensive series of studies and evaluations, including subsurface studies, laboratory analysis, offshore engineering and operational design, as well as economic and risk management assessments. This polymer-based CEOR also passed an assessment and review process involving EOR experts within SKK Migas and Pertamina to ensure readiness from technical, operational, and safety aspects.

The CEOR at the Rama Field is not only an innovation aimed at increasing production but also serves as a means to obtain operational data, technical learning, and technology performance validation as a foundation for developing full-field CEOR implementation in the future.

In its execution, polymer flooding technology is applied by injecting a polymer solution into the reservoir to increase sweep efficiency, so that oil previously difficult to produce can be pushed towards production wells more optimally. This method is one of the EOR technologies to increase the recovery factor at an advanced stage in mature oil fields.

“Mature fields are not finished assets; they require innovation and new approaches. Today, through Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR), we are providing new ‘therapy’ for our reservoirs, extending their productive life, and proving that decades-old assets can still contribute significantly to national energy security,” said Simon Aloysius Mantiri, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero).