Pertamina Upstream East Kalimantan Conducts Infill Well Drilling

Penajam Paser Utara — PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT) is conducting development drilling of two infill oil and gas wells at the Kerindingan Field, offshore in the Makassar Strait, East Kalimantan, from February to March 2026.

“Infill oil and gas wells are additional wells drilled between existing oil and gas wells,” stated the General Manager of PHKT, Darmapala, in Penajam, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday.

Infill wells are additional wells drilled between existing wells to increase reserve recovery and optimise production from reservoirs that still possess potential. The development concept is focused on producing reserves at the top of structures that cannot be monetised through existing wells.

The plan to drill two infill wells represents a continuation of the success achieved in previous drilling operations. “Field development is carried out in stages, with 34 oil and gas wells recorded as drilled with significant cumulative production achievements,” he added.

The infill well drilling programme also ensures optimal utilisation of oil and gas reserves whilst prioritising workplace safety and operational efficiency.

The Kerindingan Field is one of the offshore fields located in PHKT’s Northern Operations Area (DOBU). PHKT manages a total of 14 fields.

The field was discovered through the drilling of exploratory well KER-1 in 1972 and commenced production in 1976. Since then, field development has continued in phases. As of July 2025, 34 wells have been recorded as drilled with significant cumulative production achievements.

Darmapala stated that drilling activities at the Kerindingan Field are part of PHKT’s strategy to maintain the sustainability of oil and gas field operations that have been producing for several decades.

The infill well drilling programme is expected to stimulate increased production whilst maintaining the Kerindingan Field’s contribution to company performance in 2026, according to Darmapala.