PHE ONWJ Sweeps Karawang Waters for Suspected Gas Pipeline Leak

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java (PHE ONWJ) has conducted a sweep around the location of a suspected gas pipeline leak in the Ciparage waters, Karawang Regency, West Java. Manager Communication Relations & CID Regional Java, Pinto Budi Bowo Laksono, stated that the team immediately carried out a thorough check of the production system after receiving information about suspected gas bubbles around 5 miles from the Ciparage estuary. “The operational status of PHE ONWJ, located in the Karawang waters, was running normally as of Saturday afternoon,” he said. A video had previously circulated on social media from local fishermen recording air bubbles on the sea surface in the Karawang waters, which was alleged to be caused by a subsea gas pipeline leak. Pinto said that in response to the circulating information, the relevant PHE ONWJ team had conducted a comprehensive check of the production system. As of Saturday afternoon, all operational parameters at PHE ONWJ facilities, including pressure at the Uniform and KLA stations, were observed to be in normal condition. According to the check, no anomalous conditions or indications of significant pressure drops were found. The company deployed three vessel fleets and one security vessel to sweep the water area suspected to be the location of the bubbles on the sea surface. The sweep covered the area traversed by the pipeline route from the eastern side (KLA, KKNA, KKNB), the western area (KLXB), up to the X-Ray area. As a result, as of Saturday, the area was confirmed safe and no signs of leakage were found. After sweeping the location from Friday (24/7) to Saturday, the company confirmed that operational facilities in the area are in a safe condition and operating normally. As a precautionary measure and to ensure the overall security of the area, the company conducted a flyover covering the suspected incident area, including the northern coast of Karawang, up to the Uniform and KLA stations. The flyover monitoring results showed no signs of leakage in the area. Pinto conveyed that PHE ONWJ continues to coordinate actively with the authorities, relevant agencies, and community representatives, including local fishermen. “Information updates will continue to be provided in line with the development of further field observation results,” he said.