PHE ONWJ Sweeps Karawang Waters for Suspected Gas Pipeline Leak

Karawang (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java (PHE ONWJ) has carried out a sweep of the area where a suspected gas pipeline leak was reported in the waters of Ciparage, Karawang Regency, West Java.

Manager of Communication Relations & CID Java Region, Pinto Budi Bowo Laksono, when contacted in Karawang on Saturday, said the team immediately carried out a thorough check of the production system after receiving information about suspected gas bubbles some 5 miles from Muara Ciparage.

“The operational status of PHE ONWJ (located in Karawang waters) remained normal as of Saturday afternoon,” he said.

Previously, a video circulated on social media, recorded by local fishermen, showing air bubbles on the sea surface in Karawang waters, allegedly caused by a leak in a seabed gas pipeline.

Pinto said that, in response to the circulating information, the relevant PHE ONWJ team had conducted a thorough check of the production system.

As of Saturday afternoon, all operating parameters at PHE ONWJ facilities, including pressure at the Uniform and KLA stations, were monitored as normal.

Based on those checks, he said, no anomalous conditions or indications of significant pressure drops were found.

The company deployed three vessels and one security vessel to sweep the sea area suspected to be the location where bubbles appeared on the 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. The result was that, as of Saturday, the area was confirmed safe with no signs of leakage found.

Thus, after sweeping the location from Friday (24/7) until Saturday, the company confirmed that operational facilities in the area were safe and operating normally.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure and to ensure the area’s safety comprehensively, the company conducted a flyover covering the suspected location, stretching from the northern coast of Karawang to the Uniform and KLA stations.

The flyover monitoring results showed no signs of leakage in the area.

Pinto said PHE ONWJ continued to actively coordinate with the authorities, relevant agencies and community representatives, including local fishermen.

“Information updates will continue to be provided as further field observations develop,” he said.