PHR Earns IOC Forum Recognition for Four AI-Driven Innovations
PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PHR) has demonstrated its technological prowess at the Integrated Operation Centre (IOC) Forum & Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Hackathon Hulu Migas 2026, organised by SKK Migas. The company received appreciation for four digital innovations based on artificial intelligence (AI). This achievement reinforces PHR’s position as a pioneer of digital transformation in Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas industry and demonstrates how the application of AI can deliver tangible impacts on operational efficiency, productivity, and national energy security.
Surya Widiantoro, Deputy for Exploitation at SKK Migas, explained that the competition aimed to refine and generate brilliant ideas from professionals and universities. He noted that such innovative competition is increasingly important given unpredictable global conditions. ‘The upstream oil and gas industry is the backbone of Indonesia’s economy. Oil and gas are the pillars,’ Surya stated in a written release on Friday (10/7/2026).
The four innovations cover various aspects of upstream oil and gas operations, ranging from rig operation optimisation and improved chemical stimulation success rates to asset protection via satellite imagery monitoring and fishing operation optimisation. Overall, these innovations have delivered significant impacts through increased productivity, operational cost efficiency, carbon emission reductions, and the creation of economic value amounting to trillions of rupiah.
PHR President Director Muhamad Arifin said the achievement is not merely a competition success but tangible proof that the Rokan Zone has evolved into an innovation laboratory for the national upstream oil and gas industry. ‘If we talk about Digital Innovation, the Rokan Block is the centre of excellence for the upstream subholding. What we have becomes a benchmark and anchor both in the zone and regionally,’ he explained.
The success also reflects strong cross-functional collaboration within PHR. Development teams comprised members from various disciplines, including subsurface, production operations, engineering, and information technology, who jointly designed solutions to address operational challenges in the field. This collaborative approach has produced innovations that not only boost efficiency but also enhance the quality of field decision-making through data and AI utilisation.
The four innovations are designed to tackle various upstream operational challenges. The first, i-RSS, is an AI-driven Integrated Rig Support Services platform that optimises drilling and workover operations, reducing Rig Non-Productive Time (NPT) by 71% and significantly cutting lost oil production. The second, AI-Chemist 2.0, leverages machine learning to improve the effectiveness of chemical stimulation programmes in the Duri heavy oil field, increasing the success rate from 55% to 86%. The third, LandGuard AI, uses high-resolution satellite imagery and AI to provide early warnings against land encroachment, safeguarding company assets and preventing potential production losses of up to 4,634 MBO. The fourth, JORUN AI, is an AI-powered decision support platform for fishing operations that helps determine the most effective strategy for recovering stuck equipment, thereby reducing non-productive time and operational costs.