Saka Energi Records Positive Results from UPA-17ST Well Drilling in Pangkah PSC
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Saka Energi Indonesia (SAKA), an upstream oil and gas company under Pertamina’s Gas Subholding, through Saka Indonesia Pangkah Limited (SIPL), has completed the drilling of the UPA-17ST development well in the Ujung Pangkah field, Pangkah Working Area (WK Pangkah), located in the waters of East Java.
Based on well testing results conducted on 29 March 2026, the UPA-17ST well produced 2,443 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 3.72 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD) of associated gas.
SAKA’s Operations Director, Achmad Agus Miftakhurrohman, stated in Jakarta on Friday that this drilling success represents a significant achievement for the company in the WK Pangkah.
“The successful drilling of the UPA-17ST well is an important recent milestone following SAKA’s previous success in drilling and bringing online another development well, SID-05,” he said.
Achmad Agus continued that the production test results show very positive performance, and the well has been successfully brought online as part of efforts to increase production to support the fulfilment of national energy needs.
This achievement demonstrates that the Ujung Pangkah field, the first field developed in the WK Pangkah, still holds significant potential to continue contributing to production increases in the East Java region, he added.
The drilling of UPA-17ST began on 12 October 2025 from Well Head Platform-A (WHP-A) using the Jack Up Rig SinoOcean Peace and was successfully completed on 28 December 2025, followed by Well Intervention (WLI) including stimulation to optimise well production and ensure smooth hydrocarbon flow from the reservoir to the surface. The well has entered the production testing phase to determine the optimal production rate integrated into the field’s production system.
“The production results exceeding targets indicate very good reservoir potential as well as reflecting the effectiveness of technical planning, always prioritising safety, and the solid collaboration results from the entire internal team with partners and relevant stakeholders, especially SKK Migas Management along with other KKKS,” Achmad Agus added.
The UPA-17ST well is the longest reach drilling well ever conducted by SAKA and falls into the extended reach drilling (ERD) category.
This technology allows drilling to reach reservoirs far from production facilities, enabling more efficient reserve development without the need to build new platforms.
Operationally, this well drilling is a conversion from an idle well, presenting its own challenges, compounded by the horizontal section length in the ERD category.
Additionally, the drilling operation involved the use of expandable casing to anticipate the complexity of the rock layer characteristics penetrated, as well as the application of improved carbonate reservoir stimulation techniques.
“It is part of the company’s efforts to increase field development efficiency while maximising the utilisation of existing production infrastructure,” Achmad Agus added.
With production test results exceeding targets, the integrated UPA-17ST well is expected to add production, strengthen WK Pangkah’s contribution to national energy supply, and government lifting targets.
This success is proof of SAKA’s commitment to optimising field potential through technology application, production efficiency, and reliable operational management.
This success has also received a positive response from SKK Migas and is expected to increase national oil and gas production.
“Alhamdulillah, the results of the UPA-17ST development well drilling activity show very good outcomes,” said Djoko Siswanto, Head of SKK Migas.