Jakarta, InfoPublik - PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) closed 2025 with the discovery of oil and gas resources in the Metulang Deep (MDP)-1x exploration well in the South Mahakam offshore area, East Kalimantan.
‘This success is clear evidence of the dedication and hard work of our exploration team in implementing the new exploration play concept in a mature area,’ said PHE Exploration Director Muharram Jaya Panguriseng in an official statement on Tuesday (6/1/2026).
The drilling of the MDP-1x well is part of PHE's Near Field Exploration strategy, which is being implemented as a quick win to enable faster production by utilising nearby oil and gas field facilities that have entered the mature field phase. ‘It is hoped that the discovery of contingent resources of Original Oil in Place (OOIP), estimated at around 106 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), can be developed immediately and contribute to national oil and gas lifting in order to achieve energy self-sufficiency and national energy security,’ said Muharram.
According to Muharram, since taking over the management of the Mahakam Block on 1 January 2018, PHM has drilled six exploration wells with a high success rate. Four of them have made discoveries, including the MDP-1x well, which is considered one of the most significant discoveries.
Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), Sunaryanto, as the Regional Kalimantan Subholding Upstream Pertamina, stated that exploration is a key factor in maintaining energy sustainability. ‘With the MDP-1x drilling discovery, we will immediately carry out development to encourage sustainable production growth, strengthen energy security in Kalimantan, and increase the reserve-to-production ratio or RtoP of Pertamina Hulu Indonesia,’ he said.
The MDP-1x well was successfully drilled to a measured depth of 4,260 metres, penetrating the Yakin Formation. Although the main target of the Yakin Formation could only be partially penetrated due to high pressure conditions, PHM successfully identified promising resource potential in shallower formations, namely the Sepinggan Carbonate Sequence (SCS) and Sepinggan Deltaic Sequence (SDS).
Based on the results of a drill stem test in the Sepinggan Carbonate Sequence (SCS) zone, which was a follow-up evaluation of the Manpatu-1x well discovery in 2022, it was confirmed that the carbonate and sandstone reservoirs in the zone have good production potential.
With a flow test interval of 25.5 metres, the well recorded a maximum flow rate of approximately 2,821 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and gas production of 5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).