Volume 2, issue #10 - 14-04-1997

Mar. 29, 1997 Indonesia's state oil company, Pertamina, has published a book on the potential of oil and gas deposits in Indonesia. The book, entitled "Petroleum Geology of Indonesia's Basins," and containing data of a study conducted by national oil experts of 60 sedimentary basins, was launched by Pertamina president Faisal Abda'oe. Of the 60 reported basins, 14 were already in production runs, while 22 others have not been explored. This indicated that great potential natural resources still remained untouched and could be developed, Abda'oe said.
The support of private local and foreign investors was needed to develop these resources, since such operations were normally highly capital intensive. In order to make oil and gas industrial activities more attractive and competitive, one of the important requirements was accurate geological data which should be readily available, Abda'oe added.
Petroleum geology of Indonesia basins also deal with nine main basins thought to hold substantial oil deposits. Five of the basins are located in the western region of Indonesia, notably in north, central and west Sumatra and East Java and Tarakan. Four others are located in the eastern part of the country, notably in Ceram, Banggai, Sengkang and Tanimbar. Exploration of basins nearing completion are those in southern Sumatra and Kutai (East Kalimantan), while the exploration of basins in the Natunas, Barito and Salawati are scheduled for completion this year.