Black Platinum selects concept for Dara East gas field development

Indonesia-focused Black Platinum Energy has prepared a preliminary plan of development for the Dara East gas field located in the North Sokang PSC in the East Natuna Sea which entails a central floating processing unit (FPU) and satellite wellhead platforms. The company is now looking for partners ahead of formal submission of the plan to relevant authorities. 

Following a recent increase in the discovered Dara East gas field P50 GIIP volume to 1,495 Bscf, Black Platinum has completed a Preliminary Plan of Development (PPoD) by LR Senergy for the Dara East gas field.

The field is located in 110m of water some 190km East of Natuna Island, which is the nearest landfall to be used as a shore base and for support facilities.

The company’s initial plans for the field Phase-1 PPoD is to drill and complete four subsea wells, and twelve wells from four wellhead platforms, targeting the two main reservoirs (UP-1A and LP-6). The wells have directional – horizontal profiles targeting 500m reservoir penetration. Secondary targets exist (in the UP 3 & UP 4) which will be flowed from the LP-6 wells as a later life contribution to production.

The company’s PPoD includes a central floating processing unit (FPU) and satellite wellhead platforms (WHPs). The produced gas would be exported via a new built 360km pipeline (third party owned and operated with a tolling fee for the produced Dara East gas) for tie-in to the West Natuna Transport System (WNTS).

The main elements of the proposed Dara East gas field facilities are a total of 23 wells, 18 off platform wells and 5 off subsea tie-back wells; six normally unmanned wellhead platforms; infield flowlines and umbilicals; central processing FPU (owned and operated by others); and tie-in to main export trunkline to WNTS (owned and operated by others).

An alternative development concept exists which involves replacing the FPU & pipeline with an FLNG vessel.

Monetization study

Meanwhile, the company recently completed an East Natuna Gas Monetization Study conducted by Wood Mackenzie which identified four “Tier 1” gas demonetization options for Dara East gas. These include Singapore pipeline gas sales into power and industry segments; Batam pipeline gas sales into power and industry segments (two options); and, FLNG long-term LNG sales to Asia-Pacific.

The study concluded that there is a market for East Natuna gas in Singapore and Batam for piped gas and long-term LNG sales to Asia-Pacific. The gas can be sold at a price attractive enough to support a Dara East gas field development at expected or forecasted international piped gas and domestic prices (provided by the new Government of Indonesian domestic gas regulation) or international LNG prices.

The company intends to aggressively seek potential partners/investors who can jointly develop and exploit the Dara East gas field before proceeding further to the submission of a formal plan of development to the government of Indonesia and undertaking other firm development activities. These include review and approving the existing PPoD and preliminary drilling and facilities engineering; deciding on a commercialization option e.g. FPU & Pipeline or FLNG solution; confirming gas markets and engaging with potential gas buyers; and undertaking a resource verification and reserve certification by the Indonesian Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology.

Larry Luckey, Acting CEO of Black Platinum, commented: “Capital expenditures for the Dara East gas field development are estimated at $400 million with recoverable resources estimated at 911 Bscf. The Dara Gas Field would be the first development in the East Natuna area with first gas as early as 2022/23 and could become a backbone for further development of oil and gas in East Natuna.

“Further, the Dara East gas field development offers existing Indonesian PSC operators or new entry players and excellent low cost /high growth opportunity in a strategic area.”