Publications

Poleng Field, a Miocene carbonate reef complex which lies 30 km offshore from the Indonesian island of Madura, is an example of how the effective application of technology combined with committed team work can quickly increase production and recoverable reserves. This once abandoned field was revived as an economic venture, and the knowledge gained led to additional development and a separate new discovery.Acquisition and interpretation of a large regional 3-D marine survey in 1999 provided new insights into the depositional environment, reservoir distribution, and hydrocarbon migration for Poleng Field. Efficient drilling techniques reduced costs and increased drilling rates dramatically. Innovative reuse of the uphole section of exploration wells for subsequent directional and horizontal wells proved particularly effective in optimizing the location of horizontal development wells and cutting drilling time and costs. Logging while drilling technology shortened the drilling and evaluation time, and ideal placement of horizontal wells within the oil column allows maximum oil production without gas coning.Results clearly demonstrate the success of this approach. Within less than one year of acquiring the 3-D seismic, team work and integration of technology in geophysics, logging, and drilling, reservoir and production engineering have achieved rapid economic success in Poleng Field and led to a new discovery at KE-23 Field.