Publications

The Mandu Field is one of the gas fields located in the South Mahakam Cluster within the Mahakam PSC operated by Pertamina Hulu Mahakam which was discovered in 1976 by M1. The faults divide the Mandu field into 4 compartments: east, central, west-1, and west-2 panels. E-M1 delineation well was drilled in 2007 at east panel and encountered 128m of gas. Another delineation well (W-M1) was drilled in 2011 at west-1 panel which showed mainly oil bearing reservoir instead of gas bearing despite its up-dip position compared to E-M1. The fact that oil was found at in the higher structural position triggered the questions regarding the fluid content of the central panel and how this phenomenon occurred in the Mandu Field. This paper will describe the �gas stripped oil� hypothesis to answer this phenomenon and to predict the fluid content of the central panel by considering kitchen and migration aspects. The results of this hypothesis are then used as a basis to propose one development well at the central panel in order to prove the presence of gas at this panel. In 2018, one development well was drilled at the north flank of the Central Mandu panel and showed very good results, which have unlocked the gas potential of this Panel. Following this positive result, another well is proposed to develop the remaining stakes in the Central Panel.