Petronas Makes New Hydrocarbon Discovery in Southeast Asia

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Petronas has confirmed a hydrocarbon discovery at the Barokah-1 exploration well in the North Ketapang Production Sharing Contract (PSC) offshore East Java, Indonesia.

The discovery was made by Petronas through its subsidiary Petronas North Ketapang, which operates the block with a 51% participating interest. Earthon North Ketapang holds a 34% interest, while PT. Pertamina Hulu Energi North Ketapang holds the remaining 15%.

The Barokah-1 well was spudded on November 30, 2025 and drilled to a total true vertical depth subsea of 3,315.3 meters.

Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the well results and determine the discovery’s development potential.

“The Barokah-1 discovery reinforces the compelling exploration potential we continue to see in the Northern Madura region, East Java. This encouraging result deepens our understanding of the basin’s prospectivity and strengthens Petronas’ drive for disciplined growth and to mature opportunities that can contribute to East Java’s durable energy landscape,” said Ahmad Faisal Bakar, Petronas Vice President of Exploration.

The discovery adds to ongoing upstream developments in the region, including the Hidayah Development Project in the North Madura II PSC, which reached final investment decision in October 2024 following an oil discovery in 2021.

Beyond the North Ketapang PSC, Petronas operates the Ketapang, North Madura II and Serpang PSCs offshore East Java, as well as the Bobara PSC offshore West Papua. The company also holds participating interests in six PSCs located onshore and offshore Sumatra, the Natuna Sea, East Java and East Indonesia.

Categories: Drilling Industry News Activity Asia Oil and Gas

Related Stories

Vantris Energy Secures Petronas’ Offshore Drilling Work Orders

India’s ONGC to Allocate Half of New Oil Storage to Strategic Reserves

Borr Drilling's Mexican JV Expands Fleet with Five Jack-Ups

Keppel Launches $2.9B Program to Monetize Legacy Offshore Drilling Rigs

Saipem Cuts Earnings Outlook as Middle East Costs Rise

Jadestone Energy Lifts Malaysia Production with Second Online Well

Arabian Drilling Set to Resume Ops with Three Offshore Rigs

Dolphin Drilling’s Blackford Dolphin Secures More Work for Oil India

Walking Into the Future: ADNOC Drilling Unveils First AI-Powered Island Rig

Jadestone Brings First Malaysia Campaign Well Online at 3,000 bpd

Current News

ConocoPhillips, CNOOC Put Penglai Field off China Into Full Operation

Mermaid Maritime Expands Into US Offshore Market

ONGC Nears Venezuela Operatorship Deals, Regains Russia’s Sakhalin-1 Stake

Fugro Secures India Deepwater Drilling ROV Contract

Vantris Energy Secures Petronas’ Offshore Drilling Work Orders

ADNOC, SLB Roll Out AI Platform Across More Than 120 Drilling Rigs

Oil Rises as Uncertainty Clouds US-Iran Peace Talks

India’s ONGC to Allocate Half of New Oil Storage to Strategic Reserves

Subsea7 Lands ‘Sizeable’ Contract for Work Offshore Brunei

FPSO for Azule Energy’s Angola Offshore Field Starts Taking Shape in China

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com