MIRI: Sarawak’s onshore oil and gas industry has been revived after nearly 50 years, with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and PETRA Energy Berhad (PETRA) announcing the successful commencement of first oil production from the Adong Kechil West (AKW) Early Production System (EPS) in Block SK433.
According to a statement today, the milestone builds on appraisal-development well drilling carried out at AKW in 2023, reflecting a Sarawak-led effort to rejuvenate and develop the state’s onshore petroleum resources despite the technical complexities of onshore reservoirs.
PETROS’ Senior Vice-President for Sarawak Resource Management, Datuk Abang Arabi Abang Narudin, said the achievement was about more than a project milestone.
“We are not just celebrating a successful project milestone, but the strength of the partnership that made it happen,” he said in the statement.
Abang Arabi added that PETROS, as Sarawak’s resource manager for onshore petroleum operations, remained committed to ensuring the responsible exploration and development of the state’s hydrocarbon resources through purposeful partnerships and operational excellence, creating long-term value for Sarawak and its people.
As a phased development approach, the EPS allows for early production while generating valuable reservoir and operational insights critical to future field development, with the data expected to support the integrated development of surrounding discoveries as an AKW cluster and sustain long-term gas supply.
The AKW is expected to produce up to approximately 800 barrels of oil per day.
The next phase of the AKW development will focus on delivering the production facilities and infrastructure needed to sustain gas supply for the Miri Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant project, targeted for commissioning by end-2027.
By unlocking Sarawak’s onshore petroleum resources, AKW is expected to strengthen supply resilience for Miri’s future energy needs and reinforce the state’s long-term energy security.
PETROS said the successful first oil at AKW validated the potential of Sarawak’s onshore hydrocarbon resources, adding that it remained committed to responsibly developing them for the benefit of Sarawak and its people.
