KUCHING: More advanced technology is needed to ensure exploration activities can be carried out in a viable and economical manner in western Sarawak, which holds significant potential for new oil and gas reserves.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said ongoing exploration efforts undertaken with industry partners, including the Sirung-Chenda development project, have shown positive progress, with some projects even ahead of their scheduled implementation timeline.

He said this would enable exploration activities to be expanded into new areas that have yet to be thoroughly explored.

“Personally, based on geological studies, it appears that oil and gas reserves can be explored along the coastal areas from Kimanis in Sabah down to Brunei Bay.

“After that, there are oil wells in Baram and in Mukah, including Balingian. From Balingian, exploration can continue further south because the area has yet to be fully explored, including western Sarawak.

“If we have new technology developed by PTTEP, perhaps we can carry out exploration and discover even more reserves in western Sarawak,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the contract signing ceremony between PTTEP Sarawak Oil Limited and Brooke Holding Sdn Bhd (BHSB) for the Sirung Production Platform Project at a leading hotel here on Tuesday.

The Sarawak Premier said oil producers were previously not attracted to explore the area due to high operating costs, while the reserves were also categorised as sour oil.

However, he explained that the latest technology is capable of separating carbon to produce sweet gas, while the carbon can be stored in line with the development of the carbon industry.

“With the development of this new technology, exploration activities can now be carried out,” he added. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photo: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Uilson Ng