Pertamina explores rig-to-CCS collaboration with KNOC

Pertamina, Indonesia's state-owned energy company, has formed a strategic collaboration for the development of rig-to-carbon capture storage (Rig-to-CCS) with the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), it said on January 10.

Rig-to-CCS is an initiative focused on repurposing decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms into advanced CCS facilities.

"I highly appreciate this collaboration. Apart from enriching carbon capture and storage studies, this collaboration also helps address Indonesia's challenges regarding abandonment and site restoration (ASR) of offshore platforms," Nicke Widyawati, president director of Pertamina, said.

ASR poses a distinctive challenge due to the considerable number of offshore oil and gas platforms that are no longer operational after decades of use. Widyawati talked about the high cost associated with conventional ASR or decommissioning, making an alternative solution crucial for the gradual and efficient implementation of ASR for these platforms.

Oki Muraza, Pertamina's senior vice president of research and technology innovation, noted that beyond rig-to-CCS, the collaboration with KNOC holds the potential to expand into the development of other low carbon business sectors' technologies.

"This collaboration could be extended to the development of rig-to-wind farm, rig-to-fish-farm (offshore aquaculture), and rig-to-LNG terminal to transport natural gas to locations where energy facilities are yet to be established," said Muraza.