According to Drilling Contractor, PETRONAS made a hydrocarbon discovery at the Barokah-1 exploration well in the North Ketapang Production Sharing Contract area offshore East Java, Indonesia. The well was spudded on November 30, 2025, and drilled to a total depth of 3,315.3 meters subsea, marking the first hydrocarbon find within the North Ketapang PSC. PETRONAS operates the project with a 51% stake, partnered with Earthon North Ketapang (34%) and Pertamina (15%).
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Drilling and completion services will see extended opportunities as PETRONAS evaluates the discovery and potentially develops additional wells in the North Ketapang area
- Marine support contractors could benefit from increased vessel demand as the company expands its East Java operations across multiple PSCs including Ketapang, North Madura II, and Serpang
- Engineering and geophysical services may find work in the upcoming evaluation studies to assess the discovery’s commercial potential and field development planning
