PHE Maps Oil and Gas Reservoirs for Regional Carbon Storage

JAKARTA, GARISBUMI.com – PT Pertamina Hulu Energi or PHE is mapping the potential for oil and gas reservoirs that have experienced a decline in production as well as salty aquifer layers in its work area to be developed as a carbon dioxide storage area.

This plan is part of the development of Carbon Capture and Storage or CCS and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage or CCUS technology which was introduced by PHE at the International Indonesia CCS Forum 2026 in Jakarta on 26 to 27 August 2026.

PHE assesses that Indonesia has the opportunity to become the center of a regional carbon storage network because it has geological potential, the area is close to a number of Asian countries, and the possibility of joint infrastructure development.

One of the areas being considered is Asri Basin. PHE sees this area as having the potential to be developed as a CCS hub that consolidates carbon dioxide from domestic and regional emission sources.

In developing CCS, carbon dioxide from emission sources is first captured, then transported and injected into geological formations that are deemed to meet the requirements for storing CO₂ in the long term.

PHE mentioned two types of formations that could potentially be used, namely depleted reservoirs or oil and gas reservoirs whose production has decreased, and saline aquifers, underground rock layers that contain high salt water.

PHE Corporate Secretary Hermansyah Y Nasroen said that the development of CCS and CCUS is part of the emission reduction strategy as well as opening up the possibility of creating new economic value for the upstream oil and gas industry.