13 August 2025 – The Korea–Indonesia Research Cooperation Center (KIORCC), in collaboration with PIELDS Engineering, POSCO International, Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU), Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Samsung Heavy Industries, and partner institutions, convened a technical meeting in Jakarta to advance joint research and development (R&D) initiatives on offshore platform reutilization. The event brought together representatives from Indonesian ministries, state-owned enterprises, Korean research institutions, and industry players to review progress on two flagship projects: Rig to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and Rig to LNG Regasification.
Discussions opened with updates on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Offshore Service Industry between the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea, which is now in its finalization stage and expected to be signed in October. Indonesian ministries reiterated their support and underlined the importance of inclusive collaboration in shaping the forthcoming Implementing Agreement (IA) and Project Agreement (PA) for the project. From the Korean side, Mr. Kim Tae-Jin of PIELDS Engineering conveyed optimism for continued cooperation, noting that the strong foundation already established would ensure the project’s success. Echoing this, Dr. Devi Putra of PT Pertamina (Persero) highlighted the Rig-to-Reef pilot project as a milestone and emphasized that the current initiatives not only offer environmental benefits by enhancing marine life and reducing CO₂ emissions, but also opens the door to new opportunities such as LNG regasification and CCS. Pertamina reaffirmed its commitment to supporting future phases of the collaboration.
The Rig Reutilization R&D Project was presented by KIORCC, recalling its launch in September 2024 following the Joint Study Agreement between KMOUC, Pertamina, and Pertamina Hulu Energi. Since then, significant milestones have been achieved, including securing a Data Utilization Permit in November 2024, the signing of a Confidentiality Agreement in Busan in March 2025, and the convening of a Project Inception Workshop in May 2025. The project now moves toward the finalization of the IA and PA, which will define roles, financing, execution, and safety protocols essential for implementation on the government and business levels.
Attention then turned to the CCS R&D initiative, where POSCO International and its consortium partners outlined progress on CO₂ storage selection and pre-FEED studies for injection facilities up to 2 MTPA. The program, running until 2028, focuses on Offshore North West Java (ONWJ) fields. Preliminary volumetric assessments identified 12 fields with storage potential. KMOU presented capacity estimation using the USGS method and pointed to two fields as promising candidates for further study despite overall limited storage capacity. Complementing these findings, Samsung Heavy Industries showcased LCO₂ liquefaction and offshore injection technologies, while KIGAM stressed the importance of reservoir and caprock evaluation as a foundation for future deployment. The consortium underlined the need for expanded data sharing with Indonesian stakeholders and highlighted the necessity of clearly distinguishing between Rig-to-LNG (R2LNG) and Rig-to-CCS (R2CCS) in order to streamline project execution.
The discussion then moved to the R2LNG initiative, presented by PIELDS Engineering. The project aims to pilot LNG regasification facilities with a capacity of up to 20 MMSCFD on repurposed offshore platforms, running under a joint Indonesian–Korean team with oversight from a supporting committee. Platform selection is currently underway, supported by site surveys and candidate assessments. LEMIGAS proposed the potential use of a platform in Central Java, citing its strategic pipeline connection and solid integrity as key advantages. However, questions remain regarding availability and technical suitability. PIELDS emphasized that the final platform decision will depend on a consensus between Indonesia and Korea, with alternative options still under review.
The technical meeting concluded with a set of follow-up actions. Indonesian stakeholders and the Korean consortium agreed to hold regular Zoom meetings to review JSA deliverables, with ONWJ providing additional well data for the R2CCS program. In parallel, LEMIGAS, SKK Migas, and potential stakeholders will convene to further evaluate potential platforms for the R2LNG demonstration. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in offshore rig conversion, underscoring the shared ambition to drive technological innovation and advance sustainable energy development between Indonesia and Korea.
