Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Pertamina’s upstream subsidiary and the operator of the ONWJ Block, said the drilling of a relief well had reached 540 meters, far below the targeted depth of 2,765 m.

PHE workers, with the help of international experts in the well control sector, had been attempting to stop the leak at the broken well, YYA-1, since Aug. 1, PHE spokesperson Ifki Sukarya said in a statement.

The oil spill caused by the leak at the well affected at least nine areas in Karawang, namely Tanjung Pakis, Segar Jaya, Tambak Sari, Tambak Sumur, Sedari, Cemara Jaya, Sungai Buntu, Pusaka Jaya Utara and Mekar Pohaci. Two beaches in Bekasi – Bahagia and Bakti beaches – were also affected. Reports also said that the spill reached Thousand Islands regency.

Previously, Pertamina upstream director Dharmawan Samsu said it would take eight weeks or until the end of September to fully shut down the broken well.

In addition to taking measures to terminate operations at YYA-1, PHE also said around 45 ships were deployed to overcome the oil spill on the surface of the sea, as oil had reached beaches in Karawang.

The total length of static oil boom equipment used to isolate and contain the spill is 4.7 kilometers, with four oil spill skimmers also being used to handle the accident.

The oil spill was due to a gas well kick – the release of gas caused by low pressure in a wellbore – on July 12 that worsened two days on.

The kick occurred beneath the ONWJ offshore platform, located 2 km north of Karawang.  (hen)