KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) Malikai field, located 100km offshore Sabah, achieved its first oil production on Sunday.
Oil was first discovered in the field, which is part of the Deepwater Block G, in 2004.
Petronas said in a statement it was the fourth deepwater project successfully implemented in Malaysia after the Kikeh, Siakap-North Petai, and Gumusut Kakap fields.
“Development of Malikai is one of the key elements of the Sabah integrated oil and gas project initiated by Petronas,” said Petronas Petroleum Management (Malaysia) vice-president Muhammad Zamri Jusoh.
“Thanks to the support from Shell as well as partners ConocoPhilips and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, we were able to pursue the Malikai development as a tieback to the Kebabangan platform for the oil processing prior to further export to the Sabah-Sarawak Integrated Oil and Gas Project.”
Zamri said Malikai had been integrated into Kebabangan, which constituted the Northern Hub, whereas Kikeh and Gumusut Kakap constituted the Southern Hub.
“Development of these hubs have generated significant value to Petronas and the nation as we strive to exploit more deepwater opportunities in Malaysia, especially in Sabah waters.”
Petronas said Malikai was Malaysia’s first deepwater Tension Leg Platform.
It was designed and fabricated in Malaysia and is capable of handling up to 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The Malikai field is operated by Shell (35 per cent) in partnership with ConocoPhilips Sabah (35 per cent) and Petronas Carigali (30 per cent).