KOTA KINABALU: Talisman Malaysia Limited is in the process of further developing its Kinabalu platform with plans to start the construction of a wellhead to link with the existing platform by next year.
“This is so that we can drill further production wells to maintain our production from the Kinabalu field,” said its acting country manager, Duncan Smart.
On the oil and gas company’s progress, Smart disclosed that its drilling rig left the Kinabalu platform beginning of August, having completed a drilling programme there.
“We drilled six new wells and are extremely pleased with the results because our production from the platform has increased by three times.
“So we are now producing at around 16 to 17 thousand barrels of oil per day, a progress we consider to be very successful,” said Smart, when met at the company’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house here yesterday.
He added that Talisman Malaysia is also currently drilling its second exploration well in Block 309, where they will be drilling two more wells next year.
“And after we finish that exploration programme, we will be moving to Block 310 for further exploration drilling,” added Smart.
He also noted how there are a lot of potential talents in Sabah to join the oil and gas industry, taking into account the state’s significant contribution to the production of Malaysia’s oil and gas.
“We’ve started with the sponsorship of the engineering undergraduates at the university. We hope that some of those undergraduates will progress and join the oil and gas business.
“We also do a lot of training support (programmes) with Petronas to develop talents both here in Sabah and the Peninsula. As we expand our activities and our operations, we will always look to see if there is any talent from Sabah to join our organisation,” he pointed out.
Other than its contribution in the education department which includes the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to offer 30 scholarships to young Sabahans pursing engineering courses at the university, Talisman has also provided a grant to benefit some 80 single mothers through the Bongawan District Single Mothers Association in a sustainable capacity building project through collaboration with PACOS-trust.
“It has not been just about oil and gas operations for us in Talisman Malaysia, hence, we are also passionate about helping the local communities in which we do business,” said Smart in his speech at the open house yesterday.
During the event, a total of RM100,000 was also equally donated to five charitable organisations, namely the Yayasan Nur Jauhar, Bukit Harapan, Don Bosco Children’s Home, Sabah Thalassaemia Society and Pusat PDK Mutiara Labuan.
The event was attended by the Head of State, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Datuk Mahiruddin and wife, Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Norlidah Tan Sri Datuk R.M. Jasni.
Some 70 children from various orphanages and special needs children homes around Sabah and Labuan were also present at the event.