Integrated Offshore Drilling for Tangkulo Gas Project

Global energy technology company SLB has been awarded multiple offshore drilling services contracts by Mubadala Energy for the Tangkulo natural gas deepwater development and associated exploration and appraisal activities in the Andaman Sea, offshore Indonesia. The project targets first gas before the end of 2028 and forms part of Indonesia’s long-term energy security strategy.

Scope Across the Full Well Life Cycle
Under the contracts, SLB will provide integrated drilling and well services covering the full well life cycle. The scope includes directional drilling, drilling fluids, cementing, wireline, slickline, coiled tubing, well testing, mud logging, and both upper and lower completions.

Delivering these services under a single integrated model is intended to streamline project execution in a deepwater environment, where coordination between multiple service providers can increase operational complexity and risk. By consolidating service lines, the operator aims to improve planning efficiency, reduce interface risks, and enhance operational reliability.

For deepwater natural gas developments, integrated service models are commonly used to manage high capital expenditure and technically demanding well programs, where precise execution directly affects well productivity and project economics.

Deepwater Technologies and Real-Time Monitoring
The Tangkulo development will leverage SLB’s offshore and deepwater technologies, including real-time downhole monitoring systems. Continuous acquisition of downhole data enables operators to track pressure, temperature, and formation characteristics during drilling and completion.

Real-time data transmission supports more accurate well placement, particularly in complex reservoirs where geosteering is required to remain within productive zones. In deepwater environments, where rig time is costly and logistics are constrained, data-driven decision-making can reduce non-productive time and mitigate operational risk.

Enhanced monitoring also contributes to well integrity management by allowing early detection of abnormal conditions, supporting safer operations and reducing the likelihood of unplanned interventions.

Operational Context and Energy Security
The contracts were awarded through a competitive tender process and reflect the strategic importance of the Tangkulo field within Indonesia’s offshore natural gas portfolio. Exploration and appraisal drilling activities will accompany development drilling to further define reservoir potential.

Deepwater projects in the Andaman Sea require specialized drilling fluids, cementing strategies, and completion designs tailored to high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. Integrated service delivery can support schedule control and cost predictability in such technically demanding environments.

With first gas anticipated before the end of 2028, the Tangkulo development is positioned to contribute to Indonesia’s domestic gas supply and long-term energy security objectives. The combination of integrated offshore drilling services and real-time downhole monitoring reflects an approach focused on operational discipline, risk reduction, and improved project economics in deepwater natural gas development.