Petronas North Ketapang, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s energy giant Petronas, has revealed a new hydrocarbon discovery off the coast of Indonesia, Southeast Asia.

Petronas’ subsidiary has made its first hydrocarbon discovery at the Barokah-1 exploration well within the North Ketapang production sharing contract (PSC) offshore East Java, which the firm operates with a 51% interest, with Earthon North Ketapang and PT. Pertamina Hulu Energi North Ketapang holding the remaining 34% and 15% participating stakes, respectively.

Ahmad Faisal Bakar, Petronas’ Vice President of Exploration, commented: “The Barokah-1 discovery reinforces the compelling exploration potential we continue to see in the Northern Madura region, East Java.

“This encouraging result deepens our understanding of the basin’s prospectivity and strengthens PETRONAS’ drive for disciplined growth and to mature opportunities that can contribute to East Java’s durable energy landscape.”

The Barokah-1 well was spudded on November 30, 2025, and drilled to a true vertical depth subsea of 3,315.3 meters. Further studies are planned to be undertaken to fully evaluate the well results and determine the discovery’s potential.

Petronas claims that the latest hydrocarbon find complements the momentum of the ongoing Hidayah development project from the North Madura II PSC, which reached a final investment decision (FID) in October 2024, following an oil discovery in 2021.

Yuzaini Md Yusof, President Director of Petronas North Ketapang, stated: “We are grateful to the government of Indonesia and partners for their collaboration in enabling the drilling programme’s success, as we pursue responsible upstream growth that contributes to Indonesia’s energy sector.”

Aside from the North Ketapang PSC, the Malaysian giant operates the Ketapang, North Madura II, and Serpang PSCs offshore East Java, as well as the Bobara PSC offshore West Papua, and holds participating interests in six PSCs located onshore and offshore Sumatra, the Natuna Sea, East Java, and East Indonesia.

This comes shortly after Petronas handed out to OceanSTAR a 15-year firm charter period with extension options for the provision of lease, operation and maintenance of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) to support the Sepat redevelopment project offshore Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

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