ADES rig confirmed for offshore Indonesia Mako wells

Development drilling at the Mako Field in the Natuna Sea is due to begin in second-quarter 2027.

Conrad Asia Energy subsidiary West Natuna Exploration has executed a binding contract for a jackup rig to drill the Mako gas field development wells offshore western Indonesia.

Mako is in the Duyung PSC in the Natuna Sea. The contract for the Admarine 502 jackup rig is with PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia via the PDSI – ADES consortium.

The work scope covers drilling of six wells and installing the conductor support frame. The contract’s firm period is 180 days, with options to extend.

Operations should start during second-quarter 2027.

The wells will be tied back to a leased MOPU, with produced gas sent initially through a 59-km, 18-inch pipeline to the KF platform in the adjoining Kakap PSC, then onward through the WNTS pipeline to Indonesia’s domestic market.

Estimated capex to first gas is $320 million.

Conrad Asia Energy and its majority-owned subsidiary West Natuna Exploration Ltd. (WNEL) announced FID on the Mako gas project in early March.

Other offshore Indonesia news:

Courtesy INPEX
Map of Barong Working Area
The mid- to deepwater concession is in an area which has yielded several oil and gas discoveries.
June 3, 2026
ID 155728952 © Hyotographics | Dreamstime.com
Indonesia map and flag
bp and partners have secured three production sharing contracts across Indonesia’s latest licensing round, while the first offshore jacket for the Tangguh UCC development has ...
May 22, 2026
ID 155728952 © Hyotographics | Dreamstime.com
Indonesia map and flag
PT. Timas Supindo secures the SURF scope for Conrad Asia’s Mako gas development, and Eni reports standout test results from its giant Geliga‑1 gas-condensate discovery in the ...
May 8, 2026
Courtesy Conrad Asia Energy
Most key contracts provisionally placed for Mako gas project offshore Indonesia
The first-phase development will include six wells producing to a MOPU via subsea facilities.
April 29, 2026
Courtesy Eni
Jangkrik Field offshore East Kalimantan
The Miocene discovery, thought to hold 5 Tcf in place, could be developed jointly with the nearby Gula gas field to form the company’s third production hub in the region.
April 21, 2026
Courtesy Vallourec
Vallourec OCTG
Applications range from deepwater wells to bp’s carbon capture and storage development in Papua Barat.
March 27, 2026
Courtesy Saipem
Jangkrik Floating Production Unit
The North and South Hub developments will produce gas and condensate from four fields in the Kutei Basin, with a newbuild FPSO planned for the Geng North/Gehem fields.
March 23, 2026
ID 432978524 © Mohammed Sohail Khan | Dreamstime.com
Map of Indonesia and the Java Sea
Further studies are planned to evaluate the potential of the discovery and determine its commercial viability.
March 17, 2026

About the Author

Jeremy Beckman

Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.

Sign up for our eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates