The regulation concerning the shale gas, explained Director General of Oil and Gas MEMR, Evita H. Legowo in the event of The 2nd Indonesia - US Energy Investment Roundtable in Four Seasons Hotel, Jakarta, Monday (6/2) is hoped finish this year together with the joint study of shale gas.
“It (regulation) supposed to be finished in 2011. However it was delayed, so we finished it 2012 with the joint study,” she says.
After the joint study predicted for 6 months, the government would decide whether the working areas would be bid or made as pilot project, like what ever happened with coal bed methane (CBM). One of the companies has proposed the joint study is ExxonMobil. The company cooperates with national enterprise forming a consortium.
Indonesian shale gas potency is predicted about 574 TSCF. It is bigger than CBM, which is about 453, 3 TSCF and natural gas 334, 5 TSCF.
Based on identification done by the government, up to now there are 7 basins in Indonesia containing shale gas and 1 in form of klasafet formation. The most basins are in Sumatera that are 3 basins such as Baong Shale, Telisa Shale and Gumai Shale. Meanwhile in Java and Kalimantan, there are two basins each. In Papua is in form of klasafet formation.
Shale gas is gas obtained from shale or the place where natural gas is formed. The needed process to change shale rock becoming gas is about 5 years. (AK)


