Petronas announced that it has achieved the first oil production from the East Cendor field in Block PM304, which is located 140 km offshore Peninsular Malaysia, a press release issued by the company stated.

The filed was developed by Petrofac Limited (the operator), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company and PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd, under the Block PM304 Production Sharing Contract.

According to the statement, the project includes developing single new Wellhead Platform (WHP) and installing of a new 6.3km pipeline linking the field to the existing FPSO Cendor. The production peak of the field is expected to reach 7,000 barrels per day (b/d).

PETRONAS Senior Vice President of Malaysia Petroleum Management, Mohamed Firouz Asnan said: “East Cendor’s first oil success proves that the Malay Basin is by no means a mature hydrocarbon province. Block PM304 started as a small field development with first production from the Cendor field back in 2006. However, the total oil-in-place volume grew through continuous efforts in appraising the block’s potential, which turned out to be large.

Known for its light and sweet quality, Cendor crude was billed as the most expensive in the world at one time. With the success of East Cendor, more active development activities are expected in the future to monetize the large remaining resources within Block PM304.

“We would like to congratulate Petrofac and its partners for their successful delivery of the project despite the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile market conditions. This success is a testament of the close collaboration amongst all the parties, including the local Malaysian fabricator and service providers, who have stepped up to the challenge of these unprecedented times,” Asnan added.