Eni has announced the start-up of gas production from the Maha field in the Kutei Basin, offshore Indonesia, just 21 months after the final investment decision.

Field Design and Tie-In

The Maha field is located in the West Ganal block at a water depth of approximately 1,000 meters. It comprises two subsea production wells connected to the existing Jangkrik Floating Production Unit (FPU) by approximately 12 km of flowlines.

Following initial processing onboard the FPU, the gas will be transported through the pipeline network to supply the domestic market and the Bontang liquefaction plant. Bontang supplies LNG to both domestic and export markets.

Production Capacity and Plateau

According to Eni, the field can produce 250 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). That output brings combined production from the Jangkrik FPU and the South Hub to a plateau of 750 MMSCFD.

The expected start-up and tie-in of the Gendalo & Gendang project to the Jangkrik FPU in 2028 will extend this plateau beyond the end of the decade, the company said.

Operator and Strategic Context

The Maha gas field is now operated by Searah, the independent upstream energy company established through the strategic partnership between Eni and PETRONAS.

Eni described the start-up as a further milestone in the development of its activities in Indonesia's Kutei Basin, reflecting the company's expertise in exploration and fast-track project delivery.

Eni noted that Maha is a key component of the South Hub development and the monetization of Indonesia's offshore gas resources. The company also highlighted the cooperation among all stakeholders involved, including Searah, its shareholders, and SKK Migas, Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator.

Eni's Indonesian Footprint and Asset Sales

Eni directly operates the Peri-Mahakam PSC, the Makassar Strait PSC, and the recently awarded Sapukala block. In October 2026, the company also signed two binding agreements to sell interests to Pertamina and Medco in selected Indonesian upstream assets operated by Searah.

About Searah

Searah is jointly owned by Eni and PETRONAS, with each holding a 50% interest. According to Eni, the company combines complementary portfolios, capabilities, and regional expertise to deliver long-term value creation and operational excellence across Indonesia and Malaysia.

Its portfolio comprises 19 gas-producing and development assets, including 14 in Indonesia and five in Malaysia. Searah currently produces approximately 350 kboe/d and aims to exceed 500 kboe/d of sustainable production, the company said.

Project Timeline Highlights

The 21-month interval between the final investment decision and the first gas is the central timing claim in Eni's announcement, and the company attributed it to its expertise in fast-track project delivery.

The subsea tie-back configuration, which relies on the existing Jangkrik FPU rather than a new standalone facility, is the development concept described in the release. The two production wells and the roughly 12 km of flowlines form the full extent of the new infrastructure detailed by the company.

With Maha online, the combined output of the Jangkrik FPU and South Hub reaches the 750 MMSCFD plateau cited by Eni. The Gendalo & Gendang project, expected to start up and tie in to the Jangkrik FPU in 2028, is the next stage identified for sustaining that level of production.

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