The Italian energy group Eni has announced a significant gas discovery in the Kutei Basin off the coast of East Kalimantan in Indonesia (Eni press release, 09/12/2025). Drilling at the Konta-1 exploration well found gas in four separate sandstone reservoirs that have been subject to an extensive data acquisition campaign that helped estimate resources at 600 bcf (17 bcm) with the potential of reaching over 1 Tcf (over 28 bcm). Since the discovery is on proximity to existing facilities and discoveries, the company expects to have significant synergies to speed the development, with options to fast-track the project being studied. Eni’s drilling campaign in the Kutei Basin is also expected to continue on four additional wells in 2026.
Located in the Muara Bakau block (one of nineteen blocks between Indonesia (14) and Malaysia (5)), the Konta-1 well is owned and operated by Eni (88.3%), in partnership with Saka Energi (11.6%), and it will be managed by NewCo (Eni and PETRONAS, 50:50).