PETRONAS advances upstream with Estuary PSC award and Mutiara seismic handover

Estuary Cluster PSC

Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM) awarded the Small Field Asset Production Sharing Contract (SFA PSC) for the Estuary Cluster to Harvester Energy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. The cluster—Lerek, Korbu and Diwangsa in the Malay Basin—will be developed with a technology‑led shallow‑water subsea concept intended to accelerate first commercial production, reduce capital expenditure, minimise physical footprint and allow reuse and redeployment of existing production infrastructure.

Mutiara Cluster seismic handover

MPM delivered an enhanced 3D seismic dataset to DIALOG Resources Sdn Bhd for the Mutiara Cluster in the Sandakan Basin. MPM described this as its first acquisition of new 3D seismic data over an area that already had coverage; the improved imaging is intended to help DIALOG evaluate resources and advance development plans. The Mutiara Cluster includes Nymphe, Nymphe North, Kuda Terbang, Benrinnes and Mutiara Hitam and is targeting first production by 2029 after its SFA PSC award in MBR 2025.

Framework and objectives

Both moves form part of MPM’s broader effort—including Malaysia Bid Round Plus (MBR+) and PETRONAS myPROdata—to widen investor access to selected upstream opportunities, provide technical data year‑round, reduce technical uncertainty and accelerate progression of discovered small fields toward development. MPM is also coordinating with Sabah state agencies to align stakeholders, optimise project costs and support East Sabah’s long‑term energy security.