On July 18^th, 1996, the MMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy. The agreement covers cooperation in the areas of environmental and safety issues related to offshore oil and gas, exploration, production and abandonment, drilling mud disposal, oil spill response, including trajectory analysis, platform removal, and updating regulations resulting from changes in technology. Activity has been limited to information exchange.

Technical Assistance

In January 1995, the MMS and the Indonesia Agency for Research and Assessment of Technology (BPPT) co-sponsored an Oil Spill Contingency Planning Management Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia. A variety of U.S. and Indonesian organizations participated. The Conference received wide and favorable media coverage and was viewed as a model forum for similar government/industry events.

Other Activities

On May 9^th, 1997, a delegation of Indonesian scientists met with MMS Pacific Region staff to discuss coastal zone management issues relative to offshore oil and gas development and the role that environmental studies plays in decisionmaking. The group had an opportunity to visit Exxon’s platform Harmony.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The Minerals Management Service was one of the organizers of a Workshop on the Decommissioning of Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 27-29, 1998. The workshop was conducted under the auspices of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Marine Resources Conservation Working Group. Other organizers included  the U.S. Department of State, the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, Pertamina, the Exploration and Production Forum, and the American Petroleum Institute. Participants included representatives from the MMS, universities, U.S. oil and gas companies, and other industry organizations.

At the workshop, information was exchanged on the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas platforms. Participants sought to identify issues and recommended possible measures to ensure the highest degree of responsibility and care in order to balance protection of the environment with safety, health, technological and economic considerations. Through the workshop, the goal to strengthen cooperation among the APEC economies, contribute to an improvement in the quality of the coastal waters and foster sustainable management of marine resources as well as to promote public and private sector participation and partnership was furthered.