HELMS and ELNUSA Join Forces to Pursue Offshore Geotechnical Opportunities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste
Jakarta, 21 October 2026 – Helms Geomarine Sdn Bhd (HELMS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Elnusa Trans Samudera (ENTS) to jointly pursue offshore geotechnical investigation opportunities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
The MoU was signed by Dato’ Ir. Helmi Zulkawi, Managing Director of HELMS, and Ms. Kurniawati Adjie, Director of ENTS.
The collaboration brings together HELMS’ specialist geotechnical expertise, drilling resources and experienced personnel with ENTS’ marine capabilities, local market knowledge and logistics support.
A fully Malaysian-owned company, HELMS serves the oil and gas sector through long-term contracts with PETRONAS, Shell, PTTEP and other operators. Its international track record spans offshore geotechnical projects across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia, as well as geotechnical drilling for offshore wind farm developments in Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
HELMS currently operates two DP2 geotechnical vessels, Keyfield Helms 1 and Keyfield Itqan. Its key management brings extensive offshore geotechnical experience in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea dating back to the 1990s, with geological and operational conditions directly analogous to Timor-Leste.
ENTS, a subsidiary of ELNUSA within the Pertamina Hulu Energi Group, complements this experience with local marine and operational capabilities.
The proposed scope includes offshore geotechnical drilling, soil and rock sampling, seabed testing, laboratory testing and engineering reporting, supported by vessel preparation and mobilization.
Beyond individual projects, the collaboration envisages establishing a local HELMS entity to own strategic drilling resources, utilizing Indonesian-flagged DP2 vessels, employing Indonesian personnel and developing a local laboratory, with technical training and knowledge sharing to strengthen local expertise.
These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to building a sustainable regional presence, combining international experience with local capabilities to deliver safe, reliable and technically sound offshore geotechnical services.