PTTEP prepares for next phase of exploration offshore Thailand, Malaysia
PTTEP will drill at least eight explorations wells offshore southeast Asia over the next two years, the company said in a results statement.
The line-up includes the:
- G1/65 production sharing contract (PSC) in the northern Gulf of Thailand. with the first well scheduled for 2025;
- G3/65 PSC in the southern Gulf of Thailand, with first well in 2025;
- Malaysia Block H 42 in deepwater, offshore Sabah, which will have two more exploration wells next year, in line with the minimum work commitment;
- Malaysia SK417 in shallow water offshore Sarawak. Following the Dokong-1 and Nangka-1 discoveries, one further exploration well is set to be drilled in 2025;
- Malaysia SK438 in shallow water offshore Sarawak, where the company has proven large sweet gas volumes at the Lang Lebah field. One exploration well is scheduled for 2025; and
- Malaysia SK314A 59.5% in shallow water offshore Sarawak, with plans for two more exploration wells in 2026.
Elsewhere in the region, development drilling has finished at the Zawtika Phase 1D project in the Gulf of Moattama offshore Myanmar, with construction underway of the Phase 1E wellhead platforms.
The Vietnamese government has approved a final investment decision for the Vietnam B & 48/95 and Vietnam offshore field developments, with first production expected in late 2026. The project should eventually deliver up to 490 MMcf/d of gas.
PTTEP also provided an update on some of its latest technological initiatives. In collaboration with Thailand’s Department of Fisheries, the company has performed an environmental baseline study to identify areas for deploying artificial reefs in the Gulf of Thailand, using platform jackets; the aim is to support the balance of marine resources and biodiversity in coastal and offshore areas.
An Intelligent Sampling Pig (MERIns), for collecting surface samples from pipelines, is being deployed during decommissioning of subsea pipelines in the Gulf of Thailand. Work is underway to improve the system’s efficiency and to adapt it for use with various offshore pipeline sizes at all PTTEP’s production sites.
At PTTEP’s Rapid Scaled-up Center (RASC) in Rayong, construction has started of a testing facility for developing production well P&A methods using thermite reactions. Once complete, prototype testing will take place followed by preparations for pilot testing at various production sites.
Prototype testing has begun at the Arthit offshore complex of an autonomous wellhead operator robot, designed to undertake tasks at wellhead platforms.
Tests have been completed on a prototype delivery drone for equipment transport, now under consideration for deployment at the North Bongkot offshore production center.
Finally, a PTTEP team has been working on a low heating value flare tip to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and it is undergoing pilot testing at the G2/61 field offshore Thailand. Another ongoing study is reviewing potential deployment at further offshore production sites.
