Natural gas reserves set to run out in 18 years

By Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

The country's natural-gas reserves are estimated to be enough for only 18 more years if no new reserves are found, said Kurujit Nakornthap, deputy permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry.

He made the remark yesterday at a seminar on Thailand's energy outlook. He said the current natural-gas reserves, both proven and probable, stand at 23 trillion cubic feet. If production is maintained at the rate of 3,747 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) and no new reserves are found, the current reserves will run out in 18 years.

He added that the ministry had given priority to seeking new resources to ensure national energy stability.

He added that of the country's proven petroleum reserves as of 2009, natural gas stood at 11.026 trillion cubic feet, condensate at 255 million barrels, and crude oil at 180 million barrels. Of total probable reserves, the natural-gas amount stood at 6.170 trillion cubic feet, condensate at 86 million barrels, and crude oil at 170 million barrels.

This year natural-gas production in Thailand in many fields is expected to reach a combined 3,717MMcfd, up from 3,511MMcfd, while the demand from many industrial sectors is estimated at a combined 4,006MMcfd, down from 4,039MMcfd last year.

The high demand for natural gas means Thailand is expected to import 702MMcfd from Burma this year.

Kurujit said one threat to the country's energy security was its over-dependence on natural gas for generating electricity. It is estimated that natural gas this year will account for 71 per cent of all energy sources used for electricity generation. Coal-fired power plants and proposed nuclear plants face opposition from communities.

Department of Mineral Fuels director-general Songpop Polachan said it would rapidly seek additional domestic petroleum sources through the planned granting of new concessions, the promotion of production in small petroleum fields, and a feasibility study on the production of natural gas from high-carbon-dioxide fields.

-- The Nation 2011-06-01

Hard to see that Thailand thinks it could be running out of energy, or should worry about an energy imbalance, when it has an estimated 6.4 billion barrels of shale oil in the Mae Sot and Li areas of the country.

I have heard 25 years from more "reliable sources"

New reserves have been found and some will be coming on-line stream in next 6-12 months

"and a feasibility study on the production of natural gas from high-carbon-dioxide fields"

Why is a feasibility study needed ?.....production from high Co2 fields is already happening in the Gulf...

And we could also mention if Thailand and Cambodia could bury the hacket over the dispute area in the Gulf, and come up with a joint development area, exploration could take place, and who knows what they may find which would benefit both Thailand and Cambodia

they can always switch to palm oil when needed

start builing lots more palm tries

No pomplem my flying car will be nucular.(Bushism)

Uh-oh! Time to pour more funds into the Energy Klepto-bureaucracy Ministry.

Hard to see that Thailand thinks it could be running out of energy, or should worry about an energy imbalance, when it has an estimated 6.4 billion barrels of shale oil in the Mae Sot and Li eaars of the country.

Ha, another Shale Oil aficionado – must be a Canadian.

Spending 1.3 units to recover 1.0 unit, makes lots of sense, for employment on the Shale Oil recovery project that is, not the recovery rate.

Still wonder why the Deputy PM says he hates farangs?