Apico drilling equipment reaches oil well site in Isaan

[webfact]

Drilling equipment reaches oil well site
Jitima Janphrom
The Nation



Villagers in Khon Kaen continue calling on Govt to consider their concerns

BANGKOK: -- AFTER FOUR days, Apico (Khorat) completed the task of transporting its drilling equipment to the Northeast yesterday amid tight security, while residents from the neighbourhood kept urging the government to consider their concerns about the impact the drilling would have on their livelihood and the environment.

While the equipment was being moved, residents held a peaceful protest at Ban Na Mun village in Khon Kaen's Kranuan district. This village is only 2 kilometres from the site, which is actually located in Kalasin province, and residents believe they will be affected if there are any ill-effects from the operation. The villagers sang songs of protest as a convoy of trucks passed them, though there were no signs of chaos.

Meanwhile, the authorities were criticised heavily for providing the company with a 200-strong police team, security volunteers and soldiers on a daily basis, though the Army defended itself by saying the team was there to ensure public safety.

Colonel Jaturapong Bokbon, deputy chief of the Security Operations Command (Isoc) branch in Khon Kaen, said yesterday that the security team would withdraw once all the equipment was moved, and that they were only there to prevent clashes and protect villagers.

Protest 'incited by outsiders'

"This area has 8,000 residents, but there are only 20 to 30 individuals who oppose the project. Those who incited the protest come from outside, such as NGOs and some community leaders," he said, adding that people would be made to understand that if there is any adverse impact from the drilling, the company would be held accountable.

Songyos Saenkhot, 51, said he and fellow residents were protesting because they had already experienced drilling in 1989, and at that time they did not fight because they knew nothing about the possible impact. He said when the drilling began in 1989, their rice harvests dwindled and fruit trees died, adding that everything returned to normal once the well was closed.

Citing the 1989 experience as well as a similar impact on another village that is 5 kilometres from another drilling site in Kalasin's Nong Kung Si district, protesters believe the problem stemmed from the drilling for oil and gas.

"The well will be near my rubber plantation, so I'm afraid of the impact. Those who insist there will be no problems don't have the right information, because we have already been affected earlier in 1989," he added.

Early yesterday, a community radio announcement urged student activists to leave the area, as they along with NGOs, have been accused of inciting the villagers.

However, villager Wichai Jaiboon, 54, said the students provided them with useful information - especially about possible impacts - something the public sector had failed to tell them about.

"If they want to drive out the students, I and fellow villagers are willing to protect the students," he added.

Meanwhile, Apico (Khorat) escorted residents of 11 other villages nearby to inspect the oil-well site as well as listen to a briefing from Energy Ministry officials about the safety.

Pratheep Saengsi, deputy headman of the Ban Sap Somboon village, said that though it would be difficult to stop this project, as it was a part of the government's policy, he and other residents would protect themselves if anything went wrong.

Also, he said, the company should be held responsible for all adverse impacts and compensate those affected.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Drilling-equipment-reaches-oil-well-site-30254486.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-20

[BSJ]

Nothing to worry about here. It's all good.

Oops!!!

[Robby nz]

One of the bad mistakes this administration is making is not listening to the people in these situations and not doing adequate E & H impact studies something which mirrors the PT administration.

Sure the country needs new energy sources but it also needs a clean and healthy environment especially in the forests and sea.

They say they want to increase the forested area by 40% and at the same time are giving out mining and exploration licenses in national park and forest areas.

Well the two don't go together, on one hand they will kick poor people out who have lived in forest areas for years, sometimes generations, while letting rich corporations in with little or no study on what impact they will cause.

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

[Srikcir]

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One of the bad mistakes this administration is making is not listening to the people in these situations and not doing adequate E & H impact studies something which mirrors the PT administration.

Sure the country needs new energy sources but it also needs a clean and healthy environment especially in the forests and sea.

They say they want to increase the forested area by 40% and at the same time are giving out mining and exploration licenses in national park and forest areas.

Well the two don't go together, on one hand they will kick poor people out who have lived in forest areas for years, sometimes generations, while letting rich corporations in with little or no study on what impact they will cause.

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

Why exactly would the Junta listen to the public? It can't be held accountable for its policies or actions. It will hold power no matter public opinion. There is no authority that can stop consequences of its decisions. And finally, critical public opinion is against the law as it creates conflict that only "divides the nation."

Welcome to the new Thai society.

[WorriedNoodle]

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

Agreed, troops looks bad, but its a private company working for the Thai government Dept of Mineral Fuels who would have overseen all aspects of the social and EIA approval process before the drill permit was given.

[eliotness]

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

Agreed, troops looks bad, but its a private company working for the Thai government Dept of Mineral Fuels who would have overseen all aspects of the social and EIA approval process before the drill permit was given.

Do you really think things like EIAs and CSRs are carried out to an international standard (ISO) in Thailand ????

[ratcatcher]

Nothing to worry about here. It's all good.

Oil drill accident.JPG

Oops!!!

Well, well.!

Who knows, the residents in Khon Kaen might all be driving round in Range Rovers and Ferraris once the oil boom hits them. Might be a bigger boom than anyone expected?

[Halfaboy]

It's not clear to me where the villagers are afraid for. Is it the possibility of spillings of drilling mud, a blow out once the well is producing, subsidence in the far future, noise pollution or maybe something else. Will the company be drilling for oil or gas and at what depth is the reservoir expected.

A well organized PR campaign would do a lot of good work in my opinion.

[Gunna]

" He said when the drilling began in 1989, their rice harvests dwindled and fruit trees died, adding that everything returned to normal once the well was closed."

Just get a monk to bless the drill bit and put some amulets around your field to protect it from the evil spirits from the drill

Or better still

If you forget to water your rice and fruit trees while sitting under a tree watching the drilling, then your crops will die

[WorriedNoodle]

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

Agreed, troops looks bad, but its a private company working for the Thai government Dept of Mineral Fuels who would have overseen all aspects of the social and EIA approval process before the drill permit was given.

Do you really think things like EIAs and CSRs are carried out to an international standard (ISO) in Thailand ????

Why would you believe I think that? I never said such. It doesn't matter.

Key point I was making was drilling is Thai government approved as were the troops on the ground. Nothing the private companies can do about it - except try to advise on international EIA standards if they have any better. The private company are contractors at the governments invitation to work on the countries energy concessions.

[Robby nz]

In this instance providing security (for want of a better word) to a private company at taxpayers expense is not on.

Agreed, troops looks bad, but its a private company working for the Thai government Dept of Mineral Fuels who would have overseen all aspects of the social and EIA approval process before the drill permit was given.

Do you really think things like EIAs and CSRs are carried out to an international standard (ISO) in Thailand ????

They certainly haven't under PT with only those invited to meetings were allowed to attend, and paid an attendance fee, in order to get a positive vote.

Remember what it was that a deputy PM called locals who wanted to have their say on water projects but were shut out ? Garbage wasn't it ?

Cant get any worse than that and I for one would hope for better.

To answer Worried Noodle:

I don't think there was any EIA done as the expoloration process has been rushed through, the country needs new energy resources quickly was the excuse.

As I said a big mistake.

[WorriedNoodle]

I'll defer to Robby nz judgement on ("the expoloration process has been rushed through") as I don't know how the poster knows that. I would think there was an EIA done. It's all part of the process in getting a permit to drill. Obviously it must have missed the opinions of the current protesters. Perhaps outsiders are involved in spurring protests? I've seen it elsewhere. Lots of other protests going on now related to the countries 21st DMF bid round, so many vested interests at play in the country I would guess?

[maidee]

wow... a reason for USA to invade thailand now, OIL up north-east

[greenchair]

I hear you dear villagers.

Let me explain it to the ministry of energy.

The village people are saying ,we don't mind you trashing our home. But if our meager resources for making a living and caring for our families is destroyed.

Would you mind compensating us, so that we don't lose our homes and starve to death. ??

[nithisa78]

It's not clear to me where the villagers are afraid for. Is it the possibility of spillings of drilling mud, a blow out once the well is producing, subsidence in the far future, noise pollution or maybe something else. Will the company be drilling for oil or gas and at what depth is the reservoir expected.

A well organized PR campaign would do a lot of good work in my opinion.

That PR campaign would be very good. Needs to remain on and going and hospitable. This sounds like an invasion and it is scary, for these are salt of the Earth, simple people. A people that we don't want to fade away. This is a very big and sudden change to assimilate. These good people have served a different part of our cosmos. In a world of many small things, this is potential really serious. Which is the only kind of serious in matters of this nature. Cookies and milk will not reslove this. Clear minds and open hearts. Negotiate.

The rest of the equation is quite complex. As they say, we'd really need our boots on the ground to have more facts, first hand.

This is an extraordinary complex equation.

“By the spell of illusion one tries to be happy by serving his personal sense gratification in different forms which will never make him happy. Instead of satisfying his own personal material senses, he has to satisfy the senses of the Lord. That is the highest perfection of life.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)