Northern Thailand Oil & Gas History + Current Situation

[STUDMEYER]

Hey All,

Was on a road trip recently when i saw a few pump jacks and tanks near Fang. As it turns out, this was the area where the first exploration for oil in Thailand took place. I have also heard rumors from some that this is where the first oil well in Thailand was drilled but I am having a hard time with The Google to confirm that.

i found this information at this website: http://www.ccop.or.th/epf/thailand/thailand_explor.html

The search for hydrocarbons in Thailand began in 1921 in the Fang Basin in northern Thailand where oil seeps had been reported. Prior to the start of World War II a number of shallow wells were drilled in the area by various government organizations in an effort to exploit tar sands. Immediately after the war the Department of Mines was given the responsibility of exploration.

In 1954 Thailand changed its policy of petroleum exploration by allowing private sectors to be involved. The same year Hunting Geophysics of London undertook aeromagnetic work in the Chao Phraya area and the country’s first oil discovery was made at Chai Prakan in the Fang Basin by the Department of Mines.

In 1956 the responsibility of exploration in Fang Basin was given to the Department of Energy Defense (DED). It soon signed a contract with the Refining Associated Co., Ltd., to construct a small refinery with a 1,000 BOPD capacity.

Union Oil (which later became Unocal) was granted exploration rights to the Khorat Plateau in 1962 but did not initiate serious exploration work due to lack of a specific petroleum law. Raphael Pumpelly was also awarded a permit in an adjacent area at around the same time and the Gulf area around Bangkok where it drilled some stratigraphic wells.

Some interesting stuff on the Fang reservoirs here:

http://archive.lib.cmu.ac.th/full/T/2009/geol0252rn_ch1.pdf

Stuff on the Fang geology:

http://www.dmr.go.th/download/article/article_20140227115635.pdf

Very interesting to hear there were oil seeps in the area. I'm wondering if there are any actual oil seeps that one can visit (Tar pits? Always burning flames?)

Can anyone help me find more information on this? Is there currently an active oil and gas exploration or development going on in Northern Thailand? It seems there has been lots of work done on this field but as far as I can tell it only produces between 700-1200 bbls per day. Are there other oil fields in these parts?

Also found this amusing clip on youtube... HPHT?

Rgs,

SM

[Rotweiler]

Yes, it is historically Thailand's first funtioning oil well. Today it appears to serve a different function - it hold's Northern Thailands oil reserves (look at the sign between the oil tanks and the army base)

[worgeordie]

I believe the wells,are owned and operated by the Army.

regards Worgeordie

[gazzzz]

My company has an office in Phitsanulok, for Oilfield drilling services and I found this on google

https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/IPTC-15144-MS

"The Sirikit Main Field is located in Phitsanulok Basin, Central Plain, onshore Thailand, approximately 400 km north of Bangkok (Figure 1). The Field is located in the S1 concession, operated and wholly owned by PTT Exploration and Production. The Field was discovered in 1981 by drilling LKU-A01 well."

I would love to get a transfer there as we have a house near Uttaradit, but I am only a Data Manager in the UK!

Looking forward to reading more on this topic.

[Chicog]

I wouldn't be surprised if they are looking at fracking the hell out of the place if there's a sniff of a baht to be made.

[superal]

Does anyone know anything about the 18 inch new steel pipe line ( at least 50 km ) being laid either side of Korat route 24. It appears that they have quite a

task on their hands with the varying terrain and cross section highways

[a10ams]

My company has an office in Phitsanulok, for Oilfield drilling services and I found this on google

https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/IPTC-15144-MS

"The Sirikit Main Field is located in Phitsanulok Basin, Central Plain, onshore Thailand, approximately 400 km north of Bangkok (Figure 1). The Field is located in the S1 concession, operated and wholly owned by PTT Exploration and Production. The Field was discovered in 1981 by drilling LKU-A01 well."

I would love to get a transfer there as we have a house near Uttaradit, but I am only a Data Manager in the UK!

Looking forward to reading more on this topic.

I would imagine that job would go to a Thai national.

[Boksida]

Does anyone know anything about the 18 inch new steel pipe line ( at least 50 km ) being laid either side of Korat route 24. It appears that they have quite a

task on their hands with the varying terrain and cross section highways

That will probably be a gas pipeline. They are currently linking up the gas fields in the north-east with Rayong offshore gas and Myanmar gas in a grid system, probably via Wang Noi. Can you see a block valve station about every 10 km?

[Boksida]

In reply to the OP:

1. I have not seen any oil seeps around.
2. Fang is still the biggest field in the far north.
3. Sirikit, mentioned by another poster, is larger and qualifies as being in the north as it is in Sukhothai and Pitsanulok provinces. It is run by PTT now but was originally discovered and developed by Thai Shell.
4. There has been other work in the north. I was involved in drilling dry holes in Phayao and Mae Sai In Chiang Rai some years back.
5. CGG did a seismic survey in around Lampang last year but I have not heard of any drilling yet.
6. Most of the likely areas in the north are sub-concessions of the Defense Energy Department, which dissuades investment. A Chiangmai board member, Slapout, could fill you in on their reputation.
7. There is an on and off again oil shale project near Mae Sot.
8. There is an oilfield in Wichian Buri but I don't think that qualifies as being in the North.
9. Some of the other posters have mentioned projects I have worked on. Union Oil had their seismic work done by a United Geophysical crew from Australia back in the early 70s which led to the drilling of a dry hole at Kuchinarai, using the Australian contractor O.D. & E. I have quite a few funny recollections from that.
10. United went on to do a seismic job for Thai Gulf Oil around Bangkok. There were still so many canals then that they were able to shoot it as a shallow water job, using Patpong as their base. Gulf had drilled some stratigraphic wells using Thai Rock Products as the contractor in about 1969. I think the OD&E rig from Kuchinarai drilled a dry well for them at Nakhon Pathom.
11. There has been a lot of work in the north-east over the years. Esso had the gas discovery well Nam Pong 1. It must have been about 40 years ago as I went to an anniversary reunion of the seismic contractor (Western) personnel in Khon Kaen a couple of years ago. Some of the wells have had some condensate but as far as I know there has not been any oil production. The Kosa Hotel massage parlour was once universally known as the Petroleum Club.

That's about all I can fill you in on northern oilfields history with any of my involvement. Beer would probably assist my memory greatly.

[slapout]

i have not even hearrd mention of tar or oil seeps in the area from locals and have visited areas of prodsuction and futher afield sorry no help

[Ricardo]

Most of the likely areas in the north are sub-concessions of the Defense Energy Department, which dissuades investment. A Chiangmai board member, Slapout, could fill you in on their reputation.

.

IIRC there was a proposal several years ago by a Canadian (based in Calgary ?) company, to redrill some of the Fang wells & improve production, then to use the increased-income generated to fund further exploration/development in the area.

It all looked very interesting, but I don't think anything came of it, not sure why not since it appeared to be essentially self-funding ?

http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/32074/Niko_Resources_Acquires_Stake_in_Fang_Block_in_Thailand

The latest report from the company doesn't mention Thailand/Fang.

http://www.marketwired.com/AdvancedSearch/AdvancedSearchResults.aspx?sid=aece8dba-1ed3-4219-bfc6-9ee8c7ccd5b6

I should perhaps add that I'm merely an interested observer, and have no professional expertise/knowledge, in this field.