Unocal announces gas discovery in Gulf of Thailand

Petroleum News Alaska

Unocal Corp. said Dec. 8 that an exploration well on the Arthit project in the Gulf of Thailand has discovered natural gas and condensate. The Arthit-15-1X discovery well tested at a combined daily rate of 41 million cubic feet and 1,657 barrels of condensate from five zones. The well confirmed net pay of 462 feet from 35 gas-bearing zones.

The discovery well is 21 miles northeast of the Bongkot field in the Gulf of Thailand. Bongkot is operated by PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. Ltd. Unocal Thailand Ltd. holds a minimum 16 percent working interest in the prospect. PTT is operator and holds an 80 percent working interest. MOECO Thailand Co. Ltd., holds the remaining 4 percent interest.

“We are extremely pleased with the success of our first exploration well in the prolific, gas-prone Malay Basin,” said Randy L. Howard, president of Unocal Thailand. “This successful exploration well increases the prospectivity of the Arthit project (blocks 14A, 15A and 16A), as well as block 52/97, which is located in Vietnam waters east of Arthit and where Unocal has a 70 percent interest. The combined blocks total approximately 1.5 million acres and have been closed to exploration for more than 25 years.”

The company has estimated the gross unrisked resource potential of the Arthit project at 3 trillion to 6 trillion cubic feet of gas.

“The discovery of additional gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand provides continued assurance that there will be ample natural gas supplies to help propel the Kingdom’s return to economic growth,” Howard said.

Six additional exploration wells are planned for block 15A and 16A, which will be completed by mid-2000.