PTTEP Makes Wildcat Discovery at Arthit Field
The well Arthit-15-3X, completed on March 12, 2000, was one of the seven test wells drilled to prove hydrocarbon potential in the Arthit acreage. The test yielded the discovery of gas and condensate in 22 gas-bearing zones with a total thickness of 94 meters. The combined flowrate showed 63.4 million cf/d of gas and 654 b/d of condensate.
Located in block 15A in the Gulf of Thailand, the discovery well is 35 km northeast of the Bongkot Field, the largest natural gas field in the Gulf, also operated by PTTEP.
PTTEP had drilled three exploration wells in this acreage. The first one was Arthit-15-1X with the result of 41 million cf/d of gas and 1,657 b/d of condensate. The second wildcat, Arthit-15-2X, PTTEP discovered as well 19.3 million cf/d of gas and 115 b/d of condensate. The third well, Arthit-16-1X, was discovered with a high yield of 64.9 million cf/d of gas and 1,688 b/d of condensate.
PTTEP holds an 80% interest in Arthit Field. The other joint venturers are Unocal Thailand, Ltd. and Moeco Thailand Co., Ltd.
Chitrapongse Kwangsukstith, PTTEP president said, " The discovery of additional gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand assures there will be more indigenous and environmentally friendly natural gas supplies to reduce expensive imported fuel used in the industrial sector. This is in compliance to the government policy in encouraging the usage of more indigenous natural gas in Thai industry."
Three additional exploration wells are planned for block 15A, which will be completed by mid-2000.