BANGKOK�The Bongkot consortium is embarking on a new development scheme aimed at sustaining production from Thailand's largest gas field. The so-called Phase 3B development includes drilling 42 wells and installing two additional wellhead platforms at the existing offshore production complex, which lies about 600 km south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand.
The Bongkot gas developing group, led by PTT Exploration & Production PLC (PTTEP), majority-owned by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), has hired Smedvig ASA, a Norwegian drilling company, to do the drilling. Drilling should begin in August and last 30 months, said executives at PTTEP.
Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea was also commissioned to build the two-wellhead platforms, scheduled for installation at the field in the middle of next year.
PTTEP says the new development program is aimed mainly at sustaining output from Bongkot, which means lotus in Thai, at the current level of 550 MMcfd of gas and 14,000 b/d of condensate.
More than 100 wells have been drilled at Bongkot field, which started producing gas in September 1993. Development costs for Bongkot, previously operated by partner Total SA, have exceeded $1 billion. Bongkot has produced more than 800 bcf of gas and more than 20 million bbl of condensate.
Strenuous exploration efforts have increased the field's gas reserves to 3.7 tcf and 52 million bbl of condensate, says PTTEP. In 1993, reserves were estimated at 1.5 tcf and 18 million bbl.
PTTEP has a 44.4445% stake in the gas venture, with the European energy group TotalFinaElf SA holding 33.3333%, and BG International Ltd., 22.2222%.