By the OGJ Online Staff
BANGKOK, Mar. 19�Chevron Offshore (Thailand) Ltd. Monday reported the discovery of an oil field in the historically gas-prone Gulf of Thailand, supporting Chevron's strategy to more than double oil production from off Thailand to more than 70,000 b/d by 2004.
Chaba field, about 225 miles south of Bangkok, was confirmed following the testing of three wells in the southern portion of Block B8/32.
Gas production from block B8/32, covering the 2,900 sq km area, is also expected to rise in the same period to more than 250 MMcfd from 145 MMcfd at present (OGJ Online, Feb. 15, 2001).
The discovery well, designated Kung 2, was drilled to 10,775 ft in 240 ft of water and identified 120 ft of oil and 12 ft of gas pay in 6 reservoirs.
A second successful well, Kung 6, went to 9,413 ft. It flowed more than 3,200 b/d of oil on a restricted choke from two zones. Kung 6 had more than 160 ft of oil and gas pay in 9 reservoirs.
The third well, Kung 7, drilled to 9,235 ft, had almost 200 ft of oil and gas pay in 5 reservoirs.
Chevron said it would continue to appraise Chaba. It conducted the Chaba flow tests using the monobore technology, the first time such technology has been used in Thailand. The technology cut exploration costs 52% over conventional techniques.
Unocal Corp., which also operates in the Gulf of Thailand, recently announced plans to begin oil production from the area at 4,000 b/d later this year and ramping up to 15,000 b/d by next year (OGJ Online, Mar. 5, 2001).
