By an OGJ correspondent
BANGKOK, Aug. 22 -- Nine groups of international oil firms have applied for 11 petroleum exploration blocks in Thailand's latest bidding round.
The number of bids submitted to the energy ministry reflects early enthusiasm by oil exploration companies for the country's potential reserves, as the invitation offering 82 blocks was announced only recently (OGJ Online, Aug. 17, 2005).
The nine consortiums placed bids for five onshore and six offshore blocks in the Gulf of Thailand. A Thai Energy Ministry official said it would take 3-4 months to evaluate and award the contracts to the first group of successful bidders.
Vying for the onshore tracts are PTTEP Siam Ltd. for three tracts: L21/48, L28/48, and L29/48 in the northeast region; APICO LLC for Block L13/48, also in the northeast; and JSX Energy (Thailand) Ltd. for Block L17/48 in the central plains.
Bidding for the offshore acreage are Syarikat Borcos Shipping Sdn. Bhd. and Occidental Exploration Pte. Ltd. for Blocks G1/48 and G10/48; Unocal Andaman Ltd. for Block G4/48; PTTEP (Thailand) Ltd. and Unocal Andaman Ltd. for Block G9/48; a consortium of Pearl Oil (Thailand) Ltd., Horizon Oil (Thailand) Ltd., and Tana Oil & Gas (Thailand) Ltd. for Blocks G10/48 and G11/48; PTTEP (Thailand) for Block G11/48; the consortium of PTTEP (Thailand), Thai Energy Ltd., and Total E&P Thailand for Block G12/48.
Interested firms have until the end of June 2006 to submit applications to the ministry as part of the current 19th round. Bids may be submitted on the 15th of every month.
