By an OGJ correspondent
BANGKOK, Feb. 20 -- A group led by Hess Corp. has ramped up natural gas production to 100 MMcfd from Phu Horm field, Thailand's second onshore producing gas field.
The increase followed an initial run starting on Nov. 30, 2006, when the field, which lies in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, produced 60 MMcfd of gas (OGJ Online, Dec. 6, 2006).
Consortium officials said the production increase is in response to demand from an electric power plant and to make up for the decline in gas output from Nam Phong, the depleting gas field operated by ExxonMobil Corp. just north of Phu Horm.
Production from Nam Phong, operated by ExxonMobil, has fallen to about 30 MMcfd now though it is expected to go on producing over the next decade, albeit at the declining rates.
The combined production from Phu Horm and Nam Phong has enabled the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to run at its full capacity of 720 Mw.
Phu Horm's current production comes from three wells. The consortium plans to drill three more wells this year, comprising two development wells and one appraisal well, in the 232-sq-km concession block.
Officials said Phu Horm will increase production to 130 MMcfd of gas during 2013-23.
Hess and Apico LLC each hold 35% interest in the Phu Horm concession; other consortium members are PTT Exploration & Production PCL 20%, and ExxonMobil E&P Khorat Inc. 10%.
