Mubadala starts production at Nong Yao in Gulf of Thailand

Mubadala Petroleum, Abu Dhabi, started production on June 17 from its Nong Yao oil field in the G11/48 concession of the southern Gulf of Thailand. G11/48 covers 3,374 sq km over the southern margin of the Pattani basin and the northwest margin of the Malay basin in 75 m of water.

Nong Yao production is expected to reach a peak rate of 10,000 bo/d as up to 23 wells are completed. Facilities comprise a wellhead processing platform and a minimum-facility wellhead platform, with production capacities of 15,000 bo/d and 30,000 b/d of fluids.

Crude is exported with a floating storage and offloading vessel and will be sold for local use in Thailand. Proved and probable gross reserves in Nong Yao’s primary reservoirs, recoverable by water injection, are estimated at 12.4 million bbl.

Content Dam Ogj Online Articles 2015 06 June18mubadalawppwhp1

Nong Yao was discovered in 2009 and appraised by five wells. The development concept was selected in 2012 and the project was sanctioned in August 2013. Mubadala and partners KrisEnergy Ltd. and Palang Sophon Ltd. have invested $320 million in development.

Mubadala operates three fields in Thailand. Following Manora, Nong Yao is the second development in the country that the company has taken from discovery and appraisal to development and production. Manora started production in November 2014 and is producing at a peak rate of 15,000 bo/d (OGJ Online, Nov. 12, 2014).

“With three fields producing in Thailand—Jasmine, Manora, and now Nong Yao—our gross production in Thailand will reach around 40,000 bo/d during the second half of 2015,” said Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Mubadala chief executive officer. “This is more than double the rate from a year ago and will make us Thailand’s second largest producer of black oil.”

Mubadala holds 67.5% interest as operator of G11/48. KrisEnergy holds 22.5% and Palang Sophon the remaining 10%.

Keith Cameron, KrisEnergy chief executive officer, said, “The G11/48 and G10/48 licenses were our first acquisitions when the company was established, and Nong Yao is now the first development project in our portfolio to be brought on stream. We are currently working on a further four oil developments in the Gulf of Thailand including the KrisEnergy-operated Wassana oil field in the adjacent G10/48 concession, which we expect to go into production shortly.”

KrisEnergy also has Gulf of Thailand nonoperated working interests in the B8/32, B9A, and G11/48 producing blocks and operates the G10/48 and G6/48 licenses, where it drilled a series of successful exploration wells in March and April. The company also operates Block A in Cambodian waters, where it is seeking to develop Apsara oil field.