Thailand receives bids for four onshore tracts

Thailand's current round of petroleum concession bidding has attracted three more firms with companies bidding for four onshore tracts.

Sept. 27, 2007

2 min read

By an OGJ correspondent
BANGKOK, Sept. 27 -- Thailand's current round of petroleum concession bidding has attracted three more firms with companies bidding for four onshore tracts.

The Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) said in the third monthly submission, closed on Sept. 17, Northern Gulf Oil (Thailand) Ltd. is seeking Block L1/50 (3,213 sq km) and adjoining Block L2/50 (3,892 sq km), which lie in Nan, Phayao and Phrae provinces near the Thai-Laos border.

Sita Oil Exploration House Inc. of Houston vied for the 3,947-sq km Block L19/50 in Kamphaeng Phet and Nakhon Sawan provinces north of the central plains.

Kuala Lumpur-based Mitra Energy Ltd. submitted a bid for Block L46/50 covering an area of 3,983 sq km in Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, and Chachoengsao provinces.

Only Sita Oil is a newcomer to the country's 20th bidding round. In the previous monthly submission, Mitra Energy applied for Block L45/50, covering an area of 3,983 sq km west of Bangkok (OGJ Online, Aug 30, 2007).

Northern Gulf Oil earlier obtained offshore Block G3/48, in the Gulf of Thailand, during the country's 19th round.

Meanwhile, DMF director general Krairit Nilkuha said the department plans to propose these applications during the first two monthly submissions to the Petroleum Committee and the Minister of Energy for consideration by next month.

The first two submission months attracted 28 companies which submitted applications for 24 blocks, 16 of which are onshore and 8 in the Gulf of Thailand.