THAILAND TO HALT EXPORTS OF CONDENSATE

Thailand this month will halt exports of domestically produced condensate following an order from the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) that it be refined locally. Unocal Thailand, which accounts for most of Thailand's production of 730 MMcfd of gas and all of its 27,000-28,000 b/d of condensate, had been exempted from Thailand's ban on export of liquids produced domestically.

Aug. 17, 1992

Thailand this month will halt exports of domestically produced condensate following an order from the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) that it be refined locally.

Unocal Thailand, which accounts for most of Thailand's production of 730 MMcfd of gas and all of its 27,000-28,000 b/d of condensate, had been exempted from Thailand's ban on export of liquids produced domestically.

Because of capacity constraints, Thai refineries had consumed only about 20% of Thai condensate output, with the balance exported, mostly to the U.S. West Coast. During 1984-91, Unocal exported 36 million bbl of Thai condensate. That compares with domestic consumption of 15.6 million bbl of condensate since production began in September 1981.

Thai Oil, owned 49% by PTT, has increased distillation capacity to 185,000 b/d from about 83,000 b/d with a $345 million expansion/upgrade at its Sri Racha refinery. The upgrade also boosted the refinery's yield of higher value products, calling for an increased charge of light oils.