The 7,250-sq km Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area (JDA) is viewed as a mainstay of future gas supplies for Thailand.
The JDA includes Blocks A-18, B-17, and C-19. Water depths average 180-200 ft, enabling operators to use conventional, bottom-founded structures and existing engineering technology for development currently planned.
First production from Cakerawala field, on 725,325-acre Block A-18, is slated to begin late in 1999, leading to expected output of 1 bcfd within 4-5 years as at least three more known fields are brought on stream and additional drilling is done by operator Carigali-Triton Operating Co. (CTOC).
CTOC is equally owned by Triton Energy Ltd., Dallas, and Petronas Carigali (JDA) Sdn. Bhd., a unit of Petroliam Nasional Bhd. (Petronas), Malaysia's state-owned oil company.
CTOC, which budgeted $34 million for capital projects in Thailand in 1996, is expected to significantly increase its 1997 spending in Thailand. It plans fast-track development of Cakerawala, Bumi, Suriya, and Bulan fields after completing a successful nine-well drilling program on Block A-18.
CTOC's 1 Bumi, about 9 miles east of Cakerawala field, late in 1996 found 403 ft of net pay and tested at a rate of 73 MMcfd of gas, the highest rate encountered in any gas well drilled so far on the block, opening CTOC's fourth major field there (OGJ, Dec. 2, 1996, p. 39).
Gas sales looming
Signing of a gas sales contract for sales to Thailand's state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) is near. Contract will cover phase one production from Cakerawala, beginning late in 1999. The purchase agreement may also include Petronas.
Negotiations leading to a gas sales contract from the JDA are covered by a previously signed memorandum of understanding with the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority (MTJA), the statutory body of the two governments charged with managing JDA resource development (OGJ, July 29, 1996, p. 45).
"It's a good place to do business," said Triton Chairman Thomas G. Finck, commenting on companies' ability to find, produce, and transport to market hydrocarbons that are close to a growing market, as is the case with Thailand.
"That's what I think everybody is finding in the Gulf of Thailand; those that are finding hydrocarbons are finding that they can put them on stream quickly, efficiently, and get a fair price."
Triton's Finck said Cakerawala will be a phased development. At least two phases are currently planned, perhaps a third. Initial production is planned at 300-350 MMcfd of gas, as well as undetermined quantities of oil and condensate. Phase two production is expected to increase output levels to about 750 MMcfd, beginning in 2001.
"Based on future drilling, we're looking at the possibility of up to 1 bcfd," Finck said, adding that level could be reached in a subsequent 2 years.
More drilling planned
Two exploratory wells are now planned on the western portion of the block, including a test of Senja prospect, as well as step-outs to delineate what's been found already. Analysis of 3D seismic data has been encouraging, said Finck, with direct hydrocarbon indicators being found on the latest seismic.
"We're going to try to drill the Senja prospect, maybe in March, and then just to the south of that we've got another prospect we're going to drill," Finck said.
Latest 3D seismic was acquired in separate shoots in 1995-96, and the company also has high-quality 2D on hand. As of mid-November 1996, CTOC had amassed 530 sq km of 3D data over Bumi and adjacent Suriya fields, in the eastern portion of the block, and 620 sq km of 3D over Cakerawala and Bulan fields, farther west. The latter two were shot in 1995.
"The western side appears much more prospective than we originally anticipated," Finck said.
He said the whole area appears "gassy" on seismic. "You have what we call gas 'chimneys' throughout the whole block. There's gas being generated down below...coming toward the surface. And anyplace where it can possibly trap, it's trapping across the whole block."
Gas chimneys are being seen as deep as 10,000 ft, Finck said.
Production layout
CTOC plans at least six platforms to accommodate phase one production from Cakerawala, including structures for compression, quarters, and flaring. One central processing complex is planned, with satellite wellhead platforms flowing into the central complex.
A floating storage and offloading (FSO) system will be used to store oil and condensate production. Five bidding groups have been lined up for mostly turnkey construction of the facilities, Finck said.
If a gas sales contract can be completed in about 1-2 months, a construction contract could be let about another 90 days thereafter, according to CTOC's current timetable. Likely plans call for a crude tanker to be converted to FSO service.
On Block B-17, operator Carigali-Pttep Operating Co., a joint venture of Petronas and PTT's upstream arm PTT Exploration & Production plc, is planning production from Muda and Tapi finds, anticipating production by yearend 2000. Carigali-Pttep is also operator of Block C-19.
MTJA and contractors have expressed confidence that Cakerawala and Muda production can readily provide 500-550 MMcfd of gas to Thailand. Cakerawala output can likely be sustained at rates of about 300-350 MMcfd of gas for 20-25 years, observers maintain, while Muda can deliver initially 200-250 MMcfd starting in 2000 with a fast-track development scheme.
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