Unocal Thailand Ltd. is eyeing development plans after the recent completion of appraisal drilling has further confirmed the commerciality of its Pakarang gas field in the Gulf of Thailand.
With the successful drilling of four delineation wells in the field, Unocal now estimates the gross gas resource potential for Pakarang at 275-550 bcf.
Pakarang is on Block 11, north of Erawan gas field, the gulf`s hub for the main trunk pipeline to shore, and is covered by a gas sales contract with the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT).
The results of the four slimhole delineation wells follow: Pakarang 6 reached a depth of 11,348 ft and encountered 174 ft of gas-bearing sands; Pakarang 7 was drilled to 11,821 ft and found 347 ft of gas-bearing sands; Pakarang 8, drilled to 11,881 ft, found 165 ft of gas-bearing sands; and Pakarang 9 encountered 161 ft of gas-bearing sands after reaching 12,871 ft.
No flow tests were conducted, but gas samples collected indicated good quality gas. These latest wells completed the Pakarang appraisal program, which Unocal undertook after initially confirming the field`s commerciality last year.
The company is currently reviewing the new data to settle on a scheme and timetable for field development, said Randy Howard, Unocal regional vice-president and president of Unocal Thailand.
Although gas was first discovered on the Pakarang prospect in 1983, it was not until 1998 that the Pakarang 4 and 5 wells extended the known boundaries of the original field.
Operator Unocal Thailand holds a 71.25% working interest in Pakarang field. Co-concessionaires in the field are Mitsui Oil Exploration Co. (23.75%) and PTT Exploration & Production plc (5%).
Unocal Thailand currently operates 11 natural gas and condensate fields in the Gulf of Thailand, with gross production of about 1 bcfd of gas and about 33,000 b/d of condensate. Unocal supplies about two thirds of the natural gas used by Thailand.
