Exploration and Production
Ten years after the discovery of the first commercial natural gas field in the Gulf of Thailand, Chevron's Erawan Field came onstream in 1981. Since then, natural gas has become the major source of energy for electricity generation in Thailand, and it led to the development of the country's petrochemical industry.
Chevron operates 13 blocks with ownership interests ranging from 35 percent to 80 percent. We also have a 16 percent nonoperated working interest in five blocks known collectively as the Arthit Field. Total average daily production from all fields in 2010 was 145,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate (70,000 net) and 1.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas (875 million net).
In 2010, 13 wellhead platforms were installed and 250 development wells were drilled in the Pattani Basin. At the Arthit Field, five wellhead platforms were installed and 58 development wells were drilled in 2010.
All the natural gas and condensate Chevron produces for Thailand is sold to PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), the national oil company of Thailand. The natural gas primarily is used to generate electricity, fulfilling about one-third of the country's demand for natural gas. The remainder is used for industrial fuel, transportation fuel and petrochemical feedstock. The gas is transported via PTT's subsea pipelines to the gas separation plants in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, on the eastern seaboard.
In October 2011, first production was announced at the 69.9 percent-owned and operated Platong II project. The $3.1 billion development is designed to produce an estimated 330 million cubic feet of natural gas and 18,000 barrels of natural gas liquids per day. New facilities include a central processing platform, pipelines and four initial wellhead platforms. Living quarters for workers and the central processing platform jacket—the four-legged supporting structure—were installed in 2010.
In 2010, seven operated and six nonoperated exploration wells were drilled in the Gulf of Thailand. Four in operated areas were successful. Eleven operated exploratory wells are planned for 2011.
In the Thailand-Cambodia Overlapping Claim Area, Chevron holds operated interests ranging from 30 percent to 80 percent in six blocks. As of early 2011, these areas were inactive pending resolution of border issues between the two countries.
Marketing and Retail
Chevron's Caltex™ brand operates a network of more than 450 service stations in Thailand. Our operations also include two product pipelines that serve Bangkok and areas to the north and a partnership in a consortium that supplies aviation fuel pipeline and terminal services to Bangkok International Airport.
Chevron holds a 64 percent interest in the 130,000-barrel-per-day refinery at Map Ta Phut. The facility is one of our core refineries and supplies the Pacific Basin with refined fuels. Also in 2010, construction began on modifications to meet regional specifications for cleaner motor gasoline and diesel fuels. The project is scheduled for completion in 2012.
In Ratchaburi, Chevron has a 50 percent interest in Tri Energy Company Ltd.'s power plant. The state-of-the-art combined-cycle facility uses clean-burning natural gas to help meet the country's demand for electricity.
Updated: January 2012
Cautionary Statement