South Pakarang

Location

The South Pakarang field is located in the Gulf of Thailand (GoT), specifically within the eastern part of the GoT, which is known for its significant petroleum production. This area includes major basins such as the Pattani Basin and the North Malay Basin.

Geology and Petroleum System

The Gulf of Thailand, where the South Pakarang field is situated, consists of Cenozoic sedimentary basins formed by normal faulting, resulting in graben and half-graben geometries. The basins in this region, including the Pattani Basin, contain rock layers formed in the Late Miocene-Recent period, comprising mudstone interbedded with sandstone, shale, and coal, which are indicative of fluvial and shallow marine depositions.

Field Details

• The South Pakarang field is one of the several gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand. Other nearby fields include Erawan, Satun, Trat, Funan, and Gomin.
• The field is part of the broader development program in the GoT, which involves multiple fields and extensive infrastructure development.

Development and Operations

• The development of the South Pakarang field is part of a larger program that includes drilling numerous development wells, appraisal/delineation wells, and the installation of wellhead platforms. For example, between 1996 and 2000, plans included drilling 489 development wells, 52 appraisal/delineation wells, and completing 21 tie-backs across various fields in the GoT.
• The field development likely involves the laying of infield pipelines and other necessary infrastructure to support production.

Production and Reserves

• While specific production figures for the South Pakarang field are not provided, the cumulative production from the GoT as of 2016 was approximately 4,944 MMBOE, with significant contributions from natural gas, crude oil, and condensate. The proved reserves in the GoT at the end of 2016 included 6.60 tcf of natural gas, 122.7 million barrels of crude oil, and 170.68 million barrels of oil equivalent of condensate.

Operators and Partnerships

• The development and operation of fields in the GoT, including the South Pakarang field, often involve partnerships between state-owned companies like PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) and international operators. For instance, other fields in the region are operated by companies such as Unocal (now part of Chevron) and Total.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

• The development of the South Pakarang field is integrated with broader infrastructure plans in the GoT, including offshore and onshore pipelines. For example, there were plans for a $219 million, 170-km offshore pipeline from the Unocal-operated Pailin gas field to southern Songkhla province, and other pipelines connecting various fields to the existing trunk lines.