PTT Investigates Field Shutdown
Thai state-owned energy giant PTT is investigating a shutdown at a natural gas field in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area (JDA) in the Gulf of Thailand, the company said in a statement. The JDA is a 7,250 km2 area in the Gulf of Thailand which was created as an interim measure to exploit the natural resources in the seabed or continental shelf claimed by the two countries and to share the proceeds equally.
PTT is also providing relief measures for power plants after the JDA A-18 block stopped operating on Saturday, June 24. The company said that the shutdown is temporary.
"PTT will be cooperating with producers and managing damages to be minimal for all sectors," Noppadol Pinsupa, vice president of PTT's gas business unit, said in a statement on June 25. The A-18 block is operated by PTT and Malaysia's Petronas Carigali and produces about 440mn ft3/d.
PTT said that the shutdown affected two power plants in the Chana district in southern Thailand, which usually receives about 180mn ft3/d from the JDA. In the meantime, the plants will be supplied with diesel fuel.
The PTT statement added that the company will supply 5mn ft3/d of substitute NGV gas to 10 of 16 affected gas stations in five provinces and 255mn ft3/d of natural gas from other sources to eastern Thailand.
Tim Daiss