The beginning of natural gas (1961 – 1980) In the year 1967, Thailand issued an announcement inviting the private sector to apply for petroleum exploration and production rights in the continental shelf (Gulf of Thailand) and in the Andaman Sea It appears that there are 6 licensed companies.
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In 1973, Union Oil Company succeeded in discovering the country’s first commercial natural gas field in block number 12, which was later named “Erawan” field. and liquefied natural gas in satisfactory quantities (Formerly expected to find oil), the company expects that it may not be worthwhile to explore and produce gas from the Gulf of Thailand. Because at that time there was no market for natural gas and liquefied natural gas in the country. (Most of the country’s fuel at that time was oil, coal and firewood). However, the company decided to drill more. While negotiating the sale of gas to
Gas Organization (PTT at present) and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to be used as fuel to generate electricity simultaneously.
Started generating electricity with natural gas (1981 – Present)
After the discovery of the Erawan field, Unocal entered into an agreement to sell gas to the company. PTT is a success Natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand is also delivered via subsea pipelines. Ashore at Rayong to be used in electricity generation. as fuel in industry And some are separated and fed to the petrochemical industry. While successful exploration and drilling has made Thailand attractive in the eyes of foreign oil companies, invitations have been issued to apply for petroleum exploration and production rights in the country again.
In 1979, Thai Shell and Esso Exploration Inc. were granted concessions for onshore petroleum exploration by Thai Shell covering areas in Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, and Kamphaeng Phet provinces.
Pradu Thao-1 well at Kong Krailat District, Sukhothai Province (June 4 – September 4, 1981), found crude oil flowing 400 barrels per day.
Lan Krabue Hole – A1, Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province (1 September – 1 December 1981), found 2,050 – 5,450 barrels of crude oil per day.
Subsequently, this oil field of Thai Shell E&P is known as Sirikit source and counted as the country’s largest oil field
As for Esso Exploration Inc., it has received concessions in the northeastern region for 5 blocks E1 – E5 and has drilled the first exploration well in Nam Phong District. Khon Kaen Province, Nam Phong-1 well began drilling on April 12, 1981 and reached a final depth of 18,471 feet, with approximately 54 million cubic feet of natural gas flowing per day. Currently, it has been developed to be a source used to produce gas for sale to EGAT, used to generate electricity for the northeastern region. and known as Nam Phong gas field
1980 Started laying gas pipelines in the sea (Gulf of Thailand – Rayong and onshore natural gas pipelines (Rayong – Bang Pakong Power Plant). South Bangkok Power Plant) first line
1981 brought natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand and used it as fuel to generate electricity. and in industrial plants
In 1985, the Thai government established a company PTT Exploration and Production Limited (PTTEP), which was later transformed into a public company. Currently, PTTEP is able to conduct petroleum exploration and production in the country with mostly Thai personnel.
1995 Signed gas purchase agreement from Yanada field, Burma.
Information from www.enengythai.com/
separation of natural gas
Natural gas separation is the separation of different gasses mixed in natural gas. and to make use of natural gas. Get the most benefit because each type of gas has different economic values. Therefore, different types of gas must be separated from each other. There are 2 natural gas separation plants in Thailand: Map Ta Phut Sub-district, Muang District, Rayong Province and a natural gas separation plant. and at Khanom District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province There are two steps in gas separation as follows:
Step 1: Separation of non-hydrocarbon gas from natural gas.
Step 2 Separate the gas that is hydrocarbon compounds from each other by fractional distillation after fractional distillation. The different gasses will be separated from each other as follows.
1) Methane gas : Used as fuel for generating electricity in industrial plants. and put into the tank with high pressure called compressed natural gas can be used as fuel in cars Known as “Natural Gas for Vehicles”
2) Ethane : Used as raw material in the upstream petrochemical industry. can be used to produce plastic pellets different types of plastic fibers for further processing
3) Propane Gas and Butane Gas : Propane gas can be used as feedstock in the upstream petrochemical industry.
Likewise, and if propane gas and butane gas are mixed together compressed into the tank as liquefied petroleum gas Also known as cooking gas can be used as household fuel as fuel for vehicles And can be used to weld metal as well as being used in some types of industrial plants as well
4) Liquid hydrocarbons: in a liquid state at temperatures and atmospheric pressure when it is produced at the mouth of the well on the production platform Can be separated from gaseous hydrocarbons on the production platform, called condensate, can be transported by ship or pipe. further refined into finished oil
5) Natural Gasoline : Although the condensate is separated when the production reaches the wellhead on the production platform, some of the liquid hydrocarbons are released with the gaseous hydrocarbons during the natural gas separation process. This liquid hydrocarbon is then separated, called natural gasoline. and sent to the refinery It can be a mixture of finished oil products as well as condensate. and also a solvent which can be used in some industries as well
6) Carbon Dioxide : After the separation process will be brought to a solid state Then dry ice is used in the food preservation industry. Soft drink and beer industry It is used to preserve food during transportation and is used as an important raw material for making artificial rain. and used to create smoke in the entertainment industry such as concerts or filming
