PTTEP sees 2023 sales at new high

PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) expects its sales of oil and gas this year to reach a new high of 470 kilo barrels of oil equivalent per day (KBOED), driven by gas supply from the Erawan field in the Gulf of Thailand. Sales tallied 468 KBOED last year. Orachon Ouiyamapun, senior vicepresident for finance, attributed the increase to a doubling of gas production at Erawan.

She said gas production at Erawan is 210 million metric standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), a sharp drop from 800 MMSCFD, as PTTEP faced a twoyear delay in its plan to enter the gas block for gas production preparation.

The problem stemmed from a legal dispute between its predecessor, USbased Chevron Corp, and the Department of Mineral Fuels.

The company expects gas production to increase to 400 MMSCFD in the middle of this year and 800 MMSCFD within the end of 2023.

PTTEP estimates gas prices will increase to US$6.2 per metric million British thermal unit (MMBTU) this year, up from $6.1 per MMBTU.

Dubai crude oil reference prices are expected at a range from $85-95 per barrel, down from the average price of $96.38 per barrel last year.

PTTEP participated in the 24th round of an auction for licences for offshore petroleum exploration and production at three new sites in the Gulf of Thailand.

The three blocks were partially explored decades ago but have yet to be developed into new petroleum production sites due to the impact of political conflicts in the country.

They are the 8,487-square-kilometre G1/65, the 15,030-sq-km G2/65 and the 11,646-sq-km G3/65.

The Department of Mineral Fuels is scheduled to announce the winners of the auction this month, said Ms Orachon.

A petroleum exploration period will last six years and can be renewed.

She said PTTEP’s additional petroleum production also comes from Myanmar’s Yadana gas field, Algeria HBR (1st phase) and Oman Block 61.