Increased natural gas output could help lower energy bills

Department director-general Sarawut Kaewtathip on Thursday quoted natural gas surveying and extracting company PTTEP Energy Development’s report that it had increased output to 400 million cubic feet per day after installing 8 wellhead platforms and four drilling rigs in plot G1/61 of the Gulf of Thailand.

He said the company is also procuring an additional two drilling rigs this year. The Erawan field currently has a total of 96 wellheads, and with more equipment to hand, PTTEP expects to meet its goal of having 273 wellheads by year-end.

Sarawut said that from the report, the department estimates that natural gas output from December this year will rise to 600 million cubic feet per day and then to 800 million cubic feet per day by April next year.

“Thailand’s increasing natural gas output means we can reduce imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from overseas for power…