gas hydrate - CCOP

ACTIVITIES
The CBM project in Thailand began in 2003 following a reform of bureaucracy in October
2002 which resulted in coal mining activities coming under the Department of Primary
Industries and Mines, while new coal technology came under the Department of Mineral
Fuels (DMF). Two types of CBM projects involved government and private companies
respectively. The first type was undertaken by the Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) of
Ministry of Energy and the second type was undertaken by private companies operating under
the Petroleum Acts (Thai III) with the royalty, work obligation/expenditure as governed under
Thai III.
Three CBM study projects, in the Mae Tha, Mae Lamao and Mae Sod basins were carried out
in northern Thailand. One project, Khainsa basin, was in southern Thailand. Both Mae Tha
and Mae Lamao basins in the north were awarded to academic institutes, the third, in the
South, was undertaken by a private company. The first project, by Suranaree University of
Technology in the Mae Tha Basin, Lampang province, was completed in June 2004. The
second project was awarded to Chiang Mai University to evaluate the CBM potential in the
Mae Lamao Basin, Tak province. The study was commenced at the end of December 2003
and completed by the end of 2004. The third project was awarded to ATOP Technology Co.
Ltd. to evaluate the CBM potential in the Mae Sod Basin, Tak province. The study was
commenced in early March 2006 and completed by the end of October 2006. A private
company, SVS Energy Resources Co. Ltd. applied for CBM development of an onshore block
(L71/43) and received an exploration license in July 2003. The called Khiansa Basin is
located in Pun Pin and Khiansa districts, Surat Thani province. Four wells were drilled in the
first obligation period. The MK-1 well did not reveal any coal beds whilst the PK-1 well
penetrated several thin coal beds.
GENERAL SETTING OF STUDY AREAS
The study areas are all within Tertiary basins show as Figure 1. The distance from Bangkok to
the study areas are 600 kilometers for the Mae Tha Basin, 450 kilometers for the Mae Lamao
Basin, 500 kilometers for the Mae Sod Basin and 800 kilometers for the Khiansa Basin.
New Energy Resources in the CCOP Region - Gas Hydrates and Coalbed Methane 131