PTT investigation in Malaysia-Thailand JDA gas field shutdown underway

Investigations over a shutdown at a natural gas field in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area (JDA) in the Gulf of Thailand are currently underway, according to Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas company PTT Public Company Limited (PTT).

PTT also said it is carrying out relief measures to power plants and gas stations after the JDA’s A-18 block stopped operating on Saturday. Operations have yet to resume, but PTT said 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.

The A-18 block is operated by PTT and Malaysia’s Petronas Carigali and produces about 440 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, according to PTT.

The shutdown affected two power plants in the Chana district in southern Thailand, which usually receives about 180 million cubic feet a day from the JDA. The plants will be supplied with diesel fuel in the meantime, PTT said.

Five million cubic feet per day of substitute NGV gas will be supplied to 10 of 16 affected gas stations in five provinces and 255 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from other sources will be supplied to eastern Thailand, according to PTT.