Royal Dutch/Shell reenters Gulf of Thailand oil well

BANGKOK, July 26 -- Royal Dutch/Shell Group's plan to revive oil production in the Gulf of Thailand has begun with the successful reentry of a well that was shut down more than 4 years ago due to technical problems.

Nang Nuan B01, off the Chumphon coast in 30 m of water, flowed a combined rate of 7,500 b/d of light crude.

Thai Shell Exploration & Production Co. said the test will lead to the redevelopment of the single-well Nang Nuan field by the end of this year.

The company is trying to farm out its 1,307-sq km block B6/27, including Nang Nuan, Thailand's first offshore oil field (OGJ Online, Apr. 25, 2001).

Thai Shell has spent $10 million to reevaluate the Nang Nuan structure. Drilling problems prevented testing of another well drilled in the area.

Nang Nuan B01's peak production was 12,000 b/d. It had yielded 4.25 million bbl of oil before excessive water intrusion stopped production in 1997 (OGJ Online, Nov. 20, 2000).