feature 60 Years of Chevron Thailand

Looking back 60 years, when the petroleum exploration and production business was still new to Thailand, no one would not have imagined that you would see the growth of the Thai energy industry since the pioneering era. Until today, Thailand has been able to reduce its dependence on foreign energy imports.

Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd. has not only witnessed the evolution of the energy industry over the last six decades but has also played an important role in laying the foundation for Thailand’s petroleum industry. Chevron is ready to embark on a new journey by leveraging our sixty years of experience and access to technological and operational excellence from around the world while remaining committed to delivering energy that meets sustainability goals and contributes to Thailand's future energy security.

In 1962, Chevron made its first step by being the first oil and gas company to have been awarded petroleum concession by the government in Thailand. Petroleum exploration during the pioneering days was full of challenges. Chevron worked tirelessly to create technology solutions that were effective and specifically suited for the challenging geological conditions in the Gulf of Thailand. As a result, Chevron made the first hydrocarbon discovery in the Gulf of Thailand and started commercializing them in 1981, marking a new era for the kingdom, where Thailand was on the path to increasing the country’s energy independence. Because of this, the economy of the nation expanded rapidly, and jobs were created. 
     
Throughout the past six decades of business operations in Thailand, Chevron produced over 17.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and over 1,065 million barrels of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (as of September 2022). These resources have been used to generate energy for households and fuel for industrial sectors. In addition, it serves as a source of energy for the country's economic and social development and for improving the quality of life for millions of Thais.

Chatit Huayhongtong, president of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., said, “Chevron is driven by 99% of Thai workforce and is managed mainly by Thai management team. As the primary goal for the next decade, we are determined to provide energy in a way that meets both sustainability and energy security. We intend to maximize the potential of existing energy deposits while unlocking the potential of new ones by extending production period at the Pailin field in the Gulf of Thailand, reconsidering to develop Ubon project, and undertaking petroleum development in the Thailand–Cambodia overlapping claims area (TCOCA). Recently, Chevron has submitted a bid at the 24th licensing round for the rights to petroleum exploration and production in the G2/65 concession block in the Gulf of Thailand. Chevron remains committed to technological advancement while continuing to make social and environmental contributions. We believe in the power of human energy and are motivated to achieve world-class performance. We are ready to work with partnering organizations from all sectors that have stood by our side for the previous sixty years.”

Chevron is continually developing and implementing new innovative technologies for Thailand to overcome complicated geological conditions, increasing operational efficiency, raising safety standards, and addressing environmental protection. Key breakthroughs include the first horizontal monobore oil well in the Gulf of Thailand and the drilling technology, which reduces the time it takes to drill a well from sixty days to six days.
 
The company recently established the Integrated Operations Center (IOC), which is the first time in Thailand that the control rooms of three offshore operating areas—namely, Benchamas, North Pailin, and South Pailin fields—have been consolidated at the Bangkok office, with the capacity to control and maneuver the production system from 300 kilometers away. Onshore personnel can collaborate with those offshore in real time 24 hours a day. The control center is an outstanding model of a new way of working and going to become another turning point for the petroleum exploration and production industry in the future.

Chevron intends to move toward a low-carbon society and reduce the carbon intensity of its operations as part of the new strategy. The company is poised to supply cleaner energy, in line with the global energy trends. As a global corporation, the company is supported by central business divisions like Chevron New Energies (CNE), which provides access to a world-class body of knowledge, experience, and technology linked to carbon emission reduction as well as sustainable technology breakthroughs such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. Moreover, the initiatives to pilot the use of renewable energy by means of solar cells or wind power at the rigs will be commenced in the near future.  
 
“We believe that the world is heading towards cleaner energy and we are prepared to support Thailand to the fullest extent in transitioning there through technological development that considers the environment at every step. We aim to achieve net zero emissions globally by 2050. Government policies and collaboration among partners across a multitude of sectors ought to be some of the key catalysts for various processes to work out,” said Chatit.
 
In addition, Chevron has adapted its policy to reduce the carbon intensity of operations in three ways by implementing the Clean Operations Strategy. The first is energy efficiency, which means reducing energy and fuel consumption in order to maximize the efficiency of machinery and equipment. The second is flare and vent, in which direct emissions of greenhouse gases will be decreased through ecologically conscious operations. The third step is to conduct a feasibility study to find and implement projects using advanced technologies to help deliver cleaner energy.

Chevron's belief in conducting business in conjunction with improving Thai people's quality of life has remained consistent over the past sixty years. The majority of Chevron and its partners' collaborative initiatives are long-term. Chevron's journey would not have been possible without the collaboration of our critical partners from all sectors. 

In addition to contributing to Thailand's energy security, Chevron's priority as one of the company's pillars of operations is to support the betterment of the Thai people's quality of life. Chevron has run hundreds of initiatives under its 4E's imperatives: Education, Environment and conserving energy, Economic development, and Employee engagement.

Throughout the course of our business operations in Thailand, we are proud of our contribution as a change agent that supports the nation’s energy security, economic growth and social prosperity. As we embark on our journey into the next decade, Chevron will remain relentless in our commitment to energy development that is safe, reliable and ever-cleaner energy to support the country’s development and help drive the economy sustainably.