THAILAND PETROLEUM PROVINCES

Petroleum provinces in Thailand can be geographically separated into six regions, the Northern Thailand,
the Central Plain, the Northeastern Thailand, Southern Thailand, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman
Sea. Petroliferous basins are mostly Tertiary in age and distributed in various parts of the country, both
onshore and offshore. Ten Tertiary basins are assured their petroleum systems to yield commercial
hydrocarbon accumulation. Pre-Tertiary basin located in the northeast is made up of sedimentary rocks
dating from Carboniferous to Tertiary. Hydrocarbon deposits have been found and currently produced
from Permian strata.

Figure 1: Sedimentary basins in Thailand

103

105
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101

99

97
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19

Myanmar
Myanmar

" Nan
Nan
Nan

Nan
Nan
Nan

17

17

|
|

15

13

15

21

Vietnam
Vietnam

Laos
Laos
|

19

95
|

21

11

Suphan
Suphan
Buri
Buri
" Suphan
Suphan
Suphan
Suphan Buri
Buri
Buri
Buri

Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok
!

Andaman
Andaman Sea
Sea
|

13

Cambodia
Cambodia

Gulf
Gulf of
of Thailand
Thailand

LEGEND
LEGEND

|
|
Songkhla
Songkhla
Songkhla
Songkhla
Songkhla

"

Surat
Surat
Surat
Thani
Thani
Surat
Surat
Surat Thani
Thani
Thani
Thani

Northern
Northern Intermontane
Intermontane Basin
Basin
Central
Central Plain
Plain
Khorat
Khorat Plateau
Plateau
Vietnam
Vietnam
Southern
Southern Plain
Plain
Gulf
Gulf of
of Thailand
Thailand
Andaman
Andaman Sea
Sea
Others
Others
Gas
Gas Field
Field
Oil
Oil Field
Field

11

"

North
North
North
North
North
North
North
North
North

5 |
95

Malaysia
Malaysia

Department
Department
Department
of
of
Mineral
Mineral
Resources
Resources
Department
Department
Departmentof
of
of
ofMineral
Mineral
Mineral
MineralResources
Resources
Resources
Resources
August
August31,
31,
31,2000
2000
2000
August
31,
2000
August
August
31,
2000

Indonesia
Indonesia
|

97

99

101

0
0
0
0
00
00
0

!
50
50
50
50
50
50

100
100
100
100
100
100

Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers
Kilometers

103

105

Northern Intermontane Basin

The area is presumably bounded to the south by the Uttaradit Fault Zone and its assumed south
westward projection. The area consist of ten intermontane Tertiary basins ranging in various size. The
basin were formed as a series of pull apart basins of mainly north-south trending half grabens. Basins
are generally narrow but deep and occasionally emit an abnormal high heat flow. The exploration is
intensively carried out in the Fang area whereas other parts are very limited.
Since the first oilfield, Chai Prakan, was found in the Fang Basin 50 years ago, a number of marginal
oilfields were subsequently discovered. Petroleum is produced from fluvio-lacustrine sandstones which
are sealed and sourced by lacustrine shales of similar age. A variety of structural traps presents such as
antithetic and synthetic faults, rollover anticline and normal fault. Oil shows from well penetrated to
Triassic sandstone basement does not rule out the possibility of finding hydrocarbon in pre-Tertiary
rocks in the area.
Seven blocks are reserved and under the supervision of Department of Defense. These blocks cover
Fang, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Phare, Chiang Rai and Payoa Basins. Five blocks delineated by the
Department of Mineral Resources are available for bid in the area covering Mae Sod, Pua and Nan
Basins. The first seismic survey acquired in 1997 over Mae Sod basin reveal the subsurface structure of
the basin. Thick oil shale strata observed from outcrop and shallow wells are evident to the presence of
excellent source rock in the area. Petroleum system in these basins is expected to be similar to Fang
Basin.

Figure 2 Display the Seismic Section over the Mae Sod Basin
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Central Plain
This region consists of a number of north-south trending half grabens formed by conjugate
transtensional shear during early Tertiary age. A number of oil fields have been discovered in the
Phitsanulok, Suphan Buri, Kamphaeng Saen and Petchabun Basins. The Phitsanulok, the largest basin, is
filled up with 8 km of sediments. Ten oil fields have been discovered in the basin. Hydrocarbons are
mainly produced from Oligocene-Miocene fluvio-lacustrine sandstone. However, a significant amount of
oil produced from fractured and weathred granites of pre-Tertiary rocks are continually increasing.
The principal reservoir rocks in the area are sandstone of Miocene age. Source and seal are provided by
Miocene lacustrine shales. A variety of play types exist including rollover, faulted anticline, tilted blocks,
stratigraphic pinch-out and buried hill.
A large number of blocks are available for bid throughout the Central Plain. A number of untested
prospects were left in surrounding area of existing concessions. Traces of very light oil found in vuggy
Permian limestone south of Phitsanulok basin guide to the possibility of finding hydrocarbon in preTertiary rock in this region.

second

Figure 3 Seismic Cross-section of Suphan Buri Basin

Khorat Plateau
The Khorat Plateau named as a geographical entity covers an area of approximately 200,000 km2,
occupying almost entire region of the northeast Thailand. The Khorat Plateau is underlain by PermoCarboniferous, Triassic, Mesozoic and Tertiary basins. These complex sets of basins formed by several
plate collisions and subsequent extensions during four different periods, from middle Paleozoic to
Tertiary. The Permo-Carboniferous sequences consist of shallow marine siliclastic and carbonate
sediments. During Late Triassic, a series of half-graben basins developed sporadically. The Triassic
sequences are mainly lacustrine and fluviatile clastic sediments. After uplift and erosion in latest Triassic,
the region was subside and subsequently overlained by thick non-marine Mesozoic Redbeds. The
Tertiary sediments, consisting of Aeolian and alluvial deposits, are relatively thin and locally.
Permian carbonate is the gas-bearing reservoir whereas Permian shale and Triassic organic rich shales
are potential source rocks. Secondary porosity from dolomitization and fracture enhance the reservoir
quality and being the key factor for increasing the productivity. Long period and complex tectonic
evolution resulted in a variety of structural and stratigraphic configurations which provide favorable
conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation. Three significant gas fields were discovered. Apart from the
established plays which are unconformity-related-carbonates, the Khorat Plateau still contains significant
plays and prospects which have not yet been fully explored. Recent seismic data in the frontier area
along the southern rim of Khorat Plateau and Nakhon Thai High reveals a hidden Permian structure
which has been overlooked in the past and waiting to be investigated. Virtually all of Northeastern
Thailand is available for licensing.

Figure 4 Schematic Cross-section and Play Type of Khorat Plateau

"

"

km

km
Khorat
Redbeds

4
Basement

Triassic Lacustrine

Permian Carbonates / Clastics

Permian Reefs

Figure 5 Seismic Cross-section of the Southern Rim of Khorat Basin

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Figure 6 Stratigraphy of Khorat Basin

Age

Group

Formation

Quaternary

Gravel Beds

Tertiary

Younger Red Beds

Lithology

Phu Tok
Maha Sarakham

Cretaceous

Khok Kruat
Phu Phan
Sao Khua

Jurassic

Khorat Group

Phra Wihan
Phu Kradung
Nam Phong

Triassic

Triassic Group

Upper Clastics

Permian
Ratburi Group
U. Carb.

Huai Hin Lat

Carbonates
(Pha Nok Khao)
Lower Clastics
+

Carb. & Older

Pre-permian Basement
+

+
+

+
+
+

+
+
+

+
+
+

+
+
+

+
+

+
+

Southern Plain
A few small basins containing Tertiary strata exist in the onshore southern area. The largest basin is the
Khien Sa Basin. The exploration within this region has not yet been successful. Two wells were drilled to
test hydrocarbon accumulation in Tertiary strata of Khian Sa Basin. The result were not encouraging.
However, oil stains found in Middle Jurassic shales and sandstones indicate some hydrocarbon potential
of older sediments in the area. In addition, the discovery of Nang Nuan oilfield in Chumporn Basin to the
north which is a buried hill play of Permian carbonate reservoir bring to the possibility of finding
hydrocarbon in the pre-Tertiary rocks and should be the target for the future exploration in this area.
Not many subsurface information are available and little is known about the hydrocarbon potential of the
under explored Southern Thailand. Five blocks are available for bid.

Gulf of Thailand
The majority of petroleum produced in Thailand comes from offshore Tertiary basins in the Gulf of
Thailand. The Ko Kra Ridge splits the Gulf into two parts. The western portion contains ten main basins
of various sizes. Discoveries have been made in Chumporn and Songkhla Basins. The eastern part is
composed of Pattani, Khmer and Malay Basin. Pattani and Malay are hydrocarbon prolific basins.
Sediments are non-marine in origin, mainly fluvio-lacustrine deposits. However, the eastern portion was
influenced by marine incursion during the early Miocene age. Hydrocarbons are found in Oligocene and
Miocene sandstones. Source rocks are of Oligocene and Miocene sediments. The Oligocene sources are
oil-prone source rocks which contains Type I kerogen. The Miocene sources are fluvial flood plain and
delta plain sediments which mainly consits of Type III kerogen and tend to yield gas.
A variety of trap types present in the Gulf such as anticlinal faults, tilted faults, rollover and buried hills.
A number of oil and gas fields have been found in Pattani and North Malay Basin. Most of the gas fields
are distributed all over the central part of the Pattani basin while oil fields are gathered in the shallower
part of the basin margin.
Blocks are available for bid throughout the Gulf particulary in the northern and southern portions.
Figure 7 below, generalized stratigraphic schemes of Tertiary basins in the Gulf of Thailand.

Figure 7 Conceptual Play Types in the Gulf of Thailand

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Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea is located in the western Thailand. The region is divided into two parts by shelf
margin, the shallow and deep water parts. The Mergui, the transtensional back arc basin, is situated
mainly in the deep water. The basin is the northern extension of North Sumatra Basin. The Mergui Basin
is the only one Tertiary basin of which sediments are truly marine origin. Two un-appraised gas
prospects have been found and several gas show were encountered in the Oligocene sandstones. Early
Miocene sandstones and carbonate build-ups formed on the horst and shelf margin are excellent in
quality and would be potential reservoirs. Oligocene and Early Miocene shales with landplant-derived
organic matters are potential source rocks. However, matured source rocks are mainly restricted in the
deep part of the basin. A variety of play types can be found both structurally and stratigraphically. A
number of structural traps presented are related to extensional and transtensional tectonics. The

untested stratigraphic plays of Middle Miocene turbiditic sandstone and pinch-out of Oligocene sandstone
against basement are the prime target for future exploration.
Three shallow water blocks and one deep water block are available for bid.

Figure 8 Seismic Cross-section

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Figure 9 Stratigraphy of the Mergui Basin

Relative Changes of
sea level
(EXXON 1979)
+ present sea level

AGE
Holocene

NORTH SUMATRA
BASIN

MERGUI
BASIN

JULU RAYEU
SEURULA

TAKUA PA

Pliocene

M L

Pleistocene

KEUTAPANG

THALANG

BAONG

TRANG

Miocene

PEUTU
BELUMAI

ARUN

M L

BAMPO

Oligocene

SURIN

PARAPAT

TAI

KANTANG

YALA

PAYANG

RANONG

major unconformity
minor unconformity