Southeast Asia focused upstream oil and gas company KrisEnergy announced on Monday that the Mist jack-up rig has begun drilling the Montha-1 exploration well in the G10/48 contract area in the Gulf of Thailand.

The well, located approximately 15 kilometers west-northwest of the existing Wassana oil field, is planned to be drilled to a total depth of 10,456 feet measured depth (-9,150 feet true vertical depth subsea).

Once completed, the Mist rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling Management, will mobilize to the Wassana production area where three firm infill wells are planned plus one contingent well.

The G10/48 contract area covers 1,525 square kilometers over the Southern Pattani Basin in water depths of up to 60 meters. Operator KrisEnergy holds 89 percent working interest in G10/48, and the remaining 11 percent is held by Bangkok based Palang Sophon Limited.

The G10/48 licence area contains the Wassana, Niramai, Mayura and Rayrai oil discoveries. The Wassana oil field commenced oil production on August 14, 2015. The field comprises 14 development wells producing to a mobile offshore production unit with oil transfered to a floating storage and offloading vessel.

In March 2015, KrisEnergy encountered oil in the Rayrai-1 exploration well. The discovery is located 2.25 kilometers north of the Niramai oil accumulation discovered in 2009. Data from Rayrai-1 is being integrated into the G10/48 geological model to review and pinpoint future additional exploration and appraisal drilling locations.

(Image: KrisEnergy)

In the Gulf of Thailand, KrisEnergy also has a working interest in the B8/32 producing license and operates G10/48 as well as G6/48, which contains the Rossukon oil development project.

The company operates Block A across the maritime border in nearby Cambodian waters, where it is developing the Apsara oil field.