Ocean for Life
Oceans are like a second home to PTTEP as our operations are mostly offshore. Tasking ourself to safeguard, preserve and protect the oceans, we initiated the “Ocean for Life” strategy to conserve and rehabilitate marine resources and marine ecosystem in a sustainable manner. Under the strategy, PTTEP is geared towards environmental–friendly operations as well as engagement of community or our neighbor in increasing biodiversity for the balance and abundance of Thai seas as well as the income and quality of life in 17 coastal provinces along the Gulf of Thailand. Several activities have been successfully implemented thanks to contributions from communities, government agencies, local government offices and education institutions, and more activities are being executed under a 10–year Ocean for Life roadmap (2020–2030) that aims to achieve the following 3 goals:
Sustainable Ocean–Friendly Operations
PTTEP has emphasized environmental–friendly operations. In leaping to the next level, the company embarks on the study in innovations and apply innovations in the production process: for instance, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) has been used in the inspection and maintenance of underwater device and equipment. PTTEP also places an emphasis on re–injecting 100% of produced water into oil and gas reservoirs at our offshore fields in Thailand. This method will be applied in our overseas operations. We have honored international standards, complied with applicable laws, and in some countries exceeded minimum legal requirements. PTTEP explores suitable approaches to place artificial reefs (Rig to Reef). We have conducted biodiversity surveys at offshore sites to identify the abundance of the ecosystem under production platforms. We have supported environmental–friendly decommissioning of expired platforms and equipment.
Sustainable Ocean Health and Blue Carbon Solutions
PTTEP strives to enhance the operational efficiency and specialization of offshore assets in the Gulf of Thailand, under the goal to become a marine and coastal data center that links up with domestic and foreign government offices and private organizations. The center also aims to broaden data access to people in general who share the ambition in protecting and preserving marine resources as well as researchers. PTTEP’s offshore operational sites are the starting point. Through collaboration with multiple partners like the government sector, leading universities and sustainable development–related independent organizations, the offshore sites support ocean data collection and marine study projects. Among them are the first Micro–plastic Baseline Study in the Gulf of Thailand; the restoration of Thailand’s ocean data to enhance research capability and build up a global marine science network; the development of Cloud Platform that links with the national database to trace underwater biodiversity and marine endangered species like turtles and whale sharks; and the improvement of ecosystem and coastal activity surveys through drone and advanced technology for ocean sustainability.
Sustainable Community around the Ocean
Several PTTEP projects have been implemented for years with contribution from communities and other partners and have shown fruitful results. They include:
H.T.M.S. Underwater Learning Site Project , designed to study and develop methods to transform former battleships to be underwater tourist attraction. The project is a collaborative effort with various agencies and the local communities to lays H.T.M.S. Prab at Koh Ngam Noi, Chumphon Province and H.T.M.S. Sattakut at Koh Tao, Surat Thani Province. The man–made dive site is built to be a new home for corals and marine animals as well as to reduce impacts on the natural coral reefs that are recovering from coral bleaching. It has been considered as one of the popular dive sites to study marine biodiversity. In addition, this project reveals the abundance of marine life in Thai sea and helps promoting tourism and generating income for local communities.
Aquatic Animal Hatchery Learning Center to promote economic aquatic animal aquaculture. Developed on a crab hatchery learning center with collaboration from government offices and community, the learning center transfers knowledge and promotes conservative fishing for communities in 17 coastal provinces in the Gulf of Thailand. Through the center, a marine resource conservation network is established, to conserve and promote sustainable fishing. PTTEP has established aquatic animal hatchery learning centers in Songkhla, Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces and integrated technology in the enhancement of local fishing groups’ knowledge.
Sea Turtle Conservation implemented in cooperation with Air and Coastal Defense Command, the Royal Thai Navy’s Sea Turtles Conservation Center in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province. PTTEP supports the renovation of office, hatchery and hospital buildings, to ensure international hygiene standards for the hatchery and treatment of sick sea turtles before their return to the sea. PTTEP also provides medical tools and equipment in support of treatment and operations; prepares the exhibition area and conservation toolkits; and renovates the conservation center’s landscape to turn it to a conservative tourism destination. Supports will be extended to the conservation center on Koh Mannai Island in Rayong province and the Royal Thai Navy’s conservation center in Songkhla province.
Ocean Waste Management to reduce impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystem in 9 target provinces through an ocean waste management model that starts from blocking waste leakage to the seas to waste–trapping buoys in canals; coastal and ocean waste collection activities; raising awareness on daily waste volume; increasing community income through technology–assisted production of flooring materials from waste and modification of waste and obsolete fishing equipment to other products; and the establishment of a marine conservation community network.
Mangrove Forestation to create coastal nurseries by expanding mangrove forests to cover 45,000 rais of land. The project serves as a natural carbon sink, increases benthos species, and establishes a forest and environment conservation network.
Coastal Conservation Area and Fish Home that involves the marking of coastal conservation areas with buoys and the building of fish home at aquatic animal learning centers in 17 coastal provinces in the Gulf of Thailand. The project is aimed at increasing the abundance of marine biodiversity and sustainable income for the fishing communities.
Seafood Product Value Enhancement that throws supports to the communities under the 17 coastal provinces’ Aquatic Animal Hatchery Learning Center network. They are encouraged to form a seafood production and distribution group, enjoying the provision of basic production tools and equipment and training by experts on the production of seafood and processed seafood as well as online marketing. Through the supports, the quality of their products meets market demands while communities earn more income and create more jobs
PTTEP believes that projects implemented under the Ocean for Life strategy will not only restore the balance of marine ecosystem but also generate income and promote decent quality of life for coastal communities. Aside, the projects support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal #14 – Life below water. Eventually, they will further improve Thailand’s and global Ocean Health Index.
On our business journey, aside from petroleum exploration in support of the country’s development and uninterrupted consumption, PTTEP’s another emphasis has always involved the harnessing of partnership in creating shared value and growth for society, community and the environment.
Visit PTTEP Ocean Data Platform for Thailand’s offshore ocean data derived from our research and projects under the Ocean for Life strategy with collaboration from our partners. The platform encourages a wide range of data applications to promote sustainable conservation and rehabilitation of the marine resources.
