The Thai ministry this week said that nine consortia were bidding for five onshore blocks and six offshore blocks in the Gulf of Thailand – the first of a total of 82 offshore and onshore blocks to be offered until June 30, 2006.

Bidders for the six offshore blocks included Unocal Andaman, PTTEP Siam, Thai Energy, Total E&P, Occidental, Borcos, Pearl Oil (Thailand), Horizon Oil (Thailand) and Thana Oil & Gas (Thailand).

Bidders for the five onshore blocks included PTTEP Siam, Apico LLC, and JSX Energy (Thailand).

Horizon was part of a consortium of Pearl Oil (Thailand) and Thana Oil & Gas (Thailand) bidding for two offshore blocks, G10/48 and G11/48.

Earlier this year Horizon, Pearl and Thana drilled several non-commercial wells in the Gulf of Thailand, including some into the Bussabong field.

Horizon chief executive Brent Emmett said then Horizon would still participate with Pearl and Thana in bidding for further blocks, with new exploration acreage being widely available. He said wells could be drilled quickly and cheaply, the Thai market was short of gas and good prices were being paid.

Horizon is also involved in the New Zealand Maari oil field development offshore Taranaki, Block 22/12 and Lei Dong Block 24/05 in China, and Bayou Choctaw in the United States.