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.
Feasibility studies for carbon dioxide absorption by the ocean and coastal ecosystems, also known as blue carbon (i.e. seagrass, seaweed, seashell) aim to support PTTEP’s Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 under the “EP Net Zero 2050” concept. The studies cover the techniques of seagrass planting on a pilot scale and potential seagrass planting areas in collaboration with Kasetsart University and the study with Chulalongkorn university for potential marine species such as seaweeds and seashells with high rate of carbon dioxide capture and can grow well in the Gulf of Thailand. The study results shall be used to support the Thai ocean conservation plans in the area of carbon sink enhancement and biodiversity abundance improvement.
The Green Buoy for seawater quality monitoring has been initiated to monitor quality of seawater. The buoy is powered by solar energy and equipped by seawater quality parameter sensors. Real-time monitoring results are automatically transmitted to the cloud and displayed on PTTEP Ocean Data Platform. The prototype buoy is currently located at nearshore of Koh Man Nai in Rayong province for seawater quality monitoring in various parameters such as seawater temperature, chlorophyll A, turbidity and conductivity etc. To enhance the Green Buoy efficiency, PTTEP is now working on the development of an automatic microplastic sensor to closely monitor the microplastic level in Thailand. Additionally, the study is being conducted to improve electrical generation (solar power) and storage for the buoy so that more seawater quality parameters can be generated to support ocean science.
The project of “Development of ocean current mapping and seawater surface temperature study through the use of current mapper buoys and satellite tracking” aims to conduct scientific study of the ocean covering temperature and currents at the seawater surface through the use of current mapper buoys equipped with temperature sensor with location tracking by satellite technology. This project has been initiated under the collaboration between PTTEP, the Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) and Kasetsart University. Results of the study shall be used as the key inputs for various ocean conservation and emergency plans and early warning system as well as the enhancement of ocean mathematical models such as marine debris dispersion prediction, climate change impact monitoring, potential impact to ecosystem and its human use prediction etc.
PTTEP utilized its offshore operation area for the microplastic baseline study and monitoring to define the marine debris situation in the Gulf of Thailand, under the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kasetsart University, to promote ocean sustainability. The project has started collecting seawater for microplastic study since 2020, which is the first such study in Thailand. It is also the world’s first attempt to use petroleum platforms as sampling sites. The project results will benefit ocean scientists and government agencies, so that they can better understand the ocean waste situation, then leading to the improvement of marine resources conservation.
The rising seawater temperature caused by global warming has significant impact on the corals, (known as coral bleaching) and biodiversity. To address this situation, in 2021 PTTEP in collaboration with Kasetsart University and AI and Robotics Ventures Company Limited (ARV), have launched a project of coral bleaching and biodiversity monitoring in coral reef areas with drone multi-spectral imaging application to monitor and evaluate the coral bleaching and biodiversity situation surrounding Koh Man Nai and Hin Tuoy Hoi in Rayong province. The project aims to gather data and develop the coral reef ecosystem and bleaching map utilizing drone equipped with marine spatial analytics, which is advanced innovation when compared to the existing traditional field survey techniques. Also, it is the first time that this has been conducted in Southeast Asia. Further development more advanced applications is understudy to improve survey capability and analysis results to be more rapid and efficient
Conservation of iconic aquatic animals to increase their population and survival rate is vital in both Thailand and in the global agenda. Considering the importance of this critical issue, PTTEP has launched its project of Underwater camera installation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) software development for the identification of aquatic iconic animals from the recorded VDO files. Currently, underwater cameras have been installed on jacket legs of 2 offshore petroleum platforms to acquire recorded VDO files of aquatic animals. The information obtained is used as part of the biodiversity baseline and monitoring of our operation areas. Besides, PTTEP has plans to extend the use of this Artificial Intelligence software in other underwater areas in Thailand through collaboration with other organizations.
Several PTTEP projects have been implemented for years with contribution from communities and other partners and have shown fruitful results. They include:
Mangrove Forestation to create coastal nurseries. The 5,000-rai forestation areas cover Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces. Supporting the national economic and social development plan, the project serves as a natural carbon sink, increases benthos species, and establishes a forest and environment conservation network.
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.
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.
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 sea turtles before return them to the sea. PTTEP also provides medical tools and equipment for sick or injured sea turtles treatment and surgery. Moreover, PTTEP supported conservation toolkits and renovated the conservation center’s landscape to turn it to a conservative tourism destination. In addition, PTTEP extended the support for the conservation center of Department of Marine and Coastal Conservation in Rayong province and the Royal Thai Navy’s conservation center in Songkhla province.
H.T.M.S. Underwater Learning Site Project is designed to be a case study methods of former battleships to be underwater tourist attraction transformation. 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. These man-made dive sites were 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.
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
Ocean Waste Management project aims to reduce impacts on marine and coastal ecosystem in 9 target provinces around the Gulf of Thailand through an ocean waste management model by preventing solid waste leakage into the ocean by installing the waste-trapping buoys in canals, initiating coastal and ocean waste collection activities, raising awareness on solid waste issue, increasing community income through technology-assisted production of construction materials from waste and recycling of waste from fishing net to other products and including marine conservation community network establishment.
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