PTTEP and Kasetsart University, carry out a project to create baseline data and monitor microplastics to define the marine debris situation in the Gulf of Thailand (GOT), which is quite a challenge, nationally and internationally.

The project has been operational since October 2020, utilizing PTTEP offshore operational sites in the GOT as seawater sampling sites to analyze the amount of microplastics and identify the type of plastics found. Seawater samples are collected by trained PTTEP offshore staff. In addition, seawater samples are also collected at Chao Phraya River Estuary of Samut Prakarn Province, Chumphon Estuary of Chumphon Province, Koh Tao of Surat Thani Province, Koh Losin of Pattani Province, and to compare the results over 4 periods throughout the year.

Seawater samples were delivered to the Marine Debris Operations Unit, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, to measure the microplastic volume and analyze the plastic types, and identify the detected plastic products using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), which is a modern technology and certified by international standards.

PTTEP has completed the microplastic baseline report detected in seawater in the GOT in 2021. The result demonstrates that the Chao Phraya River Estuary of Samut Prakarn Province has the highest average microplastic volume, which is consistent with an assumption that there will be a higher microplastic volume in coastal areas near communities than offshore areas. In addition, PTTEP and Kasetsart University is scheduled to be conducted on a biennial basis to track the ongoing situation in the GOT, by expanding the sampling areas to cover all PTTEP offshore petroleum platforms. The data from its platform is the most distant microplastic data in Thailand and connected to the governmental and relevant agencies databases for the integration of ocean waste management (nearshore-mid shore-offshore), which will consequently lead to the concrete conservation of marine resources.