Sirikit Oil Field

Open Days: Visits Are Available Only With Prior Permission

Opening Hours: According To The Schedule And Conditions Set By The Operator

 

Sirikit Oil Field in Kamphaeng Phet Province is one of the most important industrial and energy-related sites in Thailand. Located in Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, it is widely recognized as the largest onshore oil field in the country and a major milestone in Thailand’s petroleum history. Unlike ordinary tourist attractions, Sirikit Oil Field is an active petroleum production area with strict safety and security measures. Visitors who wish to study the site must contact the operator in advance and obtain permission before entering.

 

The importance of Sirikit Oil Field began in the early 1980s, when petroleum exploration in Lan Krabue revealed commercially viable crude oil resources. This discovery was a turning point for Thailand because it led to the country’s first major commercial crude oil production from an onshore field. The field became a symbol of national energy capability and helped demonstrate that Thailand could develop domestic petroleum resources through science, engineering, investment, and long-term technical management.

 

The field is operated under the S1 Project by PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, or PTTEP. As Thailand’s upstream petroleum company, PTTEP is responsible for exploration, development, and production activities. Operations at Sirikit Oil Field involve many areas of expertise, including geology, geophysics, drilling engineering, production engineering, reservoir management, safety systems, environmental management, and field logistics. The site therefore provides a valuable real-world example of how a petroleum field is operated from underground exploration to surface production.

 

The production process begins with the study of underground rock formations. Geologists and engineers analyze sedimentary basins, reservoir rocks, structural traps, and fluid characteristics to identify where oil and natural gas are likely to be found. Once a target is confirmed, exploration and production wells are drilled. Crude oil, natural gas, and produced water are brought to the surface and directed into production facilities where they are separated, measured, handled, and transported under strict operational standards.

 

What makes Sirikit Oil Field especially useful as an educational site is that it shows the full upstream energy process in a practical setting. Students, engineers, and visitors who receive permission to visit can learn about petroleum exploration, well drilling, production facilities, oil and gas separation, field safety, and environmental control. These topics are difficult to understand from textbooks alone, but they become clearer when connected with a real operating field.

 

Inside the Sirikit Oil Field area, the Piyachat Nithat Exhibition Center serves as an important learning facility. Established in 2003 to mark the 20th anniversary of Sirikit Oil Field, the center presents the history of petroleum and the field itself, the process of exploration and development, drilling and production methods, crude oil use in daily life, and a viewing area related to production operations. The exhibition helps turn complex petroleum knowledge into accessible information through displays, models, images, and guided explanations.

 

The exhibition center is particularly valuable for students and educational groups. It explains how petroleum resources are not found and produced by chance, but through systematic exploration, technical evaluation, engineering design, investment, and long-term field management. Visitors can also understand how oil and gas support everyday life through transportation, electricity, industry, materials, and petrochemical products. This makes the site a strong learning destination for science, engineering, energy, and environmental studies.

 

Safety is the most important condition for any visit. Sirikit Oil Field is an active industrial site with wells, pipelines, pressure systems, processing equipment, vehicles, and operating personnel. Visitors must follow the instructions of staff, remain within approved areas, and respect all safety rules. Entry without permission is not appropriate. Photography, movement, and access to specific areas may be restricted depending on operational conditions.

 

The field also plays an important role in the local economy of Lan Krabue and Kamphaeng Phet. Petroleum production creates direct and indirect employment, supports local services, and contributes to related businesses such as accommodation, food, transport, maintenance, and logistics. At the same time, PTTEP has supported community development and social activities in areas around its operations. This makes the oil field part of the economic and social landscape of Lan Krabue, not only an industrial facility.

 

Environmental management is another essential part of the field’s importance. Petroleum production involves underground resources, produced fluids, gas handling, waste control, and transportation. Modern operations therefore require monitoring systems, safety procedures, spill prevention, waste management, and environmental responsibility. Visitors can learn that energy production is not only about output volume; it also requires discipline, risk control, and care for the surrounding community and environment.

 

For industrial tourism, Sirikit Oil Field offers a different perspective on Kamphaeng Phet. The province is often associated with historical parks, laterite monuments, temples, and World Heritage-related sites. Sirikit Oil Field adds another dimension: industry, energy, technology, and science. A visit here helps travelers see that Kamphaeng Phet is not only a province of ancient history but also a place that has contributed to Thailand’s modern energy development.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car or organized group transport. From Kamphaeng Phet town, travel to Lan Krabue District, approximately 55–60 km depending on the route and starting point. Because the field is a controlled industrial site, visitors should arrange permission and follow the route provided by the operator. Independent entry into production areas is not allowed. Educational groups should clearly state the purpose of the visit, group size, age range, and preferred schedule when contacting the operator.

 

Visitors should prepare appropriately before visiting. Wear polite and practical clothing, follow safety instructions, do not touch equipment, do not leave designated routes, do not smoke in restricted areas, and do not use drones or take photographs in areas where permission is not granted. These rules are essential because an operating petroleum field is very different from a normal tourist attraction. Respecting safety requirements allows visitors to learn effectively while protecting themselves and the operation.

 

Sirikit Oil Field is also a useful place for understanding energy in everyday life. Oil and gas are connected with transportation, electricity, industry, materials, and many products people use daily. Seeing the upstream origin of these resources helps visitors understand the cost, complexity, and responsibility involved in energy use. This kind of learning can encourage more thoughtful attitudes toward energy efficiency and natural resource management.

 

In summary, Sirikit Oil Field is one of the most valuable industrial learning destinations in Thailand. It combines petroleum history, engineering, energy security, local economy, environmental management, and national development in one site. Although it is not open for casual walk-in tourism, visitors who arrange permission in advance can gain rare insight into the upstream energy industry and the role of Kamphaeng Phet in Thailand’s petroleum story.

 

 

A: Sirikit Oil Field is located in Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, within PTTEP’s S1 Project area.

 

A: It is Thailand’s largest onshore oil field and a major milestone in the country’s commercial crude oil production history.

 

A: Visits require prior permission because the site is an active petroleum production area with strict safety and security measures.

 

A: Visitors can learn about petroleum history, exploration, drilling, production, oil and gas separation, and energy use through the Piyachat Nithat Exhibition Center and approved learning points.

 

A: Visitors should contact PTTEP in advance for permission and can also contact Lan Krabue Municipality for local area information.

 

A: It is suitable for students, educational groups, government agencies, and visitors interested in energy, engineering, geology, petroleum, and industrial tourism.

 

A: Nearby places include Piyachat Nithat Exhibition Center, Lan Krabue Market, Kamphaeng Phet National Museum, and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park.