Putra Heights gas pipeline fire believed caused by BLEVE phenomenon: Expert

August 23, 2025

Dateline 2025-04-01, Daily Express:

KUALA LUMPUR: The gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, today is believed to have been caused by a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE), according to a retired senior fire officer.

Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid, a former director-general of the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), said the incident could have been due to leaked flammable gas, causing gas vapour to linger in the air before ignition triggered a massive explosion.

“When this flammable gas vapour is suspended in the air, it is just a matter of ignition or a fire source … leading to a powerful explosion from a leaking pipeline or a container holding flammable gases.

“This container may have ruptured, leaked, or had an open valve, among other possible causes,” he said during the Bernama World programme aired by Bernama TV today.


PTTEP Buys Chevron’s Hess Unit Share of Southeast Asia’s Offshore Block for $450M

August 22, 2025

Dateline 2025-07-25, Offshore Engineer:

Thailand’s state-backed energy firm PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has acquired 50% of Block A-18 in the Malaysia–Thailand Joint Development Area (MTJDA) through a $450 million deal with Chevron’s subsidiaries.

The transaction, completed on July 25, was executed through PTTEP Joint Development SG, a newly established Singapore-based subsidiary of PTTEP.


PTTEP Hires Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig for Drilling Campaign off Malaysia

August 21, 2025

Dateline 2025-07-01, Offshore Engineer:

Malaysia’s oil and gas services Velesto has secured a drilling contract for its NAGA 5 jack-up drilling rig by PTTEP HK Offshore and PTTEP Sarawak Oil, collectively referred as PTTEP, for its 2025 – 2026 drilling campaign in Malaysia.

Under the contract, Velesto will assign NAGA 5, one of its premium jack-up rigs, to drill a firm 15 wells with operations scheduled to commence in June 2025.


Dutch Contractor Completes Malaysia’s Largest ‘Rig-to-Reef’ Decom Project

August 20, 2025

Dateline 2025-07-21, Offshore Engineer:

Dutch offshore contractor Marine Masters has completed its offshore scope for the decommissioning of the South Angsi Alpha (SAA) platform, operated by Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia, marking a major milestone in the repurposing of retired offshore infrastructure.

The platform’s substructure is now resting on the seabed as part of Malaysia’s largest rig-to-reef project.

The SAA platform, located 130 km off the Terengganu coast, was a 4,000 mt weighing four-legged Mobile Offshore Application Barge (MOAB) that served as a full production facility for over 15 years.


Vantris’ RM1.1b rescue from MOF hinges on restructuring by March 2026

August 19, 2025

Dateline 2025-08-15, The Edge Malaysia:

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): Vantris Energy Bhd (KL:VANTNRG), formerly Sapura Energy, has signed a deal with a Ministry of Finance (MOF)-owned firm for an up to RM1.1 billion cash injection to pay its Malaysian vendors. The deal depends on Vantris’ restructuring plan taking effect by March 11, 2026, though the deadline can be extended upon agreement by both parties.

In a filing with the bourse, the debt-laden oil and gas company said it signed a redeemable convertible loan stocks (RCLS) subscription agreement with Malaysia Development Holding (MDH) on Friday. The deal was first announced in March this year.


Can CCUS save Malaysia’s oil and gas industry?

August 18, 2025

Dateline 2025-03-21, The Edge Malaysia:

KUALA LUMPUR (March 21): In the same month that the Malaysian government extended RM1.1 billion in support for ailing Sapura Energy (KL:SAPNRG), it also introduced the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill 2025. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli emphasised the urgency of the bill, stating: “The tender for carbon storage is currently ongoing. If Malaysia cannot enforce this by March 31, we will be out — we cannot enter the bid.” However, it remains unclear what precisely Malaysia is bidding for.

Although Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib told Parliament that “drafting of the CCUS Bill was implemented based on a whole-of-nation approach”, clearly, parts of the nation were not on board. Environmental groups such as Klima Action Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, RimbaWatch and Greenpeace all criticised the bill for lacking sufficient environmental safeguards. Also not part of the “whole-of-nation” are Sabah and the Deputy Minister’s home state of Sarawak, where the bill does not apply.


Anwar: LNG imports from US only if viable, no burden on Petronas

August 17, 2025

Dateline 2025-08-14, Malay Mail:

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Petronas’ decision to import additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States (US) is subject to its capabilities and the country’s needs, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

“I don’t think that this is a problem because we only import what we need and it is based on commercial terms which will not be a burden on Petronas and the nation,” he said.

He said this in response to a supplementary question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) on the impact of a precondition set by the US, which requires Malaysia to import additional LNG worth US$3.4 billion annually — equivalent to 4.0 million metric tonnes per year.


Rystad Energy: Global recoverable oil reserves rise by five billion barrels in 2024

August 16, 2025

Dateline 2025-08-15, The Edge Malaysia:

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): The global amount of discovered, recoverable oil resources has increased by five billion barrels in 2024, even though 30 billion barrels were produced globally in the year, according to Rystad Energy’s latest research.

In a statement, the global independent research and energy intelligence company said this net increase was driven primarily by the delineation of upside potential in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta play and the Permian Delaware basin in Texas and New Mexico, the United States.

“Global recoverable oil resources, including estimates for undiscovered fields, stabilised at approximately 1.5 trillion barrels,” it said.


MIDF expects gradual recovery for Malaysia’s oil and gas sector, with stabilisation after mid-2025

August 15, 2025

Dateline 2025-07-15, The Edge Malaysia:

KUALA LUMPUR (July 15): Malaysia’s oil and gas sector is expected to recover gradually amid lingering external challenges and company-specific headwinds, said MIDF Research.

The research house expects sector stabilisation to take shape after the second quarter of 2025 (2QCY2025), underpinned by easing trade tensions and a de-escalation of geopolitical conflicts.

“Oil and gas prices will remain a determining factor in the local oil and gas players for the upcoming 2QCY2025 earnings season,” MIDF said, while maintaining a “neutral” stance on the sector.


Shoutout – IEM 2025-09 – Kuala Lumpur Engineering Forum 2025 (KLEF)

August 15, 2025

The 2nd Kuala Lumpur Engineering Forum (KLEF), jointly organised by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) and C.I.S, is your gateway to shaping the future of engineering. This prestigious event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts unite to drive innovation and solve critical engineering challenges for a sustainable and resilient future.

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