THAILAND'S PTT Exploration & Production Plc is considering negotiations with a Chinese oil company on joint development of a gas field off the coast of Myanmar, the Bangkok Post said yesterday.

Exploration of its field in the Gulf of Martaban is nearly complete and development work to production will require at least US$1 billion, the newspaper said, quoting Maroot Mrigadat, president of PTTEP. The company declined to identify the Chinese company involved.