The Pateke 3H production well off the Taranaki coast has encountered further problems just as it was due to resume production.Earlier this month New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd (NZOG) said production was resuming at the well which has been shut-in since late
The Pateke 3H production well off the Taranaki coast has encountered further problems just as it was due to resume production.
Earlier this month New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd (NZOG) said production was resuming at the well which has been shut-in since late June after encountering problems with its artificial lift system.
Today NZOG said it has been advised by operator AWE Ltd that the restart of production has been delayed due to further technical issues.
A clean up flow of the well was undertaken prior to the Kan Tan IV rig being released from site on October 15, with the well repair activities having been successfully completed.
The re-establishment of full oil production from the well, with rates forecast to be approximately 3000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) once fully cleaned up, has encountered further constraints within the production flowpath.
AWE is trying to find the cause and the most efficient remedy.
Production from the other three production wells in the Tui area oil fields continues at around 7000 bopd.
NZOG through its subsidiary Stewart Petroleum has a 12.5 percent stake, while AWE has 42.5 percent. Mitsui E&P Australia Pty has 35 percent and Pan Pacific Petroleum NL, through its subsidiary WM Petroleum Ltd, has 10 percent.
