Bidding has opened for an onshore block offer at the Kahili gas field in Taranaki.The block is 5.99 square kilometres and includes an existing (Kahili-1B) well, closed but not filled in.Although production at the field stopped in 2004 after the well unexp
Bidding has opened for an onshore block offer at the Kahili gas field in Taranaki.
The block is 5.99 square kilometres and includes an existing (Kahili-1B) well, closed but not filled in.
Although production at the field stopped in 2004 after the well unexpectedly filled with water, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said the crown believes significant volumes of gas might remain undiscovered.
“The area includes the gas facility and pipeline and Kahili wellhead, which makes the gas volumes required for commercial viability of the field very low.”
Mr Brownlee said the government believed gas discoveries were important to New Zealand’s energy security and provided local employment and regional growth.
The offer closes on May 3, 2010.
Applications for offshore exploration permits in two “substantial blocks” at Raukumara, on the northern end of the East Coast basin, closed last week.
The Northland (six blocks covering 50,000 square kilometres) and Reinga block (six blocks covering 105,230 square kilometres) offers are open until August 18 2010.
