Pohokura gas supply back on to heat industry, homes and hospitals

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

The Pohokura offshore wellhead supplied 40 per cent of the country's natural gas needs.

Natural gas supply from the Pohokura field, offshore of Taranaki, has resumed ahead of schedule after a month-long maintenance inspection.

The field was temporarily closed for inspection work on March 6 with production not originally scheduled to resume until April 14.

Normand Baltic supply vessel was involved in recent maintenance work at Pohokura offshore wellhead, North Taranaki.

Natural gas began to flow again on April 7, a week ahead of schedule, Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) chief executive John Carnegie said.

The Pohokura field is 4.5km offshore of Taranaki and provided around 40 per cent of New Zealand's natural gas supply.

'Now more than ever New Zealand needs the reliable and affordable energy provided by natural gas,' he said.

'It enables cooking, heating and hot water for homes and hospitals, and is a crucial electricity source.

'It will also play a major role in New Zealand's economic recovery by providing energy to vital export industries like food production.

'Thanks to this work we can be confident of continuous gas supply through the winter.'

Over 200 personnel have worked on-site at the Pohokura production station and the offshore Pohokura pipeline at key periods including OMV contractors, Fugro and Atlas personnel, and the crew of the Normand Baltic.

OMV worked closely with the highest levels of Government to manage the Covid-19 risks and complete project without incident, he said.