Gas find at Pohokura field expected to boost winter supply

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

A new production well at the Pohokura field off the Taranaki coast has found enough gas to supply 100,000 homes for a year.

Pohokura, a joint venture between Austrian-owned OMV and Todd Energy, found about four petajoules (PJ) of gas at the Motunui site in March.

The drilling was a complex project that required the onshore well to be drilled 3 kilometres down and then 8km sideways, making it one of New Zealand’s longest wells.

In a statement, Resources Minister Shane Jones, who was on-site to see the new gas well turned on, said the discovery demonstrated the potential for further development of mature fields.

“There are technical complexities with locating and drilling producing targets in a field as well developed as Pohokura,” he said.

“This achievement is a credit to OMV’s extensive experience and expertise working with New Zealand’s geology.”

The 4PJ found was enough to provide energy for 100,000 homes for about one year.

It was a fraction of the 139PJ of gas used in New Zealand last year, which was down from 154PJ in 2023.

Industrial use accounted for about 60% of total consumption, electricity generation for 30% and residential and other uses 10%.

Jones said the find was expected to make a material contribution to shoring up energy security this winter.

“Collectively, we keenly felt the pain of our limited gas supply last winter when generation from our renewable energy sources was at capacity and wholesale energy prices skyrocketed as a result.”

Jones said Greymouth Petroleum had also reported a “significant gas find” in the Turangi field, with strong gas flows and oil condensate.