Beach gets go-ahead for Kupe well offshore New Zealand
April 26, 2023
Beach Energy has received final environmental approval from the New Zealand authorities for the Kupe South 9 development well in the offshore Taranaki Basin.
Courtesy Beach Energy Limited | Quarterly report for the period ended 31 March 2023
ADELAIDE, Australia— Beach Energy has received final environmental approval from the New Zealand authorities for the Kupe South 9 development well in the offshore Taranaki Basin.
The Valaris 107 jackup should spud the well early next year. If successful, it could produce first gas in third-quarter 2024 for export to the onshore Kupe natural gas processing complex.
The Kupe Field, 30 km offshore New Zealand North Island, currently produces from three wells from an unmanned platform. Gas and liquids head onshore through a 30-km subsea pipeline.
Courtesy Beach Energy
The proposed development wells are within the offshore Taranaki Basin, located about 30 km from the nearest land. Beach Energy expected to begin activities in late 2022 to early 2023.
Offshore South Australia in the Otway Basin, connection activities continue for Beach’s four Thylacine Field development wells. All main subsea installations, including flowlines, manifolds and hydraulic leads, have finished, as have modifications at the Thylacine platform.
However, a recent flowline hydro pressure test failure occurred during testing of one of the flowlines with a need to either repair or replace the flowline, and this has impacted connection of the Thylacine West 1 and 2 wells. However, Beach continues to target first gas from these wells in mid-2023.
Connection activities are progressing for the nearshore Enterprise development, with startup likely in mid-2024, pending receipt of land access approvals.
Courtesy Beach Energy Limited | Quarterly report for the period ended 31 March 2023
In the nearby offshore Bass Basin, the Yolla 6 well underwent a planned wireline intervention, and compressor maintenance is scheduled to take place later this year.
Interpretation continues of 3D seismic acquired over the offshore White Ibis, Bass and Trefoil discoveries continues. Development options are under evaluation.
