Production

Mixed results from well interventions at Maari offshore New Zealand

July 26, 2022

Cue Energy has issued an update on well workover operations at the Maari Field offshore New Zealand.

Maari is New Zealand’s largest oil field and lies 80 km off the south Taranaki coast. OMV agreed to divest its 69% interest in the Maari Field to Jadestone Energy in 2019.

Offshore staff

MELBOURNE, Australia— Cue Energy has issued an update on well workover operations at the Maari Field offshore New Zealand.

The company has a 5% interest in the surrounding PMP 38160 offshore permit via Cue Taranaki.

Production from Maari production was recently around the 4,000-bbl/d mark, with the MN1 production well shut in due to an electric submersible pump (ESP) fault that occurred in May.

Earlier this month a workover started to replace the ESP, and production should be restored in the current quarter.

An initial attempt to rectify an issue with the MR6a well was unsuccessful; the well had been shut in since last year due to sand production.

Temporary de-sanding equipment was recently installed and tested on the well to assess oil producibility. Although the equipment performed well, no hydrocarbons were produced.

The equipment has since been demobilized, with operator OMV working on a plan to enter the well and plug off the damaged section, enabling oil production from part of the existing wellbore.

Regulatory approval processes continue for Jadestone Energy to take over as Maari operator, Cue added, after OMV agreed to transfer its 69% operated working interest in the field.

07.26.2022