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Monday, 01 December, 2008, 23:10 GMT | more >>

Origin forced to sidetrack Kupe well



By Upstream staff 

Australia’s Origin Energy, the operator of the Kupe gas project on New Zealand’s offshore Taranaki basin, is to sidetrack the Kupe South-7 development well after being unable to dislodge stuck pipe, partners in the project said.

The Kupe project’s three development wells are being sunk on a “batch drilling” basis, with each of three sections being completed in all three wells before the rig proceeds deeper. The jack-up rig Ensco 107 was drilling the deepest section below 3116 metres in the KS-7 well when the pipe became stuck.

Origin said earlier this week the drill string had become stuck at a depth of 3454 metres in the target Farewell formation. This reservoir section will now have to b redrilled.

The KS-6 and KS-8 wells have already been sunk to depth and completed.

The Kupe project lies about 30 kilometres off New Zealand's South Island on permit PML 38146.

The three wells will be tied in to an unmanned platform, which will be linked to shore by a pipeline. First gas is expected by mid-2009, NZ Oil & Gas said in a statement.

Origin operates the project with a 50% stake, with the remaining stakes being held by subsidiaries of local players Genesis Energy (31%) and New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) (15%), and by Japan’s Mitsui E&P (5%).


Thursday, 10 April, 2008, 01:09 GMT  | last updated: Thursday, 17 April, 2008, 00:03 GMT

Sidetrack: the Kupe field lies in the offshore section of New Zealand's Taranaki basin
 

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