The well is mapping the northern extension of the Pateke field in the basin.
Joint venture partner New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) said the well would take about two months to drill to a planned measured depth of 5361 metres.
AWE’s pre-drill estimate for the well was an un-risked best estimate contingent resource of 2.5 million barrels of oil.
If the well is successful it will be completed and later tied-back to the Tui floating, production, storage and offloading vessel for production in 2015.
AWE
