A company spokesman said drilling of the Awakino South-1 well would begin once the jack-up Ensco 56 completed a refit in Nelson.
The jack-up has just finished a prolonged contract with Shell Todd Oil Services at the Pohokura gas project.
The Awakino South-1 well is seven kilometres from the Taranaki coast in Block PEP 38479.
The well will test shows recorded in the Awakino-1 well drilled in 1985 by Petrocorp, and will take about 60 days to reach total depth.
After
