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Greymouth Petroleum has been awarded a new petroleum exploration permit offshore from north Taranaki.
The New Zealand-owned and operated company today said it would obtain seismic data in the 466sq km area, ahead of well drilling operations planned for 2009.
The new area -- PEP 38775 -- was immediately adjacent, to the north and east, of the Shell operated Pohokura field. It was also close to Greymouth's onshore gas and condensate Turangi field.
Eocene coastal sands, which formed the reservoir in both the Maui and Pohokura gas fields, were interpreted to exist within the new permit area, Greymouth said.
It had successfully exploited eocene reservoir sands with its Turangi discovery.
Meanwhile, Greymouth said its first well drilling for 2007 was under way at its Ngatoro petroleum mining permit area in onshore Taranaki.
- NZPA
