Sydney-based New Zealand Oil and Gas today reported only encountering minor oil shows and low levels of gas in the primary Kapuni D sands. However, elevated cuttings-gas and hydrocarbon fluorescence in the lower Kapuni F sands "could indicate producible hydrocarbons, probably gas", said NZOG.

Tui-1 had reached its total depth of 3903m and was currently running wireline logs over both the Kapuni D sands, which was encountered slightly high to prediction but probably contain no producible hydrocarbons, and the Kapuni F sands, which were encountered at 3655m.

Elevated cuttings-gas and hydrocarbon fluorescence were observed over the uppermost 20m of the F sands interval, though evaluation of the wireline data would be required to determine the nature and significance of these indications.

NZOG said it would make a further announcement to the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges on Tuesday after wireline logs became available and had been evaluated.

Methanex Asia-Pacific vice-president Bruce Aitken told EnergyReview.Net last Friday that his company would love explorers to find more gas which could be developed at reasonable costs, such as at the Tui prospect which is close to existing Maui production facilities.

Maui adjudicator expert Netherland Sewell and Associates International on Friday released their final, and binding, report, which says the offshore Taranaki field only ever contained 3562PJ and that only about 370PJ of economically recoverable gas, at the current Maui contract price, is left in the field.

NGC says the report shows Methanex New Zealand has already taken about 77PJ more than its fair share of the reduced reserves.