Operator Australian Worldwide Exploration yesterday afternoon said development drilling for the Tui Area fields – Tui, Pateke and Amokura – had progressed satisfactorily during the past two weeks.

AWE said Pateke-3H was cased and temporarily suspended after successfully running and cementing surface casing at a depth of 1500m.

Following the installation of the subsea tree, the semi-submersible rig then moved to the Tui-2H location, spudding that well on December 23.

The surface section of Tui-2H was drilled to a measured depth of 1502m, where surface casing was successfully run and cemented. Tui-2H was temporarily suspended on December 28, and the rig moved to the Tui-3H location.

Tui-3H was now at a measured depth of 1500m, with surface casing run and cemented and preparations continuing to install the subsea tree.

Following completion of activities at Tui-3H, the well would be temporarily suspended and the rig relocated back to the adjacent Tui-2H well for the installation of that subsea tree. Then the drilling of the deeper section of Tui-2H would continue, including the horizontal reservoir section, added AWE.

As well as being the first well drilled to total depth, Tui-2H is also planned to be the first completed for hook-up to the production facilities.

Tui development drilling is being undertaken on a “batch-drilling” basis to optimise the sequencing of drilling operations and the tie-ins of flowlines to the subsea development wells.

First oil is expected from next June and, when fully commissioned, production peaking at 50,000 barrels of oil per day is anticipated.

The PMP 38158 partners are operator AWE with a 42.5% stake, New Zealand Oil & Gas (through its subsidiary Stewart Petroleum) (12.5%), Mitsui E & P New Zealand (35%) and Pan Pacific Petroleum (10%).