Drilled in Taranaki Pasin permit PEP 38744 in partnership with OMV and Todd Energy, Takahe-1 reached total depth of 1600 metres without finding significant hydrocarbons. It will now be plugged and abandoned.

Tap has been targeting small oil accumulations in prospects around Taranki and not far from existing infrastructure.

Tap has already suffered a somewhat disappointing drilling program this year, with Hihi-1 (PEP 38748), Miromiro-1 (PEP 38765), Hursthouse-1 (PEP 38745) and Kakariki-1 (PEP 38747) all being dry holes.

But Tap’s last Taranaki well, Supplejack-1 in PEP 38741, encountered two small hydrocarbon zones in the Mount Messenger formation and that well is now being completed before the deeper interval is production tested.

Drilling of Tap’s next well in the Taranaki Basin, Richmond-1, will begin in late September.