Operator OMV (69%), which secured four new Taranaki Basin licences in yesterday's 2015 Block Offer awards, says a full upgrade of the mooring system of Raroa between February and April.
The upgrade will involve inspection and work on all eight mooring lines, which are permanently anchored to the sea floor, 100m below the surface.
They are attached to the vessel via an internal swivel, allowing the ship to rotate freely with the prevailing winds and currents.
DOF Subsea has been awarded the contract for the work following a competitive tender, and will use the Skandi Hercules. The same vessel previously carried out the earlier work on the Raroa's mooring lines
OMV managing director Peter Zeilinger said the mooring system will remain fully certified and operational throughout the works.
Due diligence undertaken when the JV bought the Raroa in April 2013 showed the need for the upgrade. The Raroa was repaired and upgraded later that year.
"Maintenance was done on four of the lines in 2013, and further work was anticipated in
2-5 years. We're taking advantage of a lower service price environment and synergies with other work to bring the upgrade forward."
Zeilinger also said the work had been timed to coincide with the annual 10-day maintenance shutdown.
The mooring system will remain fully certified and operational throughout the works.
Junior partner Horizon Oil (10%) said it expects to spend around US$4 million ($A 5.6 million), which will be funded from the $7.4 million insurance proceeds in respect of the swivel repairs and interim mooring line repairs in late 2013.
Cue Energy Resources (5%), which is involved in drilling the Te Kiri North-1 well with fellow Maari partner Todd Energy (16%) expects its $A2.4 million share will also be covered by the insurance.
The Maari field has been subject of recent drilling with a number of new wells. Production has returned to 15,000 barrels of oil per day, and a workover program is expected to boost that further.
Some 28 million barrels has been produced to date, and there is 45MMbbl remaining.
