This weekend Western Geco is scheduled to start a 17km, 2D vibroseis survey for Swift Energy New Zealand.

The survey, in and around the town of Hawera, will take about a week to shoot, with data processing and analysis scheduled to be done in time for an initial exploratory well to be drilled in the Matai prospect in about a year.

Swift Energy executive vice-president Bruce Vincent said from Houston that the survey would better delineate the Matai prospect and help determine the optimal position for an exploration well to test the Maitai, as well as the downdip portion of the Tawa prospect.

Swift Energy New Zealand was earlier this month awarded a 30-year petroleum mining permit PMP 38151 by Crown Minerals, over 5524 acres within PEP 39719 to allow for the full development of the Rimu discovery.

Swift believes the Rimu, Kauri, Matai and Tawa prospects, plus additional leads within PEP 38719 have the potential to contain up to 900 million barrels of oil in several different producing zones.

It is also understood Swift is also having a sub-surface team in Houston examine ways of extracting more oil, condensate and gas from the Tariki, Ahuroa, Waihapa and Ngaere (Tawn) fields further north of PEP 38719. Earlier this year Swift paid Shell New Zealand about $US54.4 million for a 96.76% interest in the Tariki, Ahuroa, Waihapa and Ngaere (Tawn) mining licences and took over as operator of the fields from Shell subsidiary Fletcher Challenge Energy.