A Historical Review of Petroleum Exploration in New Zealand

Active exploration for petroleum in New Zealand is over 120 years old. While some sporadic, commercial production was obtained already in the earliest part of this century, exploration until 1920 was entirely guided by the occurrence of natural seepages. 1925-1944 was the first period of scientifically-oriented exploration, spurred particularly by the requirements of the second World War. In 1955 began the present period of more intensified prospecting, which in 1965 extended to New Zealand's very large ofshore area. The onshore Kapuni gas/condensate field was discovered in 1959, and the giant offshore Maui field in 1969. Production started in 1970 and 1979, respectively. Exploration enormously increased and expanded all over the country in the late 1960's and early 1970's, with concession holdings reaching a record high in 1970/71: 131,673 km² onshore and 1,003,669 km² offshore. But a sharp decline followed in the mid-late 1970's, which was partly Government-induced and political, partly due to a prolonged lack of success. A change of Government policy in 1980 started a new cycle of intense exploration, with enthusiasm rapidly fuelled by a string of new, though small discoveries in Taranaki onshore, and, in 1986/87, by what is believed to be a large oil and gas discovery in Taranki offshore. Drilling activity has reached record levels over the last years, while exploration in general is branching out again to many other areas and basins, outside Taranaki. Total production in 1986 amounted to 4,546 million m³ of gas (plus 744 million m³ reinjected), 1.208 million m³ of condensate, 186,700 m³ of LPG and smaller amounts of natural gasoline and butane, and 0.501 million m³ of oil.