Maui gas field facts for kids
The Maui gas field is a very important place in New Zealand. It is the biggest source of natural gas, a type of fuel, and also produces oil. This field provides a lot of the energy New Zealand needs, especially for making electricity. You can find it in the Tasman Sea, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) away from the coast of Taranaki. The field is quite large, covering an area of 157 square kilometers (61 square miles), and it sits in water about 110 meters (360 feet) deep.
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What is the Maui Gas Field?
The Maui gas field is a huge underground area where natural gas and oil are found. These are called hydrocarbons. They are important because they can be burned to create energy. This energy is used to power homes, factories, and cars. The gas from Maui is especially key for making electricity in New Zealand.
How Was Maui Discovered?
The Maui gas field was first found in 1969. This discovery was made by a group of companies working together. These companies were Royal Dutch/Shell, British Petroleum (BP), and Todd Petroleum. When they found it, people called it a "giant" field because it was so big.
Who Owns the Maui Field?
Over the years, different companies have owned parts of the Maui gas field. At first, the New Zealand government also invested in it. A government company called Petrocorp owned half of the field for a while. Later, a company called Fletcher Challenge Energy bought this share.
By 2009, the main owners were Shell, OMV New Zealand, and Todd Energy. Since late 2018, OMV New Zealand has become the main owner and now manages the Maui gas field. They bought the shares from Shell and Todd Energy.
How Does Maui Work?
To get the gas and oil from deep under the sea, special platforms are used. These are like big structures built in the ocean.
Maui's Platforms
There are two main platforms at the Maui field:
- Maui A: This platform started producing gas and oil in 1979.
- Maui B: This second platform was put in place 13 years later.
For some time, a lot of the gas from Maui was sent to a special plant called Motunui. This plant used the gas to make synthetic petrol (gasoline) from 1986 until 2004. In 1999, another plant was added on land to refine a substance called naphtha, which comes from oil.
The Whakaaropai Vessel
In 1996, a special ship called the Whakaaropai was brought to the Maui field. This ship was used to help produce oil from the Maui B platform. It could store the oil and then offload it. However, by 2005, most of the oil that could be easily reached was gone, so the ship was sold.
How Maui's Energy is Used
The gas from Maui is used in many ways to power New Zealand.
Powering Homes and Industries
A lot of the gas goes to power stations like Stratford and Huntly. These stations burn the gas to create electricity. In 2002, Maui gas helped make 30% of New Zealand's electricity! However, as the gas started to run out, this percentage went down. By 2005, it was providing about 16% of the country's electricity.
The gas is also sent through large pipelines to different parts of the North Island. It is used by factories and businesses, and also by people in their homes for heating and cooking. In 2005, about 30% of the gas produced was used this way.
How Much Gas and Oil is Left?
Over time, the amount of gas and oil in the Maui field has decreased.
Reserves and Future Plans
In 2005, experts thought that about 92% of the oil and 91% of the gas in the Maui field had already been used. This meant the field was getting close to being empty.
However, in 2014, the New Zealand government looked at the numbers again. They found that there was actually more gas left than they first thought! When the field was discovered in 1969, people believed it would only last for about 30 years. But the new calculations showed that the remaining gas reserves were much larger. This was good news for New Zealand's energy supply.
Images for kids
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The Maui gas field helps power New Zealand.
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How much gas Maui produced from 1999 to 2014.
