Tui oil field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tui oil field |
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Taranaki |
| Offshore/onshore | offshore |
| Operator | Tamarind Taranaki |
| Field history | |
| Start of production | 2007 |
| Production | |
| Estimated oil in place | 41 million barrels (~5.6×106 t) |
The Tui oil field is a place where oil is found deep under the sea. It is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the west coast of Taranaki, New Zealand. The Tui field is the sixth largest crude oil field in New Zealand. Crude oil is oil that has not been processed yet.
When it was first found, the Tui oil field had about 41 million barrels of oil. By January 2018, about 1 million barrels of oil were left. The oil comes from special underwater spots called Tui, Amokura, and Pateke wellheads. These are on the seabed about 120 meters (394 feet) deep. The oil travels from these wells to a large ship called the Umuroa. This ship is a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. It helps collect, store, and load the oil.
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Discovering the Tui Oil Field
The Tui oil field was first found in 2003. This happened because two companies worked together: Australian Worldwide Exploration and New Zealand Overseas Petroleum. Later, in 2004, more oil was found nearby at Amokura and Pateke.
Who Owned the Tui Field?
For a while, Australian Worldwide Exploration owned a big part of the Tui field. But in 2016, another company called Tamarind bought their share. This meant Tamarind became the main company in charge of the Tui oil field.
Changes in Oil Production
In early 2019, Tamarind got permission to drill new wells. These new wells were meant to help get more oil and keep the field working longer.
Drilling Problems
However, the drilling project stopped in September 2019. This happened after the first new well they drilled did not find any oil. After this, Tamarind told the workers on the Umuroa ship that their work contract would not continue after December 31.
Financial Troubles for Tamarind
On November 11, 2019, Tamarind Taranaki announced that it might not be able to pay its bills. This is called being "insolvent." The company then went into a special process called administration. This process helps a company deal with its money problems.
Environmental Concerns
On November 27, 2019, Tamarind faced another problem. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) gave them a special notice. This was because a small amount of oil had spilled at the Tui site.
Staying Connected to the Oilfield
In 2020, a court ordered that the Umuroa FPSO ship must stay connected to the oil field. This was important for safety and to manage the oil field properly. Greenpeace, an environmental group, pointed to this situation. They said it showed that the rules for oil and gas companies needed to be updated quickly.
