Kupe Gas Project Commences Commissioning

< BACK TO ENERGY starstarstarstarstar   Conservation - Energy Press Release
4th December 2009, 05:34pm - Views: 1164






People Feature Origin Energy 2 image








MEDIA RELEASE PR37419

Kupe Gas Project Commences Commissioning


SYDNEY, Dec. 4 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --


   ASX/Media Release


   Origin Energy New Zealand ('Origin'), on behalf of the Kupe Joint Venture, has announced that

commissioning of the Kupe facilities has commenced with the wells being opened and the first gas and liquids

being piped ashore to the gas processing plant at Hawera.


   Commenting on the project, Origin's Executive General Manager, Major Development Projects, Mr Andrew

Stock said, "The complex offshore and onshore Kupe production system is now being bedded down through a

commissioning period. We expect that full steady state production will be achieved in the next couple of

months.


   "Everyone who has worked to deliver Kupe during the past three and a half years has done so, paying

particular attention to their own and their workmates safety, as well as the environment, resulting in a project

with an outstanding safety record.


   "As one of New Zealand's largest projects in recent years, Kupe has drawn on a wide range of industry,

community and government resources, from Taranaki and Picton regions in particular and beyond, across the

rest of New Zealand. We sincerely thank them for their support."


   Origin's Executive General Manager of Upstream Oil and Gas, Mr Paul Zealand, said once Kupe was fully

operational it would make a significant contribution for the next 15-20 years to New Zealand's gas supply

needs, initially providing 10-15 per cent of the nation's annual gas demand when at peak production.


   "Once fully commissioned, Kupe is also expected to produce up to 90,000 tonnes per annum of LPG - more

than 50 per cent of the country's demand - and it will significantly reduce the need to import LPG to meet New

Zealand's needs," Mr Zealand said.


   Over the life of the project Kupe is expected to provide approximately 254

petajoules of natural gas, 1.1 million tonnes of LPG and 14.7 million barrels of light crude.


   For more information on the Kupe Gas Project please go to:



   Kupe Gas Project participants are:

   Origin Energy Resources (Kupe) Limited*   50 per cent (Operator)

   Genesis Energy   31 per cent

   New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited   15 per cent

   Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd   4 per cent


   *a wholly owned subsidiary of Origin Energy Limited


   For further information please contact:


   Media

   Tim Scott

   Group Manager, Media Relations

   Ph : +61 2 8345 5306

   Mobile: +61 428 964 820


   Lina Melero 

   General Manager, Corporate Communication

People Feature Origin Energy 3 image

   Ph: +61 2 8345 5217

   Mobile: +61 427 017 798


   Investors

   Angus Guthrie

   Group Manager, Investor Relations

   Ph: +61 2 8345 5558

   Mobile: +61 417 864 255


   About Origin Energy

   Origin Energy is Australasia's leading integrated energy company focused on gas and oil exploration and

production, power generation and energy retailing.


   Listed in the ASX top 20 the company has approximately 4,000 employees, is a leading producer of gas in

eastern Australia, is the largest owner and developer of gas-fired electricity generation in Australia and is a

leading wholesaler and retailer of energy. The company services more than 3.5 million

electricity, natural gas and LPG customers across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Origin's strategic

positioning and portfolio of assets provide flexibility, stability and significant opportunities for growth in the ever

changing energy industry. Through Australia Pacific LNG, its 50:50 incorporated joint venture with

ConocoPhillips, Origin is developing one of Australia's largest CSG to LNG projects based on Australia's

largest CSG reserves base.


   In New Zealand, Origin is the major shareholder in Contact Energy, the country's leading integrated energy

company, operating geothermal, thermal and hydro generation facilities and servicing electricity, gas and LPG

customers across both the North and South islands. Origin also operates several oil and gas projects in New

Zealand and is one of the largest holders of petroleum exploration acreage in the country.


   Origin has a strong focus on ensuring the sustainability of its operations, is the largest green energy retailer

in Australia and has significant investments in renewable energy technologies. For more information go to




   SOURCE: Origin Energy


To view this and other AsiaNet releases please visit http://www.asianetnews.net






news articles logo NEWS ARTICLES
Contact News Articles |Remove this article