POHOKURA FIELD

• Latitude: -38.91257
• Longitude: 174.2759
• South Pacific
• Offshore Terminal in New Zealand

Location: New Zealand

Pohokura is an offshore natural gas field located in the Taranaki Basin, off the coast of New Zealand. The field is one of the country's largest and most significant natural gas projects. Below is a description and some general specifications associated with the Pohokura field:

Description:

• Location: Offshore, Taranaki Basin, approximately 4.5 kilometers off the North Island’s west coast.
• Production Facilities: The field comprises both offshore and onshore facilities. Offshore, there are typically multiple wellheads and subsea equipment connected to an onshore processing facility via pipelines.
• Development: The field was developed using a combination of offshore platforms and subsea wells connected to onshore facilities.

Specifications:

1. Ownership and Operatorship:

   • The Pohokura field is a joint venture, including several stakeholders. As of recent information, these typically include companies like OMV New Zealand, Todd Energy, and Shell Taranaki. (Specific ownership stakes can change over time due to transactions in the industry.)

2. Production:

   • Gas Production: The field has a significant production capacity, contributing a substantial portion of New Zealand's domestic gas supply.
   • Condensate Production: In addition to natural gas, the field produces condensate, which is a valuable hydrocarbon liquid that is typically separated from the gas stream and sold separately.

3. Facilities:

   • Offshore Platforms: These are installed to support drilling operations and house necessary infrastructure for initial processing and transportation.
   • Subsea Wellheads: Deployed on the seabed and connected via flowlines to the offshore and onshore facilities.
   • Onshore Processing Plant: Located at Motunui, this facility processes the raw gas and separates out commercially valuable components like methane for domestic and industrial use, as well as condensate.

4. Infrastructure:

   • Pipelines: Subsea pipelines transport gas from the offshore wellheads to the onshore processing facility. There are also evacuation pipelines for moving the processed gas to the national grid and condensate to export facilities.

5. Technology:

   • The field uses advanced drilling and production techniques, including horizontal drilling and enhanced recovery methods, to maximize production efficiency.
   • Subsea technology ensures the safe and efficient extraction and transportation of gas under the ocean bed.

6. Environmental and Safety Standards:

   • Strict adherence to New Zealand's environmental regulations and industry best practices.
   • Implementation of contingency plans and measures to protect the local marine and coastal environment.

7. Economic Impact:

   • The Pohokura field is a critical asset in ensuring New Zealand’s energy security.
   • It contributes significantly to the local and national economy through job creation, energy supply stability, and government revenues from production royalties.

Summary:

The Pohokura offshore terminal is a pivotal infrastructural asset for gas production in New Zealand. Featuring complex offshore-to-onshore systems, the field utilizes cutting-edge technology and complies with strict environmental and safety norms. The field's production both meets substantial parts of the domestic energy requirements and plays a vital economic role in New Zealand's energy landscape.