Maui gas field
The Maui gas field is located in the Tasman Sea off the coast of Taranaki, New Zealand. It is located in 110 metres of water to the southwest of New Plymouth. Two platforms, Maui A and Maui B operate in the field. The field is New Zealand's largest gas, condensate and oil field, producing nearly three-quarters of the country's hydrocarbons, as well as providing energy for electricity generation. The Maui gas field was discovered in 1969 by joint venture of Royal Dutch/Shell, BP and Todd Petroleum. Government investment led to a governmental organisation (later called PetroCorp) taking a 50% interest. This was later bought out by Fletcher Challenge Energy. Full production from Maui A began in 1979; Maui B was installed 13 years later. The reserves of the Maui field are dwindling, but there is hope that another, currently undeveloped field nearby (the Kupe field) will provide economically viable reserves of gas.
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