Monumental Energy restarts commercial oil production at Waihapa H1 in New Zealand
(WO) - Monumental Energy has restarted commercial oil production from the Waihapa H1 well in New Zealand’s onshore Taranaki basin following a recent workover targeting bypassed pay in the Mount Messenger formation.
Seven perforations completed in the formation encountered natural, high-pressure oil flow without additional stimulation, according to the company. Oil production began March 13 as the perforated zones were brought online.
The Waihapa H1 well, originally drilled in 2008, previously produced from the deeper Tikorangi formation at rates exceeding 1,500 bpd. Monumental and partner New Zealand Energy Corp. identified approximately 60 m of prospective bypass pay in the Mount Messenger formation above the original producing interval.
The well is located within about 100 m of the Waihapa production facility, allowing produced oil to be transported via pipeline to onsite storage and associated gas to be processed immediately through existing infrastructure.
Production testing is ongoing, and the company said stabilized oil and gas flow rates will be announced once testing is complete.
Monumental is participating in appraisal and development workovers under a funding agreement with New Zealand Energy Corp., which holds a 50% interest in the Petroleum Mining Licences covering the Waihapa field.
The Mount Messenger formation is also the primary producing zone in the nearby Cheal oil field, which has produced roughly 12 MMbbl of oil.
See also: Monumental advances Taranaki workover program at Waihapa H1 well
