Apache arrives in Wellington Harbour

Media Release

Thursday, 10 January 2008

Apache arrives in Wellington Harbour

Origin Energy Resources (Kupe) Limited (“Origin”) and its joint venture partners today welcomed the Apache pipelaying vessel into Wellington Harbour - marking the next phase of the Kupe Gas Project.

The Apache, operated by Technip, is one of the most advanced pipelaying vessels operating in the offshore oil and gas industry. The Apache will be used to lay gas pipeline between the Kupe wellhead platform and the onshore production station near Hawera.

Origin Energy Limited’s Executive General Manager for Major Development Projects, Andrew Stock said this was the first time a vessel like the Apache would be used in New Zealand.

“Usually, pipes are welded together onboard a ship or barge and then laid off the back of the vessel. It is a time-consuming process and is prone to delays due to inclement offshore weather. The Apache allows a pipeline, which has already been welded together onshore, to be reeled off the back of the ship easily and quickly with much less risk of weather downtime,” Mr Stock said.

The Apache was mobilised from Aberdeen in Scotland and travelled to New Zealand via the USA. The Apache is scheduled to leave Wellington on 13 January to commence the pipelay operation.

The pipeline will be laid in three 10km sections. The Apache will pick up the welded pipeline from the spoolbase at Picton. Once the necessary pipe lay initiation procedures have been completed the Apache can lay the pipeline on the seabed at up to one kilometre per hour.

The Apache is scheduled to complete pipelaying by mid February and will then return to the North Sea.

In early February Origin and its partners in the Kupe joint venture, Genesis Energy, New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd and Mitsui E&P Australia Ltd, will host an event at the spoolbase in Picton to showcase the Apache vessel and provide an update on the Kupe Gas Project. The precise date of this event will need to be flexible to fit in with the Apache’s schedule and media will be invited to this event.

Participants in the Kupe Joint Venture are:

Origin Energy Resources (Kupe) Limited* 50% (Operator)
Genesis Energy (through wholly owned subsidaries) 31%
New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited 15%
Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd 4%

ENDS

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