Today, the Executive Board of OMV has decided that OMV will no longer pursue the sales process for 100% of its shares in OMV New Zealand Limited. OMV New Zealand Limited will remain part of the E&P portfolio of OMV. 

OMV New Zealand has been active in the country since 1999 when it acquired shares in the Maari oil field. It has since expanded into a range of other assets through subsequent acquisitions, these include the Māui gas field and a 74% share in the Pohokura gas field. OMV New Zealand also holds interests in three operated exploration permits. 

New Zealand operations

Production

Maari
The Maari oil field is New Zealand’s largest producing oil field. It lies 80km off the south Taranaki coast.

The Maari field is owned by a joint venture. OMV New Zealand operates and manages the field on behalf of its partners. It holds a 69% share. Horizon Oil International (26%) and Cue Taranaki (5%) are also partners in the field.

Production began in February 2009 and is expected to continue for 10 to 15 years.

Pohokura
OMV NZ has a 74% share in the Pohokura gas field in the Taranaki basin having acquired the 48% share from Shell Exploration NZ at the end of 2018.

OMV NZ operates the field on behalf of the other joint venture partner Todd Energy (26%).

The Pohokura field is located about 4.5 kilometres off the Taranaki coast. Gas and fluids from the reservoir are piped to an onshore production facility where the gas is separated from residual water and light oil (known as ‘condensate’).  The field has been in production since 2006 and at its peak it met about 40% of New Zealand’s gas demand.

Maui
OMV New Zealand owns and operates the Maui gas field having acquired the 83.75% share from Shell Exploration NZ and the 6.25% share from Todd Energy at the end of 2018.

Māui was discovered in 1969. The first gas to shore was ten years later, in May 1979.

Exploration

Taranaki Basin
OMV New Zealand operates three mining permits in Taranaki. In addition, OMV New Zealand holds interests three offshore exploration permits in the Taranaki Basin.
 
A drilling campaign aimed at growing OMV’s and New Zealand’s reserves through new discoveries was undertaken in 2019/2020. This exploration drilling campaign was supported by the acquisition of the largest seismic survey ever acquired in the Taranaki Basin. All 6,500 sqkm of this dataset has been licensed by OMV New Zealand. 

KeyFacts Energy: OMV New Zealand country profile