Austrian oil giant OMV has unveiled one of the most ambitious gas and oil drilling programmes proposed in New Zealand. It plans possibly three exploration and seven follow-up appraisal wells off Otago's coast in the Great South Basin. "Depending on the outcomes of the exploration drilling, this could include up to three exploration wells and up to seven appraisal wells," the company said. The company also said if no indications of potentially commercial hydrocarbons were detected in the exploration wells, no appraisal wells would be drilled. Given the size of the proposed OMV drilling programme, drilling could begin this year, and - depending on results - run through to the end of 2030.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 09, 2019 19:52 UTC