Located off the Northern Taranaki coast in approximately 50 metres of water, the Pohokura field is New Zealand’s largest gas resource.

First discovered in 2000 by Fletcher Challenge Energy, the field is owned by a joint venture comprising Shell (48%), Todd Pohokura Limited (26%) and OMV New Zealand Limited (26%). Shell Exploration New Zealand Limited (SENZL) operates the field on behalf of the joint venture partners with STOS providing services to SENZL.

First commercial gas flowed in September 2006 from three onshore “extended reach” drilling wells in the southern part of the field. And in March 2007, gas and condensate began to flow from the first of five offshore wells via an undersea pipeline back to an onshore production station at Motunui.

This production station is controlled via a control room operating 24/7 from the STOS head office in New Plymouth.

Condensate, separated from the gas flow at the production station, is piped to the Omata Tank Farm where it is loaded onto oil tankers for transportation to the Marsden Point oil refinery in New Zealand or refineries offshore. Meanwhile, Pohokura’s gas is fed into the national grid network.