Currently, flow testing is under way to assess the optimal well settings and the well recorded an initial unstabilised flow rate of 34,000 bopd at 67% choke with a 48% water cut, which is in line with field modelling.
The company plans to test various facility parameters, including choke settings prior to launching a much lower stabilized flow rate for long-term production of the well.
The well’s oil production is estimated to decline relative to the increasing water cut in the well.
AWE managing director Bruce Clement said that the well initial production is in line with expectations.
Clement said: "The Pateke-4H development well is performing as expected and will boost near-term production and cash flow without additional operating costs."
Located approximately 50km off the coast of Taranaki, New Zealand in PMP38158, the Tui area oil fields include the Tui, Amokura and Pateke fields.
The company said that the production from each field will be fed into the Tui field gathering system followed by the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, Umuroa.
AWE operates the PMP 38158 with 57.50% stake while New Zealand Oil & Gas, through its subsidiaries, own 27.50% interest. The remaining stake is owned by Pan Pacific Petroleum through its subsidiaries.
