The latest Crown Minerals petroleum news says OMV and NZOG subsidiary Stewart Petroleum have dropped licence PEP 38472, between the Maui and Kupe fields, after holding the licence for about two years.

As well, NZOG subsidiary Petroleum Resources has surrendered two onshore southwest Taranaki permits PEP 38754 and 38755, after holding them for only a year, and Crown Minerals says this acreage will be included in the next onshore Taranaki permitting round, expected to be next year.

EnergyReview.Net could not contact OMV New Zealand today. However, NZOG exploration manager Eric Matthews told ERN from Sydney that his company was concentrating on the Tui, Tuihu, Kupe projects, as well as the Mangatoa prospect in PEP 38478 and its West Coast Pike River coal project.

"Although NZOG is not involved in all that is happening, there is an astounding amount of stuff going on in New Zealand at present, including three offshore developments'" he said, referring to the Pohokura and Kupe gas fields and Maari oil field.

Also, as expected, Wellington's GeoSphere Exploration and Denver-based Thomasson International Ventures have relinquished onshore Western Southland permit PEP 38223.