Field owner Maui Development Limited advised late on Friday afternoon of restricted Maui gas availability from November 22 because of a mandatory internal inspection of a gas processing vessel on the A platform.

"As a result, Maui B will be shut-in for approximately seven days and Maui A will only be capable of producing about 60%, or 200 Terajoules a day, of current Maui offtake during this period," said MDL spokesman Simon King from Wellington.

"However, this rate is still close to the contractual Maximum Daily Quantity under the Maui Gas Contract," cautioned King.

"And (Maui operator) Shell Todd Oil Services will be endeavouring to reduce the period of seven days if at all possible, and minimise the impact on the purchasers of Maui gas, all of whom have been advised of the restriction."

However, EnergyReview.Net believes that MDL should have no trouble delivering gas during this period, as former main Maui gas user Methanex is taking no or very little Maui gas and the other two contractual end users, Contact Energy and NGC, should not be affected because of reduced thermal electricity demand due to warmer spring weather.