A month ago EnergyReview.Net said Swift Energy New Zealand was aiming to increase overall production from its Tariki, Ahuroa, Waihapa and Ngaere (Tawn) properties to the equivalent of 50 tcf/d, up from about 30tcf/d last year.

ERN said SENZ had bought two old compressors, previously used at NGC's Rotowaro gas pipeline pumping station and installed them at the Tariki-Ahuroa wellsites to increase reservoir pressure and gas-condensate flows.

Houston-headquartered Swift Energy today said it expected total domestic and New Zealand production to be 12.0-12.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (bcfe), with its Taranaki properties contributing 4.5-5.0 bcfe of that total figure.

Recent facility upgrades and increased natural gas demand in New Zealand had allowed the Tawn fields to produce approximately 50 million cubic feet equivalent per day during the first two months of 2003, which had increased the expected total production in New Zealand during this period.

Additionally, SENZ had recently completed drilling the Kauri-F1 well, targeting the shallow Manutahi sands in the Rimu-Kauri area. The objective sand was encountered and the decision made to set pipe and complete the well. Production testing of this well would occur during the second quarter of 2003, the company added.

Last month's Independent Expert's final report on remaining Maui gas reserves sent shivers through much of this country's energy sector as it realised the "post-Maui" age was almost upon it.

The Netherland Sewell and Associates International report concluded there were only 370 Petajoules of gas left "at the contract price", while NGC holdings said Methanex had already consumed 77PJ more gas than it should have.

While the NSAI conclusions have been devastating for Methanex, which has been forced to close two of its three methanol trains, the tightening gas market bodes well for small operators such as SENZ and Indo-Pacific Energy, which hopes to bring its Kahili gas discovery onstream by mid-2003.