Maari oil field offshore New Zealand granted production extension

OMV and its partners have obtained authorization to continue operations at the Maari oil field until 2027, allowing them to invest in further production enhancement measures.
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Aug. 28, 2025
Courtesy CUE Energy
offshore Maari Field wellhead platform and Raroa FPSO
Oil is produced through a wellhead platform adjacent to the Maari Field and connected to the Raroa FPSO, about 1.5 km from the wellhead platform.
Courtesy CUE Energy
Map of Maari and Manaia oil fields offshore New Zealand
The Maari and Manaia producing oil fields are located in the Taranaki Basin about 80 km offshore New Zealand.

New Zealand’s government has approved a 10-year extension of petroleum mining permit (PMP) 38160 in the offshore Taranaki Basin covering the producing Maari oil field.

The permit will now expire in December 2037, allowing operator OMV and its partners to sustain production while also pursuing field enhancement measures.

Minority partner Cue Energy Resources reported Aug. 27 that recent operations at the field had improved production to 5,600 bbl/d, the highest in over five years. Measures have included well workovers and various production optimization program.

The Maari Field, 80 km offshore, has been in production since 2009, and it recently delivered its 50 millionth barrel of oil.

Oil is produced via a wellhead platform adjacent to the Maari Field, connected to the FPSO Raroa, about 1.5 km away. The oil is sent via tankers to nearby refineries.

The PMP 38160 joint venture comprises OMV (69%), Horizon Oil (26%) and Cue Energy  (5%).

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Photo courtesy Petrobras; Text added by Bruce Beauboeuf/Offshore
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June 20, 2025
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