Partners in the Tui SW-1 exploration well reported today that drilling has reached a depth of 1505 metres, on the way to the target depth of 3900 metres.
The Tui SW-1 well is located in mining licence PMP 38158 in the offshore Taranaki Basin, approximately 85 kilometres from New Plymouth.
Operator and 42.5% partner in the field is AWE, with New Zealand Oil and Gas holding 12.5%.
NZOG said the Tui SW-1 well is testing the Kapuni F10 Sand, which has proved productive at the adjacent Tui oilfield.
Meanwhile, the Taranaki Daily News reports that Todd Energy may have breached regional plan noise limits with flaring at its onshore Mangahewa site, where a new exploration well has been drilled and has apparently found hydrocarbons.
A report on flow-testing from the well is due next week.
Todd declined to comment on local rumours that the size of the find had required a doubling in the size of the flare-pit at the Mangahewa-C site.