Kapuni

Although the Kapuni gas and condensate field is regarded as a small hydrocarbon field, it is the second largest to be located in New Zealand. The only such field that is larger is the Maui gas field off the coast of Taranaki. The Kapuni development is located 65 kilometres south of New Plymouth, in the Taranaki dairying district.

The Kapuni gas and Condensate Field has Been in Production Since 1969
The Kapuni condensate and gas field, that has been in full production since 1969, was first recognised as having commercial quantities of gas in 1959 by a consortium containing; Royal Dutch Shell, British Petroleum and Todd (SBPT). The commencement of production was regarded as a landmark occasion in the history of New Zealand, It now has 16 wells surrounding a central production centre.

Kapuni Gas and Condensate Field Changed New Zealand Lifestyle
The commencement of condensate and gas production marked the beginning of a new era of energy production in New Zealand for both the commercial sector and consumers alike as both sectors went about taking advantage of natural gas as an efficient low cost energy source for the first time. It was the reason why Taranaki developed its energy infrastructure which ultimately led the way to the development of further gas and condensate discoveries off shore, such as the Maui field. Kapuni is New Zealand's oldest producing gas and condensate field.

Kapuni gas and Condensate Field Operated by Shell and Todd Oil Services
The consortium partner, BP, took the decision to sell its shareholding in the venture in 1991with all its shares being purchased by Shell and Todd, leaving these two companies sharing ownership as equal partners on 50 percent each. The operating company also became known as, STOS (Shell Todd Oil Services).

Kapuni Gas and Condensate Drawn From Depths of 3,600 Metres
The Kapuni field is situated 65 kilometres south of New Plymouth, near the town of Kaponga and Mount Taranaki. The gas reservoir it draws from covers an area of 2.5 kilometres by 10 kilometres with most of the gas trapped in sandstone at depths between 3,600 and 3,400 metres.

The gas from the oil wells at the Kapuni site feeds the condensate and gas along pipelines to the Kapuni Production Station that is centrally located within the field itself. The production station is kept operating 24 hours a day for seven days a week throughout the year. At the station the product is separated into condensate, gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The gas is then fed into the natural gas network and the condensate piped to the Omata Tank Farm. From here it is loaded into oil tankers that either take it to offshore refineries or to the Marsden Point oil refinery.

The coastline around Taranaki had always been a place where it was known gas and oil existed in large quantities. It was first noticed back in 1865 when seeps were observed in New Plymouth, on Ngamotu Beach.
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