Source: Environmental Protection Authority
Beach Energy Resources NZ (Holdings) Limited has applied for a consent to discharge trace amounts of harmful substances from the deck drains of a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU). Trace amounts of harmful substances are sometimes included in deck drainage when residual amounts remain on the decks after the clean-up of minor spills.
For more information on the proposed discharge of harmful substances from MODU deck drains please read section 3.2 of Beach Energy’s application, which you can find at the link below.
Public submissions on this application are open until Friday 6 July 2020.
Once submissions close, if any parties request to be heard, a public hearing will be held within 40 working days.
On 12 April 2018, the government announced its decision to ban new offshore exploration permits. The ban does not affect existing permits such as those held by Beach Energy.
Beach Energy is one of four consented operators carrying out oil and gas activity in the EEZ.
Read more about Beach Energy’s application
Read about the submissions process
Read more about consented operators carrying out oil and gas activities in the EEZ
Beach Energy’s plans for exploration
Beach Energy is proposing to drill one initial exploration well as part of the Canterbury Basin Exploration and Appraisal Drilling Programme (EAD). Depending on results from this well, Beach Energy may pursue a wider work programme within Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP) 38264 that could include up to 11 follow-up exploration or appraisal wells.
Appraisal wells are used to test how much oil or gas is present, and how far it goes down. This will allow Beach Energy to determine if it is worth applying for consents to proceed to production drilling and extract any oil and gas reserves.
This application relates only to the discharge of trace amounts of harmful substances from the deck drains of any MODU used for this drilling and any subsequent drilling if required. This application doesn’t include any other aspects of the drilling programme.
Beach Energy has applied for the period of the consent to last through to 7 November 2029.
Read more about the process for marine consents
