Ahuroa Gas Storage Facility

The Ahuroa Gas Storage Facility is an underground natural gas storage facility situated at Ahuroa in the Taranaki region of New Zealand, owned by Flex Gas, a subsidiary of First Gas.[1][2] Flex Gas is the trading name of Gas Services New Zealand.

The stored gas is used to supply the Stratford Power Station and other major users of gas when needed during periods of peak demand. The facility can store up to 18 PJ of gas, with injection rates up to 27 terajoules per day and withdrawal rates of up to 45 terajoules per day.[1][3] Flex Gas plans to expand the facility to 65 TJ per day injection and withdrawal by 2021.[1]

History

The Tariki / Ahuroa field was discovered in 1986. Construction of wellsite facilities began in 1995 and production commenced in 1996.[4] The facility was in turn owned by Fletcher Challenge, Shell and Swift Energy.

In 2008, when the field was largely depleted, it was acquired by Origin Energy as part of the Tariki / Ahuroa / Waihapa / Ngaere assets. Gas injection into storage began in 2008 and the surface facility was constructed by Contact Energy in 2009 and 2010.[5]

The facility was officially opened in 2011[6] with a development cost of $177m.[7]

In 2017, Contact Energy sold the gas storage facility to Gas Services New Zealand.[8]

See also

References
  1. "About Us". Flex Gas. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. Maetzig, Rob (20 December 2010). "Underground gas storage site gets nod". Taranaki Daily News.
  3. "Contact Energy opens $400 million development in Taranaki" (PDF) (Press release). Contact Energy. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. Logan, Geoff (30 March 1998). Development and Engineering Highlights in 1996/1997 (PDF). 1998 New Zealand Petroleum Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2013.
  5. "Strategic Taranaki Acquisition" (PDF). New Zealand Energy Corporation. 11 July 2013.
  6. Anthony, John (1 June 2011). "Power plant fires up in 10 minutes". Fairfax NZ News.
  7. Maetzig, Rob (19 June 2013). "New exploration plan for old wells". Taranaki Daily News.
  8. "Contact Energy to sell AGS to Gas Services New Zealand" (Press release). Contact Energy. 21 December 2017.


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