New Zealand

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 11 -- L&M Energy Ltd., Christchurch, NZ, said its Mangapehi-2 well in PEP 50348 (South Waikato) on New Zealand’s North Island went to a TD of 604 m, intersected the target Waikato coal measures in Mangapehi coal field, and cored 3 m of coal for laboratory analysis.

The Arapae-1 well, in a previously unexplored area, reached its planned TD of 261 m and successfully intersected the Waikato coal measures.

Meanwhile, the surface section of the OM-4 well in PEP 38220 (Ohai) on the southwestern South Island has been drilled to 589 m and cased. The well, programmed to 1,100 m or Cretaceous Morley coals in the western part of the permit, is to be deepened when the core rig arrives from the North Island.

After drilling OM-4, the company will drill Te Kuiti-1 in PEP 50348 (South Waikato) and Heao-1 and Maclure-1 in adjoining PEP 51244 (Ohura River). The six-well program is expected to be completed by end March 2010.