Tamarind is very pleased with the decision of the Board of Inquiry to grant the company Marine Consent and now looks forward to the safe and successful execution of the Tui Development Drilling Project. Tamarind expects to develop a further 6 – 8 million barrels of oil as a result of this campaign, extending the life of the Tui Field into the mid 2020s. Tamarind would like to thank the EPA and the Board of Inquiry for the manner in which the process has been undertaken. Tamarind has found the process to be well managed, transparent and timely.

Rig Update

The drilling project is currently on target to commence drilling in June with an expected duration of about 110 days. At this stage, 3 sidetrack wells are planned, but Tamarind continues to look at the potential to drill a fourth sidetrack well, depending on the results from the initial 3 wells.

The rig, the COSL “Prospector”, will be used to drill the sidetrack wells. This rig is different from that originally proposed by COSL (the HYSY 982) and was formally changed in early 2019 to accommodate a request from the rig contractor (COSL). The “Prospector” is a sister rig to the HYSY 982 and this change represents no material difference to Tamarind’s proposed activities. Further to the information within Tamarind’s Impact Assessment, further information and evidence, provided at the Hearing apply equally to the COSL “Prospector”.

The rig is currently in transit from Norway to New Zealand and, following a voyage of approximately 120–130 days, will reach the well site location at Tui in late May or early June - depending on weather conditions during the voyage. The rig is a self-propelled vessel and will transit to NZ under its own power. All necessary biosecurity cleaning and clearances were completed prior to the rig’s departure. NZ-based crew will be joining the rig as it transits from Norway to NZ, with the first group of NZ crew due to join the rig in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

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