Taken in the early 1970s, this aerial photograph shows the semi-submersible drilling rig Sedco 135F. This was drilling appraisal holes to test the size of the giant Māui field, which had been found in 1969 by the drill ship Discoverer II. After a gas or oil field is discovered, further holes are often put in to appraise its size. This information allows companies to work out whether a field is economic to mine.
Using this item
Private collection
Reference: Paul Fried and others, The story of Maui. Wellington: Maui Development, 1979, p. 28
by Harland Charters and Rowan Guthrie
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