Canning Basin moratorium lifted

The Department of Mines and Petroleum has lifted the moratorium on Special Prospecting Authorities with Acreage Option in the Canning Basin.

Executive director of petroleum Bill Tinapple said the decision gives petroleum explorers the opportunity to explore without taking on the expensive work obligations associated with a formal exploration permit.

Special Prospecting Authorities with an Acreage Option allow geophysical surveys to be undertaken in vacant onshore areas, as a preliminary means of assessment prior to applying for an exploration permit.

These authorities are restricted in time to six months for the field work, with a further six months allowed for evaluation of the data prior to an application for an exploration permit.

During this time, drilling cannot be undertaken and the granting of SPA/AOs is at the discretion of Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore.

Mr Tinapple said the purpose of SPA/AOs is to encourage exploration in frontier areas.

"While petroleum exploration permits are now present over the Canning Basin, these are for conventional petroleum prospects," he said.

"The basin is relatively underexplored for unconventional gas plays and SPA/AOs will allow companies to explore the vacant acreage in the area without taking on the risk of a complete six year exploration programme."