New areas released for petroleum exploration

The state government is inviting bids for six petroleum exploration leases on and offshore with its 2013 acreage releases.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum has opened up six different areas across the Midwest, Pilbara and Eucla for exploration.

DMP Executive Director Bill Tinapple said the latest state release included a variety of investment opportunities within Western Australia’s Carnarvon, Northern Carnarvon, Officer and Perth Basins.

“One release area is located east of Geraldton in the Perth Basin – which is known for oil and gas production and excellent infrastructure,” Mr Tinapple said.

“An additional two areas are situated off the Pilbara coast within the highly prospective Northern Carnarvon Basin – which produces more petroleum than any other Australian basin.

“We’re also offering an under-explored area south of Exmouth in the Southern Carnarvon Basin, as well as two larger release areas in the Officer Basin, located in the central eastern part of the State,” Mr Tinapple said, adding he believed this latest acreage release would further enhance the State’s reputation as Australia’s premier destination for petroleum exploration.

Bids for the state release are due by 4pm Thursday 14 November 2013.

The state release follows the federal government’s 2013 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release announced in May at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference.

Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Gary Gray said 31 areas in six offshore basins were currently available for petroleum exploration bids in Commonwealth waters off the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria.

Areas on the North West Shelf off Western Australia feature prominently and include the northern Bonaparte Basin.

Bids for the federal release are due by Thursday 21 November 2013.

Nominations are also currently open until 31 July 2013 for selecting vacant offshore areas the federal government may consider for release in 2014.