State Government releases new petroleum exploration permits

The State Government has released 16 new petroleum exploration permits, generating $347 million of investment into Western Australia's exploration industry.

Of the permits, 12 are for offshore exploration and have been granted in conjunction with the Federal Government. The other four permits are for onshore exploration and have been offered to companies subject to native title and environmental processes.

Resources Minister John Bowler said the permits were for under-explored regions of the State that could contain sizeable gas or oil reserves.

"The granting of these permits reflects the State Government's commitment to increasing WA's petroleum exploration," he said.

"WA is riding high on the resources boom at the moment but it is very important for us to look towards the future during buoyant times such as this.

"In order to sustain our economic well-being and energy security into the future, it is fundamental to increase exploration.

"We are fortunate to still have many under-explored regions in WA that are very promising for the petroleum industry."

The new permits include investments by overseas companies.

Plectrum Petroleum plc from the UK will explore WA for the first time, with two permits in the Bremer sub-basin off WA's southern coast. Perth company Oilex NL has teamed up with four Indian companies and has been granted a permit in deep water in the Northern Exmouth Plateau.

"Overseas companies see WA as a very attractive place to invest in and the State Government encourages investment opportunities for both local and international companies," Mr Bowler said.

"With these 12 additional permits, WA now has almost 100 petroleum exploration permits operating off its coast."

The 12 new offshore permits are:

• Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd and Chevron Australia Pty Ltd in the Carnarvon Basin, adjacent to the Scarborough gas field;
• Octanex NL and Strata Resources NL in the Southern Exmouth Sub-basin, south-west of the Enfield oil production area (two permits);
• Oilex NL, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Videocon Industries Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd in deep water in the Northern Exmouth Plateau;
• Gascorp Australia Ltd in the Outer Exmouth Plateau in a deep water extension of Australia's major hydrocarbon producing basin;
• Cue Exploration Pty Ltd in the Northern Exmouth Plateau, north-west of the Mutineer/Exeter oil field.
• Gascorp Australia Ltd in the Northern Exmouth Plateau, north-east of the Jansz/Io gas discovery;
• Westralian Petroleum Ltd, Lempika Pty Ltd and Emphazise Pty Ltd in a proven petroleum system in the Perth Basin (two permits);
• Plectrum Petroleum plc in the Bremer Sub-basin off southern WA (two permits); and
• Woodside Energy Ltd in the Browse Basin, about 70km south-west of the Brecknock gas field.

The four new onshore permits are:

• Emerald Gas Ltd in the Canning Basin;
• Golden Dynasty Resources Ltd in the Canning Basin;
• Exceed Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd in the Canning Basin; and
• Uramin Pty Ltd in the Officer Basin.