CONTENTS
Contents .........................................................................................................................i
1.
Letter of Invitation ...........................................................................................................ii
2.
Notice of Invitation ..........................................................................................................4
3.
Release Area Map EPNT14-1 .......................................................................................7
4.
Release Area Map EPNT14-2 .......................................................................................8
5.
Application Requirements ..............................................................................................9
6.
Criteria for Assessment ..................................................................................................10
7.
Availability of Data ..........................................................................................................11
8.
Exploration Permit applications under Section 29 Native Title Act (Cwlth) ..................12
9.
Closing Dates and Lodgement of Applications ..............................................................12
10.
Contacts .........................................................................................................................12
Page i of 12
1.
Letter of Invitation
Page ii of 12
2.
Notice of Invitation
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
Petroleum Act
NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION PERMIT APPLICATION
(RELEASE ROUND – 16 JUNE 2014)
Pursuant to section 16(1) of the Petroleum Act of the Northern Territory, the Minister for
Mines and Energy (through the Minister’s delegate) invites applications for the grant of
petroleum exploration permits for the areas described below.
This invitation commences on 16 June 2014 and ends on 12 December 2014.
Part llA of the Petroleum Act – Prescribed petroleum acts above high-water mark or for
infrastructure facilities – applies to the area the subject of this invitation.
Applications should be prepared in accordance with section 16(3) of the Petroleum Act and
submitted to the Department of Mines and Energy prior to 4:00 pm ACST on Friday,
12 December 2014. Further details of the requirements for applications are set out below.
DESCRIPTION OF AREA

Release Area EPNT14-1
MAP SHEET SD53 (Roper River)
Block No.s
3258
3259
3330
3331
3332
3402
3403
3404
3405
MAP SHEET SE53 (Newcastle Waters)
Block No.s
14
15
16
17
18
86
87
88
89
158
159
160
161
230
231
232
032
303
304
374
375
446
447
518
519
590
591
662
663
664
665
734 part
735 part
736
737
807 part
808
809
881
953
954
Assessed to contain 47 full and 3 part blocks
Page 4 of 12

Release Area EPNT14-2
MAP SHEET SG52 (Peterman Ranges)
Block No.s
787 part
788 part
789
790
791
859 part
860
861
862
863
931 part
932
933
934
935
936
1003 part
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1075 part 1076 part
1077
1078
1079
1080
MAP SHEET SG53 (Oodnadatta)
Block No.s
937
Assessed to contain 21 full and 8 part blocks
APPLICATIONS
Applications for exploration permits in relation to the above release areas must be
accompanied by:
(a)
(b)
Details of:
i.
The applicant’s technical assessment of the petroleum potential of the area,
including the concepts underlying its proposed exploration program, with
sufficient detail to support that program.
ii.
The applicant’s minimum guaranteed proposal (including indicative defendable
minimum expenditure) for exploration wells to be drilled, 3D and 2D seismic and
other surveying activities, data evaluation and other work, for each year of the
first two years of the permit term. This proposal, to be known as the minimum
guaranteed work program should comprise work expected to involve a
substantial exploration component – normally, appraisal work should not be
included.
iii.
The applicant’s proposal (including indicative minimum defendable expenditure)
for exploration wells to be drilled, 3D and 2D seismic and other surveying
activities, data evaluation and other work, for each of the three remaining years
of the permit term. This proposal, to be known as the secondary work program,
should comprise work expected to involve a substantial exploration component –
normally, appraisal work should not be included.
Particulars of:
i.
The technical qualifications of the applicant and of its key employees.
ii.
The technical advice available to the applicant.
iii.
The financial resources available to the applicant, including evidence of the
applicant’s ability to fund the work program proposed, a statement of other
exploration commitments over the next five years, and a copy of the latest
annual report and quarterly reports for each applicant company.
iv.
Where relevant, the viability of the consortium lodging the application, including
evidence that a satisfactory settlement has been or can be, reached on the joint
Operation Agreement (eg. a copy of a signed Heads of Agreement Dealing or
similar).
Page 5 of 12
v.
(c)
The percentage participation interest of each party to the application.
Such other information as the applicant wishes to be taken into account in
consideration of the application.
Guidelines are available from the Department of Mines and Energy website at
www.minerals.nt.gov.au to assist applicants to become familiar and to comply with their
statutory obligations when preparing and lodging their application for exploration.
FEE
At the time of lodgement each application must include a bank cheque payable to ‘the
Receiver of Territory Monies’ issued by an Australian deposit taking institution for payment of
the application fee. The fee is prescribed by the Petroleum Act, as at 1 July 2014 the fee is
$5,097.00. This amount should be checked prior to drawing a cheque for payment.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
Applications together with supporting data for release areas EPNT14-1 and EPNT14-2 must
be lodged by 4.00 pm (ACST) on Friday, 12 December 2014 at the following address:
Executive Director, Energy
Energy Directorate
Department of Mines and Energy
4th Floor Paspalis Centrepoint Building
48-50 Smith Street Mall
DARWIN NT 0800
The following special instructions should be observed:

Two copies of the application and supporting data, together with the applicable fee,
should be enclosed in an envelope or package.

The application should then be sealed and clearly marked as
“Application for EPNT14-1 or EPNT14-2 – Commercial-in-Confidence”.
This envelope or package should then be enclosed in a plain covering envelope or package
and delivered by hand or posted to the address above.
A Release Package is available at www.minerals.nt.gov.au
Enquiries may be directed to the Petroleum Registrar, Energy Titles, Energy Directorate on
telephone + 61 8 8999 7112
Dated: 16 June 2014
Signed:
Pursuant to an Instrument of Delegation dated 4 February 2014
Page 6 of 12
3.
Release Area Map EPNT14-1
Page 7 of 12
4.
Release Area Map EPNT14-2
Page 8 of 12
5.
Application Requirements
Applicants need to refer to Section 16(3) of the Petroleum Act when making application for a permit.
5.1
Particulars of the applicant(s)
 Full name of applicant/s - In case of individuals, please state full name of each person. In
the case of corporations, state name of each corporation as shown on their latest Certificate
of Incorporation.
 Australian Company Number (ACN or the ARBN where the applicant is a foreign company)
– This is the number described on the Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Australian
Securities and Investment Commission.
 Principal or residential address - Please state each applicant’s principal or residential
address. This is the physical address at which documents will be served on each applicant.
 Postal Address - Please state postal address of each applicant.
 Interest - Where the application is made by two (2) or more persons the proposed sharing
arrangements between the applicants.
5.2
Particulars of Release Area
 Schedule of blocks being described by reference to the name/s of a map sheet/s (e.g.
Darwin SD52) of the 1:1,000,000 Series and the number of graticular sections shown
thereon.
 A map clearly delineating the application (release) area and boundaries of existing permit or
licence areas in the immediate vicinity of the application area.
5.3
Assessment of Release Area
 Applicant’s assessment of the petroleum potential of area, including a geological and
geophysical review and technical assessment, including concepts underlying the proposed
exploration program.
5.4
Work Program
 Proposed technical works program for exploration of the blocks during each year of the term
of the proposed permit and must demonstrate show an accelerated exploration program.
5.5
Technical and Financial Capacity
 Evidence of the technical and financial capacity of the applicant/s to carry out the proposed
technical works program and to comply with the requirements of the Petroleum Act.
o Applicants should list the professional staff proposed to be used in the program, together
with a short resume of their past record of proven technical experience.
o Normally, applicants are expected to have at least sufficient net current assets to
complete the first two years’ program and to provide reasonable assurance that further
funds will be forthcoming. If the applicant is a publicly listed company the last issued
annual company report or the relevant sections thereof and the last issued quarterly
report to the Stock Exchange should be included.
o If the applicant is not a public company, a report should be furnished giving the same
information as would be furnished in the annual report of a public company, and in the
latest quarterly stock exchange report.
In either case a statement of financial commitments other than those proposed in the
application, and any additional source of finance should be included. This statement should
include a list of interests in petroleum tenements in other states of Australia.
5.6
Operator
 The name of the designated operator and evidence of the technical capacity of the operator
to carry out the proposed technical works program and a single address for service of
notices in respect of the application.
5.7
Other Information
 Past performance of the applicant/s.
 Prescribed application fee - non-refundable, payable to Receiver of Territory Monies (RTM).
 Such other information in support of the application as the applicant thinks fit.
Page 9 of 12
6.
Criteria for Assessment of Applications
The Northern Territory Government has a priority aim to encourage accelerated exploration of energy
resources, ensuring that prospective oil and gas reserves are explored for, discovered and developed
efficiently and expediently as practicable.
In any submission for the award of a permit, applicants will be expected to take into account all
relevant information, such as environment protection, heritage and cultural issues that could impose
added requirements on the grant of tenure.
An applicant must first satisfy the Minister for Mines and Energy (the Minister) of the capacity to
undertake the proposed five (5) year work program, particularly:




Demonstrable technical expertise that will meet the five (5) year exploration program as offered
in the application.
Assurances that the applicant has the financial resources to fund the exploration program in the
first two (2) years and continue to have access to sufficient resources to meet the requirements
of the proposed five (5) year work program including evidence of the applicant’s ability to raise
additional funding for exploration purposes where implied.
Applicant’s past performance in other petroleum exploration areas in Australia or, if relevant,
elsewhere.
Evidence of performance in a similar area either as operator or partner in a Joint Venture.
Permit applications received will be assessed against the criteria by a panel of qualified departmental
officers within the Department of Mines and Energy. A report and recommendations to approve or not
approve the grant of a permit will be prepared for the Minister (delegate).
Applications should be submitted in writing and will be assessed on the information provided, together
with any additional information, requested by the Minister (delegate). Applicants may also be invited
to attend an interview with the department to clarify information provided.
Please note that the composition and timing of the work program may not be amended through the
provision of additional information and other fundamental changes to the original application will not
be accepted.
In the recommendation to the Minister (delegate), consideration of the applicant’s past performance in
relation to meeting work commitments and environmental management in Australia and, if relevant,
elsewhere is considered.
Consideration of past performance also extends to prior applications where applicants have failed to
comply with the negotiations in good faith principles of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) or similar
negotiations under the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act (Cwlth) or other reasons as to why past
applications have not been successful.
Compliance with previous reporting and data submission requirements will also be considered.
Whilst assessments will take into consideration the prospectivity of an area (highly prospective or
green field) the minimum guaranteed work program value (years one and two) cannot be reduced
once the permit has been awarded.
Work programs proposed must significantly advance the exploration status of the area with the aim to
develop that resource as soon as possible.
Assessment Criteria
When assessing an application, the following will be taken into account; but is not exclusive to other
requirements.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Financial resources and technical expertise to execute the full five (5) years of proposed
exploration and development activities.
The extent of which the applicant’s technical assessment supports the level of seismic
surveying and the number of conceptual targets of wells proposed in the application.
The amount, type and timing of seismic surveying or equivalent activity to be carried out
and/or accessing existing non-exclusive seismic data.
The number and timing of wells to be drilled, provided there is an adequate supporting
program of geological and geophysical work.
Page 10 of 12
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Expenditure, defendable and relevant to exploration activities and relevant to the prospectivity
of the area.
Other surveying, data acquisition and reprocessing to be carried out.
Pre-purchased, non-exclusive seismic data will not form part of the work program, but any
interpretation of that data will be taken into account in assessing the merits of the work.
Significant appraisal works over any previous petroleum discoveries within the area.
Past exploration performance history.
Applicant’s engagement of local employment and or community, including Indigenous
employment.
In summary, a minimum acceptable work program should include (but not be limited to) the following:
Years 1 - 2
substantial geophysical (seismic, magneto-telluric, gravity or magnetic) exploration
activity, either aerial or ground;
Year 3 -
more extensive seismic that leads to drilling a well/wells – including a well;
Year 4 -
exploration/appraisal drilling of well/wells;
Year 5 -
geological analysis to firm up; identify prospective areas of the tenure for consideration
of detailed assessment, pilot-production, production, tenure renewal and or
relinquishment of land area.
Granted Permits
Upon grant, titleholders must undertake each component of the work program in the permit area(s)
within the prescribed year.
If a titleholder has more than one permit (non-contiguous), expenditure in one permit cannot be
substituted for expenditure in another unless it can be proven that the program will expedite
exploration that is beneficial to both areas. Proposed work commitment expenditure must be spent
within each permit as indicated in the initial work program.
Failure to complete the work program commitments especially on the minimum guaranteed
first two (2) years may result in the commencement of permit cancellation proceedings and
will impact on the considerations for renewal of tenure, waiver applications, suspension of
work program applications etc.
Failure to observe requirements for timely submission of data, including annual reports to
Northern Territory Geological Survey is also to be taken into consideration.
7.
Availability of Data
A special data package is available from Northern Territory Geological Survey.
7.1
Release Area EPNT14-1
Data relevant to permit release area EPNT14-1 will be supplied on a memory card and will
include McArthur Basin seismic support data, McArthur Basin wells data, relevant legislation
and application/assessment guidelines, regional geological data, Northern Territory geophysics
and, Northern Territory GIS data (including release area GIS files).
Seismic surveys can be requested from the Northern Territory Geological Survey InfoCentre
but will be supplied by our storage facility in Perth, incurring a small fee.
7.2
Release Area EPNT14-2 will be supplied on a memory card and will include Amadeus Basin
seismic support data, Amadeus Basin wells data, relevant legislation and
application/assessment guidelines, regional geological data, Northern Territory geophysics and,
Northern Territory GIS data (including release area GIS files).
Data relevant to permit release area EPNT14-2
Seismic surveys can be requested from the Northern Territory Geological Survey InfoCentre
but will be supplied by our storage facility in Perth, incurring a small fee.
Page 11 of 12
8.
Special Requirements and Additional Information
Successful applicants will be required to consider Aboriginal Sacred Sites, Heritage and Environment
matters before commencement of any operation.
8.1
Native Title Act (Cwlth)
Successful applicants will be required to progress their applications through the ‘right to
negotiate’ process of the Native Title Act.
9.
Closing Dates and Lodgement of Applications
The closing date for applications for EPNT14-1 and EPNT14-2 is 4:00 pm, Friday 12 December 2014.
Applications together with supporting data should be submitted to the following postal address:
Executive Director, Energy
Energy Directorate
Department of Mines and Energy
GPO Box 4550
DARWIN NT 0801
The following special instructions should be observed:

Two copies of the application and supporting data, together with the applicable fee, should be
enclosed in an envelope or package.

The application should then be sealed and clearly marked as
“Application for EPNT14-1 or EPNT14-2 – Commercial-in-Confidence”.
This envelope or package should then be enclosed in a plain covering envelope or package and
delivered by hand or posted to the address above.
10.
Contact Officers

Victoria Jackson
Executive Director, Energy
Energy Directorate
E: victoria.jackson@nt.gov.au
P: 08 8999 6030
Annette Duncan
Director of Energy Titles
Energy Directorate
E: Annette.duncan@nt.gov.au
P: 08 8999 5357
Gina Graham
Petroleum Registrar
Energy Directorate
E: gina.graham@nt.gov.au
P: 08 8999 7112
Dr Ben McNeil
Petroleum Data Manager
Northern Territory Geological Survey
E: ben.mcneil@nt.gov.au
P: 08 8999 5149



Page 12 of 12