June 2015
Offshore petroleum exploration opportunities – 2015 acreage release
Closing date Thursday 29 October 2015
On 18 May 2015, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science, launched
the 2015 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. The release comprises twentynine areas across eight basins in Commonwealth waters offshore the Northern Territory,
Western Australia, the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, South Australia, Victoria
and Tasmania. Twenty-three areas are available for work program bidding and six areas are
available for cash bidding.
The 2015 release consists of three rounds, two work program and one cash bid round with
the following closing dates:
Round
Bid close
Round 1 work program – 12 areas
Thursday 29 October 2015
Cash bid round – 6 areas
Prequalification: Thursday 15 October 2015
Cash Bid*: Thursday 4 February 2016
Round 2 work program – 11 areas
Thursday 21 April 2016
* Only prequalified applicants will be invited to submit a cash bid.
Detailed information on the 2015 acreage release can be found online at www.petroleumacreage.gov.au/2015.
All release areas are supported by precompetitive geological and geophysical data and
analysis undertaken by Geoscience Australia. Information on other considerations that may
impact upon future petroleum activities in the release areas are collated and available in the
special notices.
Geoscience Australia has developed the National Offshore Petroleum Information
Management System (NOPIMS) as an on-line data discovery and delivery system for
Australian offshore petroleum wells and seismic surveys. Selected data relevant to the 2015
areas are available from the NOPIMS. Additional material can be requested at the cost of
transfer by emailing ausgeodata@ga.gov.au or via the NOPIMS Help Desk on 1800
NOPIMS.
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM NEWS | www.industry.gov.au
Offshore petroleum exploration opportunities - 2014 re-release areas
Closing date Thursday 29 October 2015
The following areas are re-released for work-program bidding. Further information is
available in the Government Gazette Notice. Entities that have entered into a Good Standing
Arrangement with the Joint Authority are encouraged to review the re-release areas. It is the
responsibility of entities that have entered into a Good Standing Arrangement to maintain
their standing with the Joint Authority.
Area
Basin
Sub basin
AC14-1
Bonaparte Basin
Vulcan Sub-basin
W14-2
Browse Basin
Caswell Sub-basin
W14-6
Northern Carnarvon Basin
Rankin Platform
2016 acreage release – nominations open
Industry stakeholders are invited to nominate vacant offshore areas to be considered for
release as part of the 2016 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. The
nomination period for the 2016 acreage release will close on 31 July 2015. Late nominations
will not be considered.
Information on how to nominate is available online at http://petroleumacreage.gov.au/2015/2016-nominations.
Grant of Greenhouse Gas Assessment Permits
On 15 May 2015, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science granted
three greenhouse gas assessment permits were granted for a period of six-years. The three
greenhouse gas assessment permits are located in the Gippsland Basin, offshore Victoria,
see map below.
Details of the permits granted are as follows:
Permit number
Registered titleholder
Release area
VIC-GIP-002
The Crown in Right of Victoria
VIC14-GHG-1
VIC-GIP-003
The Crown in Right of Victoria
VIC14-GHG-2
VIC-GIP-004
The Crown in Right of Victoria
VIC14-GHG-3
The granting of these permits will enable further exploration of prospective sites and allow
GHG storage explorers to assess potential storage formations.
Greenhouse gas activities are subject to environmental assessment, consultation and
reporting requirements set out in the legislation and regulations for the activities, including
the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and regulations, and the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Detailed information on the 2014 GHG Storage Acreage Release can be found online at
Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release.
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM NEWS | www.industry.gov.au
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This newsletter is prepared by the Offshore Exploration Section, Resources Division,
Australian Government Department of Industry and Science.
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Postal Address:
Email:
Website:
GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
petroleum.exploration@industry.gov.au
www.petroleum-acreage.gov.au
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM NEWS | www.industry.gov.au