Permits Awarded in Round Two of the 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release
The specific permits awarded from the 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release Round
Two are:
WA-517-P (released as W14-19) located approximately 400 km east of Esperance, awarded to Santos
Offshore Pty Ltd and JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd (Santos JX). Santos JX
proposed a $3.1 million guaranteed work program comprising 2,000 km 2D seismic reprocessing, a
seepage survey and geological and geophysical studies. The secondary work program comprises 2,000 km2
3D seismic acquisition, geological and geophysical studies and one exploration well totalling $104.1
million. There was one other bidder on this area.
WA-518-P (released as W14-10) located approximately 250 km offshore of Onslow, Western Australia
has been awarded to Hess Australia (Karratha) Pty Ltd (Hess Karratha). Hess Karratha proposed a $61.75
million guaranteed work program comprising 885 km2 of 3D seismic data purchase, reprocessing and
inversion studies as well as one exploration well and geological and geophysical studies. The secondary
work program comprises well data analysis, geological and geophysical studies and one exploration well
totalling $53 million. Hess Karratha was the sole bidder on this area.
WA-519-P (released as W14-12) located approximately 200 km offshore of Onslow, Western Australia
has been awarded to Hess Australia (Pilbara) Pty Ltd (Hess Pilbara). Hess Pilbara proposed a $4.5 million
guaranteed work program comprising 257 km2 of 3D seismic data reprocessing and inversion studies as
well as geological and geophysical studies. The secondary work program consists of one exploration well
and geological and geophysical studies totalling $33.8 million. Hess Pilbara was the sole bidder on this
area.
WA-520-P (released as W14-17) located approximately 100 km north of Exmouth, Western Australia,
has been awarded to Finder No 10 Pty Ltd (Finder). Finder proposed a $6 million guaranteed work
program comprising 1,280 km2 new 3D broadband seismic data acquisition, processing and
interpretation, as well as geological and geophysical studies. The secondary work program comprises 500
km2 of 3D seismic data inversion, geological and geophysical studies and one exploration well totalling
$31 million. There were three other bidders on this area.
Area W14-1 attracted one bid; no offer of a permit was made. The area has been re-released for work
program bidding.
Areas W14-3 (Re-release), W14-8, W14-9, W14-11, W14-13, W14-14 (Re-release) and W14-18 did not
receive bids and have reverted to vacant acreage.
Areas AC14-1 and W14-6 did not receive bids and were re-released for work program bidding.