The Australian Government announced the 2019 Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release, comprising 64 areas, the largest total area since 2000. More than 120,000 square km of acreage will be released for a single round of work program bidding. Areas for this year’s release are heavily concentrated in the north-west.
Areas are available for exploration across five basins in Commonwealth waters off Western Australia, Victoria and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
This will be the first release of acreage under a new streamlined system which delivers an annual investment cycle that simplifies bidding, offers greater transparency and responds faster to the market demand,
…the government said in an official statement.
All areas in the 2019 Acreage Release are based on industry nominations and were subject to a comprehensive public consultation process.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said the release was a central component of ensuring Australia’s energy security and export earnings into the future.
I am also pleased to see industry interest in petroleum exploration in south east Australia, with nominations leading to seven areas being available for bidding. Future exploration and discoveries in these areas will support our efforts to bring on more gas supplies for the east coast. I look forward to working with the petroleum industry so we can ensure Australia maintains its attractiveness as a destination for exploration investment, and to underpin our long term energy security,
…Minister Canavan said.
