June 2015Offshore 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 twenty-nine 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.petroleum-acreage.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 basinAC14-1 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://petroleum-acreage.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 areaVIC-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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Postal Address: GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia Email: petroleum.exploration@industry.gov.au Website: www.petroleum-acreage.gov.au

AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM NEWS | www.industry.gov.au