New exploration permits issued for offshore Australia

May 8, 2012
Australia has awarded 12 new offshore exploration permits off Western Australia and Victoria, and expects to see $303 million in area investments in the next three years.  

Offshore staff

SYDNEY, Australia –Australia has awarded 12 new offshore exploration permits off Western Australia and Victoria, and expects to see $303 million in area investments in the next three years.

Forty-six bids were received for the 16 release areas contained in the first 2011 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release round that closed Oct. 13, 2011. Eight companies won permits.

The awards are as follows:

AC/P55: Ashmore platform of the Bonaparte basin off the Ashmore and Cartier islands. Finder No 13 Pty Ltd.

WA-471-P: Caswell sub-basin of Browse basin offshore Western Australia. IPM Browse Pty Ltd.

WA-472-P: Across the Lambert shelf, Beagle and Dampier sub-basins of Northern Carnarvon basin. Woodside Energy Ltd.

WA-473-P: Same description as WA-472-P and also went to Woodside.

WA-474-P: Central Exmouth plateau of northern Carnarvon basin. Hess Australia (Offshore) Pty Ltd.

WA-475-P: Central Exmouth plateau of northern Carnarvon basin. BHP Billiton Petroleum (Australia) Pty. Ltd. and Apache Northwest Pty Ltd.

WA-476-P: Exmouth sub-basin of northern Carnarvon basin. Murphy Australia Oil Pty Ltd.

WA-468-P: Beagle sub-basin in northern Carnarvon basin. Finder No 14 Pty. Ltd.

WA-469-P: Exmouth plateau, northern Carnarvon basin. BHP Billiton (Australia) Pty Ltd.

WA-470-P: Exmouth plateau of northern Carnarvon basin. BHP Billiton (Australia) Pty Ltd.

VIC/P68: Gippsland basin off Victoria. Bass Strait Oil Co. Ltd.

5/8/2012