Exploration & Seismic
INTERNATIONAL energy company, Equinor, has released its draft Environment Plan (EP) for the proposed Stromlo-1 exploration drilling programme in permit EPP-39 in the Great Australian Bight for public comment. The development of the EP is a key step in the offshore exploration regulatory process. It details Equinor’s planned activity and all the measures to be put in place to avoid and mitigate impacts on the environment. The EP concludes drilling can be done safely. This is
SANTOS has reached an agreement to align the company’s interests, under its operatorship, across four exploration permits in the Bonaparte Basin offshore Northern Australia adjacent to a large existing contingent resource. Santos’ position in the Bonaparte Basin already includes an 11.5% interest in the Bayu- Undan gas-condensate field and the Darwin LNG plant, as well as a 25% interest in the Barossa field, which is currently in front end engineering
AFTER a difficult few years, the exploration sector is back in the black – and keen to stay there. New studies from international industry anlysts Wood Mackenzie shows that explorers’ success in 2018 reflects a disciplined approach that’s set to continue this year. “We are seeing a long-overdue recovery in the sector. Last year conventional exploration returns hit 13% – the highest calculated in more than a decade. As 2018’s
THE share price of ASX-listed Calima Energy Limited (ASX: CE1) jumped more than 11 per cent in early markets after the company reported promising early results from coring operations at its maiden well into the prolific Montney Formation in Canada. Calima reported that elevated gas readings were recorded during coring operations of its Calima Tommy A-54-C/94-G-09 well, with a large section of the targeted Montney Formation successfully cored. The well
CARNARVON Petroleum Limited reports that the Noble Tom Prosser jack-up drilling rig has been secured to drill an appraisal programme on the exciting Dorado oil discovery off the Western Australian coast. The company said the shallow water depths mean that the Dorado Joint Venture is able to utilise a cost-effective jack-up drilling rig for its Dorado appraisal wells. The JV is well versed in the capabilities of the Noble Tom
THE Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has conducted the first real-world seismic experiment to determine the effects of marine noise on fish and pearl oysters. The experiment, using the seismic vessel the BGP Explorer, surveyed two sites off the northwest of Western Australia over ten days. The experiment, which has taken the collaborative efforts of more than 100 people 12 months to design and co-ordinate, could help to clarify
LEADING Australian gas producers Santos and Shell have been appointed as preferred tenderer to explore new acreage in Queensland’s key gas-producing Surat and Bowen Basins in a 50-50 joint venture. Santos is the designated operator in this exploration acreage. The PLR201718-2-5 licence covers approximately 400 sq. Km, located 19 km east of the town of Surat, and was released by the Queensland Government exclusively to boost domestic gas supply on
AUSTRALIAN-based Indonesian oil producer Bass Oil has entered into a heads of agreement to acquire a 100% participating interest in the North Madura Production Sharing Contract (PSC) which covers an area in coastal shallow waters north of the eastern quarters of the Indonesian island of Java. The PSC area is adjacent to numerous producing oil and gas fields and existing export infrastructure.
The PSC requires the drilling of one well
BHP has been named by the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board as successful bidder to acquire a 100% participating interest in, and operatorship of, two exploration licences for blocks 8 and 12 in the offshore Orphan Basin in Eastern Canada. Steve Pastor, BHP president Operations Petroleum, said the successful bids are an exciting opportunity for BHP to explore for world class conventional oil assets as an early mover
THE Australian oil and gas industry has raised concerns about the effects new tax changes may have on the future of exploration activities. Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration (APPEA) chief executive Dr Malcolm Roberts says changes to the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) announced by the Federal Government must be assessed carefully. “Attracting investment in natural gas and oil production has never been more important for Australia,” said APPEA Chief
