Overview
The Australian Government encourages ongoing investment in, and development of, Australia’s offshore petroleum (oil and gas) resources. The annual Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release (acreage release) is a key part of the strategy to promote offshore oil and gas exploration in Australia.
This consultation process provides an opportunity for persons who have a specific interest in a proposed area/s to provide comments and/or information that may be useful to (a) inform the acreage release and (b) inform potential explorers of their particular interest. The consultation also serves as an initial notification that an area may be subject to future exploration.
Proposed release areas for comment
The maps show the areas proposed for inclusion in the 2018 acreage release in red and labelled with an identifying number - e.g. W18-1 - please use this number to reference the area that relates to each comment in your response.
This consultation process provides an opportunity for all interested parties to provide comments and feedback on the areas proposed and in particular highlight how you might be impacted by exploration activities.
Feedback can be provided either via the online form or by emailing Petroleum.Exploration@industry.gov.au by Wednesday 7 February 2018.
Additional information on the Acreage Release
The release of an acreage release area, does not necessarily mean exploration will occur in that area. Companies must apply for a release area and be assessed prior to decision-makers awarding a petroleum exploration permit. Should a permit be awarded, it authorises the holder to apply to Australia's independent offshore petroleum regulator, NOPSEMA, for permission to undertake an activity.
The main steps in the acreage release cycle are:
• Nominations invited
• Shortlisting of nominated areas
• Consultation - undertaken in two phases:
- with agencies in Commonwealth and state/Northern Territory jurisdictions with direct responsibility for managing the marine environment.
- a public consultation period on the proposed areas.
Following consultation, the final areas for the acreage release are announced by the responsible Commonwealth Minister and industry are invited to submit bids on the release areas.
Next Steps
Following this consultation, responses will be considered as part of finalising the areas to be included in the 2018 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release.
If issues raised are considered to be manageable through environment and safety approvals processes, material from consultation r
esponses may be made publicly available to potential explorers for consideration when preparing bids and/or planning activities. This is done through a document known as the 'Special Notices' which will be available on www.petroleum-acreage.gov.au.
The final areas are expected to be announced in May 2018 and will be communicated via the Australian Petroleum News Newsletter. Please subscribe to be kept up to date.