Overview
The offshore greenhouse gas storage acreage release provides industry with new opportunities for carbon capture and storage (CCS).
CCS is a technology with the potential to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes including:
The CO2 is separated from other gases and compressed. It can then be permanently stored in underground geological formations.
The 2023 offshore greenhouse gas storage acreage release will make new areas available for companies to explore for permanent offshore storage locations.
We want your feedback on potential release areas and how these exploration activities may impact you.
Your feedback will help the government to identify and consider any potential impacts early. This includes impacts to First Nations cultural heritage, the environment, other marine users (like tourism and fishing industries) and communities.
Your submission will help us identify:
We will publish your submission unless you mark it as confidential.
Areas for consultation
Stakeholders nominated these offshore areas for consideration in the acreage release:
Bonaparte Basin
Browse Basin
Northern Carnarvon Basin
Perth Basin
Otway Basin
Bass Basin
Gippsland Basin.
Maps and shapefiles
Following this consultation
The Australian Government will assess the submissions on the proposed nominated areas. The Minister for Resources will consider this feedback to inform final approval to release an area for bidding. An area will not be included in the release if any issues cannot be managed through regulatory approvals.
Releasing acreage does not mean exploration activities will occur. Exploration companies must first bid for a release area.
The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) undertakes a robust bid assessment process. This ensures permits are awarded to people that are capable, competent and responsible in managing their activities and can meet all regulatory obligations.
The Minister for Resources will consider the expert advice and decide whether to award a greenhouse gas assessment permit. This permit lets the company apply to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) for approval to undertake on-water exploration activities.
Companies take on the commercial risk and costs of any work or forward planning before release areas are officially announced. You should perform your own inquiries to confirm any information on which you intend to act.
Future opportunities to have your say
Offshore exploration may involve a variety of activities including:
Applicants proposing on-water activity must consult further with stakeholders to develop detailed environment plans. They should show how they will mitigate potential adverse impacts on the environment and other users.
NOPSEMA must assess and accept these plans before any activity begins. NOPSEMA must be satisfied with the consultation the proponent has done.
Exploration may, or may not, be successful in discovering geological formations suitable for greenhouse gas storage.
If proponents are successful and find suitable formations, they must apply for further assessment and approvals to develop further infrastructure.
Subscribe for updates
We will communicate the final areas via Australian Resources News. Subscribe to the newsletter to be kept updated.
