DMP: Six Areas in Western Australia Released for O&G Exploration

 Western Australia’s petroleum sector has been given a major boost, with the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) opening up six different areas across the Midwest, Pilbara and Eucla for exploration.

DMP Petroleum Executive Director Bill Tinapple said the department’s latest acreage release included a mixture of highly prospective and greenfield areas.

“One release area is located east of Geraldton in the Perth Basin – which is known for oil and gas production and excellent infrastructure,” Mr Tinapple said.

An additional two areas are situated off the Pilbara coast within the highly prospective Northern Carnarvon Basin – which produces more petroleum than any other Australian basin.

“We’re also offering an under-explored area south of Exmouth in the Southern Carnarvon Basin, as well as two larger release areas in the Officer Basin, located in the central eastern part of the State,” Mr Tinapple said, adding he believed this latest acreage release would further enhance the State’s reputation as Australia’s premier destination for petroleum exploration.

“In 2012, the Western Australian petroleum sector was valued at a record $24.4 billion, so this is an exciting opportunity to expand on such growth,” Mr Tinapple said.

Work program bids for the release areas close at 4pm on Thursday 14 November 2013.

“The last petroleum acreage release in September 2012 attracted a number of highly competitive bids,” Mr Tinapple said.