INPEX acquires stake in offshore block in Australia

Japan’s INPEX  has through its subsidiary INPEX Browse E&P Pty Ltd (INPEX Browse) been granted Release Area WA-502-P as an exploration permit following the 2013 Australian Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release.

The block is located approximately 475km north-northeast of Broome, off the coast of the state of Western Australia, and covers an area of 581km2 with a water depth of approximately 400m to 500m. Large gas reserves have been discovered southeast of the Block in the Ichthys gas-condensate field, the Prelude and the Concerto gas fields.

INPEX, through its subsidiary company, also participates in Shell’s development of the Prelude and the Concerto gas fields that will utilise FLNG (Floating LNG) engineering technology.

The WA-502-P  is neighboring the southern side of Exploration Permit WA-274-P where the Crown gas discovery was made in 2012.

INPEX said that participation in the development of the WA-502-P block would enhance INPEX’s exploration and development activities in Asia-Oceania as one of its core business areas.

Focusing on exploration activities close to the Ichthys gas-condensate field is a core goal to maximise the potential of INPEX’s most important ongoing global project, the Ichthys LNG Project, the company said.