Welcome to the 2009 Special Petroleum Offshore Acreage Release
The 2009 Special Petroleum Offshore Acreage Release comprises two areas that have been specially released to focus industry's attention on the former Turtle and Barnett Retention Leases, which have known oil accumulations. Situated in the in the Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, the former Retention Lease areas have been combined with surrounding vacant acreage that will enable petroleum explorers to investigate the regional petroleum geology and how it controls the occurrence of known oil accumulations.
The 2009 Special Petroleum Offshore Acreage Release complements the 2009 principal Offshore Acreage Release by making available areas with a full range of water depths and prospectivity from rank frontier to mature basins.
The former Retention Leases contain the Turtle and Barnett oil discoveries made in 1984 and 1989, respectively, and are situated on each side of the boundary between the Western Australia and Northern Territory offshore areas. After expiry of the Retention Leases in August 2008, the Minister for Resources and Energy, The Hon Martin Ferguson, decided to release the areas under the normal work program bidding system with applications closing on 3 December 2009, corresponding to the first closing of the 2009 Principal Offshore Acreage Release Areas.
To assist prospective applicants this website contains the following information:
Overview for Applicants
An overview of the Australian petroleum sector for intending explorers and other interested parties.
Guidance Notes for Applicants
Notes for preparing an exploration area application, including special notices of titleholder obligations and the rights and interests of others in these areas such as environment, fisheries, maritime safety and defence.
Geology
A summary of petroleum prospectivity and geological settings to assist explorers in evaluating the 2009 Special Petroleum Offshore Acreage Release Areas.
Data
A summary of available data to assist explorers in evaluating the 2009 Special Petroleum Offshore Acreage Release Areas, including seismic, well and sample data.
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