21 BLOCKS OFF AUSTRALIA OPEN FOR BIDDING

Australia is seeking bids for 6 year exploration permits on 21 offshore blocks. All but one, which will require a cash bid, are available under a modified work program bidding system. Deadline for bid submittals is next Oct. 4. Open for bidding are three tracts in the Gippsland basin off Victoria, two each in the Bass basin off Tasmania, Polda basin off South Australia, and Bonaparte basin off Northern Territory, and 12 off Western Australia-nine in the Canning basin and one each in the

June 10, 1991

2 min read

Australia is seeking bids for 6 year exploration permits on 21 offshore blocks.

All but one, which will require a cash bid, are available under a modified work program bidding system. Deadline for bid submittals is next Oct. 4.

Open for bidding are three tracts in the Gippsland basin off Victoria, two each in the Bass basin off Tasmania, Polda basin off South Australia, and Bonaparte basin off Northern Territory, and 12 off Western Australia-nine in the Canning basin and one each in the Carnarvon, Browse, and Bonapart basins.

Average sizes of blocks are about 83 sq km (32 sq miles) in the northern areas and 67 sq km (26 sq miles) in the southern areas.

Tract W91-11, in the Carnarvon basin about 40 km southwest of Barrow Island, will require a cash bonus. The tract is surrounded by substantial oil and gas discoveries. It lies within 40 km of a number of producing fields.

Data released by Alan Griffiths, federal minister for resources, show that more than 2,000 line km of seismic data have been recorded on the block, although only 500 line km were conducted in the last 10 years. Three wells drilled on W91-11, previously exploration permit WA-64-P, found noncommercial hydrocarbons.

Under the modified work program bidding system, applicants are required to guarantee a minimum "dry hole" exploration campaign for each of the first 3 years of the permit term and a secondary program for the remaining 3 years. Each component of the first 3 year program must be completed in the designated year or earlier.

Work program permits may be renewed for an unlimited number of 5 year terms. At each renewal, 50% of the permit area must be relinquished.

A commercial discovery on either a cash bid or work bid permit is eligible for a production license. A retention lease may be granted when a discovery is not commercial but is expected to become so.