BUSY YEAR PREDICTED OFF AUSTRALIA

Australia's offshore exploration campaign in 1991 is likely to maintain its 1990 record pace, says the Australian Petroleum Exploration Association (APEA).

APEA's survey of Australian operators shows exploration will continue to accelerate on the Northwest Shelf but decline in Bass Strait.

OFFSHORE PLANS

APEA projects 43-62 exploratory wells will be drilled off Australia this year, broken out as 38-55 wildcats and 5-7 appraisal wells. That compares with 61 exploratory wells drilled offshore last year (OGJ, Jan. 14, p. 30).

Offshore spending is expected to total $330-457 million (Australian), with most of that earmarked for the Carnarvon basin-Timor Sea areas. Only $8 million is targeted for Bass Strait exploration.

The Bass Strait decline stems from some operators responding to a new resource rent tax regime imposed on the region effective in July 1990 (OGJ, Sept. 3, 1990, p. 30).

Australian offshore operators plan to conduct 125,000-155,000 line km of seismic surveys in 1991, with the Carnarvon basin accounting for 107,000 line km. Most of the Carnarvon seismic will be 3D, pointing to a strong outlook for future drilling.

ONSHORE, FOREIGN PLANS

Onshore Australia exploration plans call for 102-147 wildcats and 23-27 appraisals in 1991. That compares with 123 exploratory wells drilled onshore in 1990, a year in which some operators' plans were hindered by serious flooding.

In all, onshore Australian exploration outlays are expected to total $140-170 million in 1991.

In addition, 13 Australian companies expect to spend $540 million on exploration and development in other countries in 1991.

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