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South Australia Onshore Eromanga/Cooper Basin Licensing Round

The Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Paul Jolloway, announced the opening of bidding for new onshore petroleum exploration permits across the Eromanga/Cooper Basin on 6 February 2009 (www.petroleum.pir.sa.gov.au/licensing/new_acreage_releases). This is the first major release of multiple Cooper Basin blocks since the highly successful acreage releases in 1998-2000.  A total of five blocks, with a combined area of over 8,876 square kilometres, have been offered by the South Australian Government on the basis of work programme bidding.

The blocks offered are listed as follows:

South Australia Onshore Eromanga/Cooper Basin Block Offers 
Block Name Basin Name Bidding Method
CO2009-A Eromanga – Cooper Regular tender
CO2009-B Eromanga – Cooper Regular tender
CO2009-C Eromanga – Cooper Regular tender
CO2009-D Eromanga – Cooper Regular tender
CO2009-E Eromanga – Cooper Regular tender

Bid documents have been made available from 6 February 2009.  The proposed work programme must be completed within the overall area of the exploration block, and must include the following:

The deadline for work programme bidding is 15 October 2009, and winning bidders are expected to be announced in December 2009.

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Map: Blocks offered under the Onshore Eromanga/Cooper Basin Licensing Round.  Source: PetroView®

The Eromanga/Cooper Basin blocks are located within the largest, most mature onshore hydrocarbon province in Australia and are deemed prospective for both oil and gas.  Out of an approximate 125 exploration wells and 42 appraisal/development wells drilled in recent years, 61 new pools were found, of which 53 were cased and suspended as future producers.

Despite the economic climate, explorers are expected to compete for a stake in this prolific hydrocarbon province, which is yet to be fully explored.  Aggressive work programme proposals are expected.

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