Queensland Government releases petroleum and gas exploration areas

The Queensland Government has released eight new areas via competitive tender for petroleum and gas exploration in Queensland’s Bowen, Surat, Eromanga and Adavale basins.

The tender release follows the publication of the 2021 Queensland Exploration Program (QEP). Released in November 2021, the QEP provides a schedule for exploration opportunities for greenhouse gas storage areas and petroleum and gas for 2021-2022.

Tender PLR2021-1 comprises eight areas, totalling 14,420 km². Companies must have adequate financial and technical capabilities to explore these areas for potential petroleum and gas exploration opportunities.

• View new exploration areas on GeoResGlobe: https://bit.ly/QGOV-QEP-PLR2021-1
• 📖 Download the 2021 QEP: https://bit.ly/QGOV-2021-QEP
• 📝 More info on 2021 QEP expressions of interest: https://bit.ly/QGOV-2021-QEP-EOI.

The tender process is open from Thursday 9 December 2021 and closes at 11am (AEST) Tuesday 1 March 2022.

What does this mean for landholders?

If you’re a landholder in the Bowen, Surat, Eromanga and Adavale basins and wish to know more about what to expect with resource company exploration activities, the GasFields Commission strongly encourages you to download a copy of our flagship publication, The Gas Guide 2.0, to obtain all the information you need to negotiate a fair and reasonable outcome should a resource company request to operate on your land.

Gas Guide 2.0 catalogues pertinent information that landholders need to know about the various stages of petroleum and gas development in Queensland – beginning with the advertisement and awarding of new exploration tenders (see Chapter 3 – Exploration Phase). If you have any questions regarding the exploration process or Queensland’s onshore gas industry, please contact us via:

• Web: Contact Form
• Phone: (07) 3067 9400
• Email: enquiries@gfcq.org.au

Who are the GasFields Commission Queensland?

Established as an independent statutory body in 2013, the Commission’s purpose is to manage and improve the sustainable coexistence of landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry in Queensland. The Commission manages sustainable coexistence in petroleum and gas producing regions of Queensland, and will continue to do so as the industry expands into new and emerging basins.

Our vision is to achieve thriving communities in areas of gas development that are free from discord and supported by well-informed, respectful and balanced stakeholder relationships.

One way the Commission is endeavouring to realise this vision is by providing transparency and independent assurances that the onshore gas industry is appropriately regulated and held to account when needed. This in turn will help cultivate sustainable coexistence, whilst ensuring community and landholder confidence in the regulators and gas industry increases.

Drawing on its wealth of experience in the development of the gas industry and by collaborating with other relevant entities, the Commission provides a range of support to communities and landholders, primarily through education and engagement. These education and engagement activities occur with individual landholders via Commission facilitated webinars, information sessions, publications (The Gas Guide, Shared Landscapes Reports), face-to-face meetings and public workshops.

It should be noted that the Commission does not engage in individual negotiations between landholders and gas companies, but rather provides communities and landholders with the information and support they need to make informed decisions and achieve good outcomes.