Queensland Company Given Green Light to Explore for Gas in Bowen and Surat basins

The Minister for Resources, the Honourable Scott Stewart has announced a Queensland-based company has been given the green light under the Call for Tenders for Authorities to Prospect (PLR2020-2) to explore for gas on prospective land located in the Bowen and Surat basins.

AusGasCo CSG Pty Ltd has been appointed preferred tenderer for two blocks, located to the east and south-east of Injune, totalling 114 km².

“Not only are we are doing all we can to get more gas in the market, but we are welcoming first time junior explorers to help bring more jobs and economic benefits to Queensland. In fact, during 2020 we released a total of 8,205 km² for gas exploration to maintain a pipeline of future resources projects,” Mr Stewart said.

AusGasCo Chairman Frank Connolly said the board and team are excited to be awarded preferred tenderer for the two parcels, which will be foundation tenures for the company as a new entrant in the Queensland energy industry.

“I commend the government’s confidence in junior explorers, promoting near-term Queensland petroleum exploration and encouraging private investment in the sector. The two tenures are complemented by their location next to a number of quality, producing coal seam gas fields with multiple domestic gas transmission pipelines nearby,” Mr Connolly said.

Since 2015 the Palaszczuk Government has released more than 80,000 km² of land for gas exploration, over a quarter of it guaranteeing the gas will be for Australian consumers.

The Palaszczuk Government is also investing $5 million to investigate the feasibility of a physical 500 km gas transmission pipeline to connect the Bowen Basin to the domestic and export markets.

To view Minister for Resources – Hon Scott Stewart’s Media Statement, visit: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/91399

What does this mean for landholders?

If you’re a landholder in the Surat, Galilee or Bowen basins and wish to know more about what to expect with gas field developments, the GasFields Commission (the 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, Queensland’s onshore gas industry or you would like to receive a hard copy (ring binder) of The Gas Guide 2.0, please contact us directly 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.