IN PURSUIT OF A DREAM — SOME ACHIEVEMENTS, FAILURES, HOPES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS IN AUSTRALIA'S UPSTREAM PETROLEUM INDUSTRY

Abstract

Historically, Australia's oil explorers have been dreamers. They have endured numerous setbacks along the road to eventual vindication of their beliefs. Some problems stemmed from outright shysters, others from well-intentioned but misguided meddlers, and some from professional disbelievers who felt the country was too old to contain oil. Public subscriptions and sympathy were lost by chasing sprites like marsh gas and coorongite (recent algal matter) and putting faith in diviners.

Through it all there has been a parade of 'hit and miss' explorers who left a lot of information in the ground, but who at least had the determination to try.

Like so much in Australia it took a national crisis to bring support in the form of government subsidies for exploration. Despite faults, the schemes encouraged activity and included the pioneering scientific work of the Bureau of Mineral Resources. The advent of war also brought with it technology to strengthen the search.

Then came the long-awaited success, public support and a welding of small explorers to oil majors. There was also the start of productive dissemination of information and ideas through organisations like APEA and PESA.

But when discovery rates declined again, disbelievers returned and many explorers now have taken their eyes off the goal. They are content to shuffle permits instead of drilling wells and have returned to diversions like poor prospectivity and attacks on taxation on which to blame their declining activity.

Only a few see that the course for Australia's oil future is to blend modern technology with the determination of the pioneers and recapture the dream of old.