Australian States and Northern Territory acreage update at APPEA 2009

Abstract

Richard Sellers is the executive director of minerals and energy in the Northern Territory and has extensive experience with the management of natural resources and working specifically with business, regional and Indigenous groups on development programs.

He has previously held roles as Executive Director—Fisheries and Director—Legal and Policy in the former Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.

This paper covers the annual presentation of exploration activity in onshore and coastal waters in Australia’s states and the Northern Territory. Included is a summary of upstream petroleum acreage opportunities for 2009 in the states and Northern Territory as well as geothermal energy exploration opportunities.

While there have been increasing levels of exploration in recent years, there are large areas that remain under explored and the opportunity for future discoveries remains.

State and the Northern Territory Governments have continued to undertake initiatives to attract and facilitate accelerated exploration and promote nationally and internationally these opportunities in frontier and production areas.