Remote area exploration—challenges and solutions

Abstract

In Australia, onshore oil and gas exploration is increasingly focusing on prospects in remote areas. While working in a remote area avoids many of the constraints and obstacles facing onshore development, it also presents a unique set of challenges such as logistics and mobilisation and the efficient delivery of required environmental surveys, cultural heritage management, and stakeholder and landholder engagement. The absence of integration between technical and subsurface-program planning and supporting functions such as approvals, native title and cultural heritage, and stakeholder engagement can substantially increase the risk of delays and cost overruns. Clear forward planning of short- and medium-term exploration activities can identify opportunities for cost savings and schedule efficiencies. Drawing examples from two unconventional oil and gas exploration programs in remote western Queensland, the extended abstract discusses some of the key challenges to working in a remote area including safety, the importance of early engagement with stakeholders and ways to manage some of the key risks to project schedules and delivery. Highlighting some of the innovative approaches to securing regulatory approval used by AMEC in securing approvals for seismic campaigns and drilling programs, the author examines the interaction between the subsurface program and the approvals required to allow subsurface activities to happen.