2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release
Lisa SchofieldDepartment of Industry, Innovation and Science, 10 Binara Street, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Email: petroleum.exploration@industry.gov.au
The APPEA Journal 58(2) 465-468 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17103
Accepted: 13 April 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
The Australian Government’s 2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release was announced by the Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan at the 2018 APPEA conference. This paper provides insights into the processes that the Australian Government has undertaken to select the final release areas and goes into detail on the ongoing petroleum related activities of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (the Department).
The annual acreage release is a central component of ensuring ongoing, sustainable and responsible investment in Australia’s offshore petroleum sector. The annual acreage release remains the primary mechanism for securing investment in offshore oil and gas exploration in areas of known petroleum potential and new geological frontiers. Continued exploration for oil and gas in Commonwealth waters is a central component of ensuring Australia’s future energy security.
Australia’s well established and independent environmental regulator, NOPSEMA (the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority), ensures all petroleum activities in Commonwealth waters are performed safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. Combined with NOPTA’s (National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator) leading practice titles administration, Australia remains an attractive investment destination while offering industry leading environmental protections and ensuring safe working conditions industry-wide.
Australia offers investors access to data, secure tenure, a stable economic environment and a well-established transparent regulatory system for offshore petroleum activities. A key driver for sustainable activity in Australia is the acceptance of multiple use access to Australia’s marine resources. Recognising this, the department consults with a range of stakeholders on the areas it proposes to release for petroleum exploration. This consultation process provides an opportunity for all interested parties to provide comments and feedback on the areas proposed and in particular highlight how interested parties or the areas might be impacted by exploration activities.
The 21 areas in the 2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release are located in the offshore areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and the Ashmore-Cartier Islands. These areas will enable the next wave of investment in the Australian resources sector, and the prospect of new oil, gas and condensate production.
Keywords: gas, oil.
Ms Lisa Schofield is the General Manager of the Offshore Resources Branch in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and has over 15 years of experience working in the Australian public policy and higher education sectors. Before starting in the Offshore Resources role in October 2016, Lisa was advising the government on policy to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, collaboration between the research sector and business, and address national and international challenges. This culminated in the National Innovation and Science Agenda announced by Prime Minister Turnbull in December 2015. In the lead up to this she designed, developed and managed several collaborative research in science and technology and industry–research linkage programs, including the Entrepreneurs’ Program and the Cooperative Research Centres Program. Previously, Lisa led the taskforce to develop the new quality assurance and regulatory framework for Australian higher education, including the successful establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the development of the Higher Education Standards Framework. Lisa was also the Higher Education Advisor to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Simon Crean MP, during the 2010 Australian federal election. Her other significant roles include Director of the Education Investment Fund in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, various roles in the Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation and a key role in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at Charles Sturt University. Ms Schofield holds a Bachelor of Arts–Communications from Charles Sturt University. She has been a local City Councillor and the Chair of several community organisations and is currently a member of the Charles Sturt University Council. |
