Updated: 30 August 2006

Australian petroleum exploration and development activity report

1 July to 30 September 2005

To view the full report, including tables and figures you can download the Petroleum Industry Statistics Report for 3^rd Quarter 2005 in PDF format [PDF 499KB].

Highlights

There were 12 discoveries reported in the quarter.
Offshore, two gas, two oil and one oil and gas were made. Gas discoveries were at Henry in the Otway Basin and Caldita in the Bonaparte Basin. In the Carnarvon Basin oil was discovered at Mohave and Artretus, and oil and gas was discovered at Jane.
Onshore, four oil, two gas and one oil and gas were made. In the Cooper Basin oil discoveries were made at Teringie, Stimpee, and Bugito, with gas was discovered at Ginko and Winninia South and oil and gas at Kiana. In the Perth Basin oil was discovered at Evandra.
Offshore, drilling activity increased to 17 wells from the 12 of the previous quarter. Drilling occurred in the Carnarvon (12), Bonaparte (2), Otway (1), Gippsland (1) and Browse (1) Basins.
Onshore, drilling activity increased to 23 wells, from the previous quarter's 15. Drilling activity occurred in the Cooper/Eromanga (15), Otway (2), Bowen (1) and Clarence/Moreton (1) Basins.
2D seismic activity has increased over the June quarter 2005, however, activity only occurred in only South Australia and Western Australia.
Offshore development completions were undertaken at Carnarvon (4) and Gippsland (1) Basins.
Onshore the 10 development completions were all undertaken in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin.

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Drilling activity

Exploration drilling for the September quarter 2005, totalled 40 wells, 11 more than drilled during the same period in 2004, and 13 more than the 27 wells drilled in the previous quarter. Offshore exploration wells drilled during the September quarter 2005 totalled 17 which is five more than in the June quarter 2005 and seven more than in the same period in 2004. Twelve of these wells were drilled in the Carnarvon Basin, two in the Bonaparte Basin, one each in the Browse, Otway and Gippsland Basins. Onshore exploration wells in the September quarter 2005 totalled 23 which is eight more than the previous quarter and four more than the September quarter 2004. Fifteen of these wells were drilled in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin, four in the Perth Basin, two in the Otway Basin and one each Bowen and Clarence/Moreton Basins.

Development drilling activity for the September quarter 2005 of 15 wells is eight less than the September quarter 2004 and 14 less than the June quarter 2005. Offshore, the number of development wells drilled during the September quarter 2005 was five. This is four less than the previous quarter and five less than the same quarter last year. Four of these wells were drilled in the Carnarvon basin and one in the Gippsland Basin. Onshore, there were 10 development wells drilled in the September quarter 2005. This is 10 less than the previous quarter and three less than the same quarter last year. All of these wells were drilled in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin.

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Seismic survey activity

Offshore, the only seismic activity during the September quarter 2005 was undertaken in Western Australia in the Bonaparte and Carnarvon Basins. The total 2D seismic undertaken of 785 km was considerably less than the 7012 km for the corresponding September quarter 2004. It was however, an increase on the nil for the June quarter 2005. 3D seismic surveys were conducted over 1841km² during the September quarter 2005, being 497km² more the previous June quarter. total.

Onshore, the only seismic activity during the September quarter 2005 was undertaken in South Australia in the Cooper Basin. A total of 176 km of 2D seismic was acquired during the September quarter 2005, being 575 km less than the June quarter 2004. The previous September quarter had 909 km of 2D seismic acquired. 3D seismic surveys were undertaken over 313 km², which is only 61 km² less than the June quarter and 115 km² less than the September quarter 2004.

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Rig activity

The number of active rigs at the end of September 2005 was twenty, three more than at the end of June 2005 (17) and six more than at the end of September (14). The number of active rigs during the quarter ranged from nineteen during July increasing to twenty in August and September 2005.

Offshore, the number of available rigs during the September quarter 2005 has remained steady at eleven. This is a small increase on the months of May and June 2005. The percentage of rigs active during the quarter peaked at 91 percent, reflecting the high demand for offshore rigs. Active rigs were drilling in the Bonaparte, Browse, Carnarvon, Otway and Gippsland Basins.

Onshore, the number of active rigs during the quarter ended September 2005 varied between ten and twelve, which is more than the previous quarter where it varied between nine and ten active rigs. The percentage of rigs active for the September 2005 increased to 63 percent, reflecting a decrease in the number of idle rigs in the quarter. Active rigs were drilling in the Perth, Cooper/Eromanga, Bowen, Otway and Clarence/Moreton Basins.

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Success rates

The success rates are based on the number of petroleum discoveries and new-field wildcat wells drilled in Australia onshore and offshore from 1992 to 2004. No assumptions have been made about whether a 'discovery' has proved or will prove to be commercial. Geoscience Australia defines a discovery as a well from which a measurable amount of oil or gas has been recovered and also includes those discoveries inferred from well logs.