Australian petroleum exploration and development activity report

1 October to 30 December 2003

To view the full report, including tables and figures you can download the Petroleum Industry Statistics Report for 4^th Quarter 2003 in PDF format. [96 KB]

Highlights

• Petroleum Discoveries continued in the December quarter.
  Offshore, there was one oil discovery was made at Crosby No. 1 in the Carnarvon Basin.
  Onshore, there was one oil discovery and one gas discovery was made in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin of Queensland and South Australia respectively.
• During 2003 there were a total of 7 offshore discoveries, six of which were in the Carnarvon Basin at Stybarrow No. 1 (oil), Cyrano No. 1 (oil and gas), Skiddaw No. 2 (oil and gas), Ravensworth No. 1 (oil and gas), Ginger No. 1 (gas), Crosby No. 1 (oil) and one in the Gippsland Basin at Scallop (gas).
  Onshore , there were six discoveries were made: four of which were oil (one in the Perth Basin, three in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin), and two gas, both in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin.
• Offshore exploration drilling during 2003 accounted for 55 wells drilled seven wells more than the number drilled (48) during 2002.
• Onshore exploration drilling (36 wells drilled) is four less wells than during 2002 and one below the very low level of 37 wells drilled during 2000.
• Overall level of seismic survey activity has failed to increase significantly compared to data shot over the last few years. Onshore, both 2 and 3D acquisition are at very low levels. Offshore 2D acquisition is below 2002 levels, whilst 3D acquisition increased by about one-third of 2002 levels.

Drilling activity

Exploration drilling for the December quarter 2003 (26 wells) is only one less for the same period in 2002 (27 wells) and is eight more than the 18 wells drilled in the previous quarter this year.

Offshore exploration wells drilled during the December quarter 2003 (9) is six less than the fifteen of the December quarter 2002 and two less than in the previous quarter. Drilling was carried out in the Bonaparte (1), Browse (1), Carnarvon (5), Gippsland (1) and Otway (1) Basins.

Onshore exploration wells drilled during the December quarter 2003 (17) is ten more than the seven wells of the previous quarter and five more than the 12 wells of the December quarter last year. Fourteen of these wells were drilled in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin and three in the Bowen/Surat Basin. Four wells were drilling ahead at the end of the quarter, two in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin, one in the Gippsland Basin and one in the Perth Basin.

Development drilling activity for the fourth quarter of 2003 (24) is four less than the previous quarter (28) and is eight more than for the same period last year (16).

Offshore, the number of development wells drilled during the December quarter of 2003 (9) is three more than the previous quarter and four more than in the December quarter of 2002 (5). These wells were drilled in the Bonaparte (1), Browse (1), Carnarvon (4), Gippsland (2) and Otway (1) Basins.

Onshore, development wells drilled in the fourth quarter (15) is seven less than the twenty-two wells of the previous quarter. This is four more than the figure drilled in the corresponding period of 2002 (11). One well was drilled in the Bowen Basin, 13 in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin and one in the Perth Basin.

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Seismic survey activity

Offshore , 2D seismic surveys recorded 6636 line km during the December quarter of 2003. These surveys were carried out in the Otway, Perth and Sorell Basins. There were no 2D surveys recorded in the September quarter 2003. 3D seismic surveys recorded 1294 km². There were no 3D surveys recorded during the September quarter. The surveys were undertaken in the Carnarvon, Otway and Perth Basins.

Onshore, There were no 2D seismic surveys were completed during the December quarter of 2003. 3D seismic surveys were undertaken over 424 km² in the Cooper and Surat Basins. This is a significant increase on the 92 km² of the previous quarter and the 87 km² for the same period in 2002.

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Rig activity

The total number of active rigs during the December 2003 quarter was 17, four more than in December 2002 (13). Rig activity during the quarter ranged from 14 to 17 rigs active at the end of the quarter.

Offshore , the number of active rigs remained steady at five for each month, with inactive rigs at three, two and two during the quarter. Active rigs were drilling in the Bonaparte, Browse, Carnarvon, Gippsland and Otway Basins.

Onshore, the number of active rigs varied between nine and twelve, which is more than in the same period last year (7-8). The total number of inactive rigs ranged from nine to 11 compared with the same quarter last year of 11 to 15.

The active rigs were located in the Bowen/Surat, Cooper/Eromanga, Gippsland and Perth Basins.

This publication includes the following: preliminary statistics for wells and metres drilled, seismic survey line & square kilometres recorded and rig activity, to the end of December 2003. The data from which these statistics are derived have been compiled by Geoscience Australia from various sources, including the petroleum exploration industry and State and Northern Territory departments of mines.