Notice of Invitation for Work Program Petroleum Exploration Permit Application

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR WORK PROGRAM PETROLEUM EXPLORATION PERMIT APPLICATION

I, JOANNE JENNIFER BELL, the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA), on behalf of the Commonwealth-Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, the Commonwealth-Northern Territory Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority and the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority (the Joint Authorities), pursuant to section 104 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act), hereby invite applications for the grant of work-bid petroleum exploration permits in respect of the blocks and within the areas described below.

Applications must be received, in the manner prescribed below, by Thursday 4:00 pm local time at the place of submission on 5 March 2020.

Graticular Block ListingS

Release Area AC19-1

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SC51

Assessed to contain three (3) full blocks

Release Area AC19-2

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SC51

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area AC19-3

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SC51

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain 17 blocks (includes 16 full blocks and one (1) part block).

Release Area AC19-4

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SC51

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain 10 full blocks

Release Area AC19-5

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain two (2) full blocks

Release Area AC19-6

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain two (2) full blocks

Release Area AC19-7

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area AC19-8

Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain two (2) full blocks

Release Area AC19-10

Caswell Sub-basin, Browse Basin, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain 55 blocks (includes 42 full blocks and 13 part blocks)

Release Area NT19-1

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Northern Territory

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 81 blocks (includes 75 full blocks and six (6) part blocks)

Release Area NT19-2

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Northern Territory

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 44 blocks (includes 21 full blocks and 23 part blocks)

Release Area V19-1

Otway Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ54 (Hamilton)

Assessed to contain four (4) part blocks

Release Area V19-2

Otway Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ54 (Hamilton)

Assessed to contain 23 blocks (includes 17 full blocks and six (6) part blocks)

Release Area V19-3

Western Gippsland Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ55 (Melbourne)

Assessed to contain 11 blocks (includes six (6) full blocks and five (5) part blocks)

Release Area V19-4

Western Gippsland Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ55 (Melbourne)

Assessed to contain five (5) blocks (includes three (3) full blocks and two (2) part blocks)

Release Area V19-5

Eastern Gippsland Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ55 (Melbourne)

Assessed to contain 10 full blocks

Release Area V19-6

Eastern Gippsland Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ55 (Melbourne)

Assessed to contain 13 full blocks

Release Area V19-7

Eastern Gippsland Basin, Victoria

Map Sheet SJ55 (Melbourne)

Assessed to contain 20 full blocks

Release Area W19-1

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 46 blocks (includes 42 full blocks and four (4) part blocks)

Release Area W19-2

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 12 blocks (includes 10 full blocks and two (2) part blocks)

Release Area W19-3

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 56 full blocks

Release Area W19-4

Petrel Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 21 blocks (includes 10 full blocks and 11 part blocks)

Release Area W19-5

Londonderry High, Bonaparte Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

Assessed to contain 223 blocks (includes 198 full blocks and 25 part blocks)

Release Area W19-6

Yampi Shelf, Browse Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain 69 blocks (includes 68 full blocks and one (1) part block)

Release Area W19-7

Caswell Sub-basin, Browse Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

Assessed to contain 44 blocks (includes 32 full blocks and 12 part blocks)

Release Area W19-8

North-eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 84 full blocks

Release Area W19-9

Lambert Shelf, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 90 full blocks

Release Area W19-10

Eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 48 full blocks

Release Area W19-11

Eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 12 full blocks

Release Area W19-12

Eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 13 full blocks

Release Area W19-13

Eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-14

Eastern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain four (4) full blocks

Release Area W19-15

Dampier Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Map Sheet SF50 [Hamersley Range]

Assessed to contain 14 full blocks

Release Area W19-16

Dampier Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-17

Dampier Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-18

Dampier Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain six (6) full blocks

Release Area W19-19

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 24 full blocks

Release Area W19-20

Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain 13 blocks (includes 10 full blocks and three (3) part blocks)

Release Area W19-21

Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-22

Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-23

Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain 10 blocks (includes nine (9) full blocks and one (1) part block)

Release Area W19-24

Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-25

Exmouth Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain 23 full blocks

Release Area W19-26

Exmouth Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Assessed to contain 24 full blocks

Release Area W19-27

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain 128 full blocks

Release Area W19-28

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain 150 full blocks

Release Area W19-29

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-30

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-31

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain four (4) full blocks

Release Area W19-32

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain 13 full blocks

Release Area W19-33

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-34

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-35

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain three (3) full blocks

Release Area W19-36

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-37

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-38

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

Assessed to contain eight (8) full blocks

Release Area W19-39

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-40

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain two (2) full blocks

Release Area W19-41

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-42

Northern Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain five (5) full blocks

Release Area W19-43

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Assessed to contain 83 full blocks

Release Area W19-44

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Assessed to contain three (3) full blocks

Release Area W19-45

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SE49

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

Release Area W19-46

Central Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Map Sheet SF49 (Cloates)

Assessed to contain one (1) full block

APPLICATIONS

In accordance with subsection 104(3) of the Act, applications must be accompanied by details of:

1. the applicant’s proposals for work and expenditure in relation to the block or blocks specified in the application;
2. the technical qualifications of the applicant and of the applicant’s employees;
3. the technical advice available to the applicant; and
4. the financial resources available to the applicant.

For further details of the expectations of the Joint Authorities in relation to the content of applications, please refer to the Offshore Petroleum Exploration Guideline: work-bid (for applications submitted on or after 1 July 2019) available at https://www.nopta.gov.au/guidelines-and-factsheets/offshore-petroleum-guidelines.html.

FEE

An application must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee and evidence of payment.  The amount of the fee is prescribed in schedule 6 of the RMA regulations[1]. Details on how to pay the prescribed fee are on NOPTA’s website.

If paying by cheque, please write the full company name and Australian Business Number of each applicant and work-bid release area number on the back of the bank cheque. Cheques should be made payable to ‘NOPTA – Commonwealth of Australia’.

If paying by electronic funds transfer, please make payment to the following account:

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

The application must be on the prescribed application form and signed by all applicants.  The application form is available for download from the NOPTA’s website at http://www.nopta.gov.au/forms/forms.html.

One bound paper copy and one electronic copy in text search format (on CD or USB) of the application, together with evidence of payment of the application fee, must be submitted to the NOPTA in the following manner:

• the application should be sealed and clearly marked as “Application for Area [Release Area Number as appropriate ]  Commercial-in-Confidence” and
• this envelope or package should then be enclosed in a plain covering envelope or package and delivered by hand (couriers accepted) to the below address:

To submit an application please make an appointment with the NOPTA by emailing titles@nopta.gov.au or phoning 08 6424 5317. 

Please check the NOPTA website prior to submitting an application for further updates on submissions.

[1] Please note that application fees are subject to change. Applicants should refer to the application fee stated in Schedule 6, Part 1 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 or confirm with NOPTA prior to submitting an application (https://www.nopta.gov.au/_documents/schedule-of-fees.pdf)