Licensing round October update

The industry's most comprehensive list of current and recent rounds for onshore and offshore licences

Open rounds Australia’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources opened the 2020 Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release at an online event on 26 August. Keith Pitt, minister for resources, water & Northern Australia, announced a total of 42 areas available for offshore oil and gas exploration: 28 off Western Australia, five off the Northern Territory, three off Victoria and six off the Ashmore & Cartier Islands. The total area covers approximately 100,000km² across five basins. In his address, Pitt confirmed a more conservative approach: “This year’s acreage release is dominated by areas in established oil and gas areas with existing infrastructure.” The bidding will be op