The Federal Government has released the largest ever acreage for offshore oil and gas exploration in its 2011 round, announced earlier this month.

 

The total area released comprises almost 200,000 square kilometres in known petrochemical basins in Commonwealth waters off the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

 

Bidding for exploration permits will take place in two rounds. The first, for which bids are due by 13 October 2011, covers 16 areas, and the second round, covering 13 areas, is due by 12 April 2012.

 

More information is at http://www.ret.gov.au/Documents/par2011/release-areas/index.html.