Australia opens new Queensland parcels for exploration

Australia’s Ministry for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy has opened another 1,500 sq km of southwest Queensland gas country for exploration.

Five parcels will be released for tender June 18 in Surat and Bowen basins. The land includes:

• 834 sq km, 50 km west of Moonie
• 357 sq km, 25 km north-east of Moonie
• 77 sq km, 17 km east of Injune
• 37 sq km, 29 km southeast of Injune
• 154 sq km, 32 km southeast of Injune.

Tenders are open until Sept. 3 and should be finalized before yearend.

The release comes weeks before exploration tenders close on July 9 for 12 areas across more than 6,700 sq km of land in the south and central west. These areas lie between Blackwater and Goondiwindi and include 872 sq km that can only supply gas to the Australian market.