The PESA Gazette is our exclusive monthly online publication, accessible only to PESA members. Envisioned to be a newsletter by the members for the members, it targets including industry updates, breakthroughs in exploration, case studies, technical talks, expert analyses and PESA state branches social news. The PESA Gazette aims to help you stay informed and connected with Australia’s energy geosciences industry. The Gazette is scheduled to go out on the second Tuesday of each month February-December. Content submissions are requested on the first Thursday of each month for review by the editorial board and upload to the system.
Archives for February 2026
February 2026
Perth building stones walking tour
Write up by Helen Debenham. Photos from Helen Debenham and Karen Pandya.
On Friday night (6th February) a group of PESA members, led by Stephen Molyneux, and ably assisted by Peter Haines and Leon Normore from the geological survey, wandered through the streets of Perth looking at building stones and other geological wonders.
If you are sad to have missed this, you can take a look at the guide below that talks you through a self guided similar tour.
https://dmpbookshop.eruditetechnologies.com.au/product/stepping-stones-two-self-guided-geology-trails-in-the-city.do
Our intrepid walkers met up in the Melbourne Hotel on Hay street, where, as you can see in the image below, there is some lovely amygdaloidal basalt in the passageway down towards the toilets.
Cooper-Eromanga Basin: New Exploration Areas Awarded
On January 29, the Queensland Government announced the appointment of Santos QNT Pty Ltd and Drillsearch Energy Pty Ltd (a 100% subsidiary of Beach Energy) as preferred tenderers for three new gas exploration areas in the Cooper-Eromanga Basins, aimed at boosting supply, reducing energy prices, and supporting regional jobs.
Both Santos and Drillsearch (Beach) have a strong track record of exploration and delivery in the Cooper-Eromanga Basins. Santos holds a dominant and long-standing tenure position in the basin operating the South Australian Cooper Basin Joint Venture (SACBJV) with partners Beach Energy.
SA/NT Branch 2025 Christmas Luncheon
Around 40 SA/NT members enjoyed a convivial luncheon to celebrate Christmas and the end of 2025.
The meeting kicked off with the SA/NT Branch AGM, at which Paul Strong was voted in as the next Branch President and Sharon Tiainen as Vice-President. This was followed by a brief review of industry activity through the year by Rhodri Johns.
The guest speaker was Dave Grybowski, whose 35 years in petroleum geology have given him ample opportunity to ponder where things might have gone wrong.
The 2025 PESA SA/NT core workshop, a fresh look at South Australia’s eastern Warburton Basin, Daralingie Shelf Area
Author | Chris Cubitt: Geological Survey of South Australia
Chris Cubitt of the Geological Survey South Australia (GSSA), hosted the 2026 PESA SA/NT core workshop at the SA Drill Core Library on Friday November 21st, 2025, (Fig. 1). This year’s event was well attended by industry, government and academia focussing on the eastern Warburton Basin (Daralingie Shelf area) with the aim to produce a quick look GDE map and form an opinion on the basin’s prospectivity.
PESA QLD: Combined Oil and Gas Christmas Party 2025
The Queensland oil and gas industry came together in early December to celebrate the year’s achievements at the Combined Oil and Gas Christmas Party 2025 – an annual event hosted by the societies ASEG, PESA, SPE, QEC and QUPEX.
Held at Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events, attendees gathered in a riverside setting to reflect on the year, reconnect with colleagues and strengthen ties across the Queensland oil and gas community. The strong turnout and positive atmosphere marked a confident close to the year as the sector looks forward to a successful 2026.
Guests enjoyed an evening of celebration against the stunning Brisbane River backdrop.
Carbon Loop #017
Read the full newsletter here
Hello and welcome to The Carbon Loop — a newsletter by the CCUSNA dedicated to highlighting the Australian carbon capture, utilisation and storage industry
A quick plug to begin with.
On 19 and 20 February, the CCUSNA will host an invite-only, two-day workshop to consider the question: What are the opportunities and challenges associated with developing a multi-user CCUS hub in WA?
And in the lead up to the workshop in February the CCUSNA has been putting together a series of webinars to explore and set up the background to that central theme.
Vale David (Dave) Roy McDonald (10.05.1932 – 26.11. 2025)
Compiled by Don Poynton with thanks to Andrew Thompson, Stephen Keenihan and Michael Chaney AO.
Our industry has been blessed with many outstanding leaders but few better than Dave McDonald, WA PESA President 1974-75, Distinguished Member of PESA 1981, Chairman of APPEA 1987-89, Honorary Life Member of APPEA 1990 and APPEA Reg Sprigg Gold Medal 1998.
Dave grew up as a hard-working farm boy in Clandeboye, Manitoba surrounded by his large extended family. He moved to Alberta to work in the oil industry after earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Manitoba in 1952.
2026 PESA-QLD Scholarship Applications Close Friday Feb 27
Calling all students at Queensland Tertiary Institutions - if you are studying for an energy geosciences industry-related honours or Master of Science project applications are now open for the 2026 PESA Qld Scholarship.
The scholarship consists of the award of $2,500 to the successful recipient as part of PESA-QLD’s commitment to promote and encourage subsurface energy geoscience research and education at Queensland Tertiary Institutions.
The selection criteria are based on academic achievement and project relevance to the energy geosciences industry.
2025 Horstman Scholarship Winner Announced
PESA are delighted to announce the winner of the 2025 Horstman Federal Postgraduate Scholarship is Aike Albers.
Aike is a PhD candidate in the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide, where he investigates the feasibility of permanent CO₂ sequestration in buried mafic (basaltic) reservoirs as part of Australia's energy transition. His research integrates seismic interpretation, petrophysical and geochemical analysis, and reservoir simulation to assess carbon mineralisation potential in volcanic systems, with a particular focus on the Bass Basin.