Archives for February 2026

February 2026

2025 Horstman Scholarship Winner Announced

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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.

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New GSWA publications on plays of the Canning and Perth Basins

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These two GSWA Records provide a valuable resource, especially for potential new explorers, on the Canning and Perth Basins. The publications provide an introduction to the basins, their exploration targets and drilling results. Unforeseen new play commercial discoveries (Ungani oil in the Canning Basin and Waitsia gas in the Perth Basin) are testimony to undiscovered hydrocarbon potential in these basins.

These GSWA Records are based on historical petroleum exploration targets, covering formation by formation and including drilling results. Information was summarised from company well completion reports and relevant literature.

These new publications are found on the DMPE e-bookshop, linked to below.

Record 2025/9

A Summary of Geological Play Types for Energy Commodities in the Perth Basin, within Western Australian Jurisdiction

RH Bruce

Published August 2025

Record 2025/16

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Bookings Open – Barry Goldstein Medal Lecture Tour

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Our worthy winner of the 2025 Barry Goldstein Medal, Dr Bruce Ainsworth, begins his lecture tour shortly generously sponsored by Santos. Over 5 weeks, he will visit each state branch and give his presentation "Honouring the Humble Clinoform: Towards a Reservoir Modelling Best Practice". Bruce is an excellent geologist and engaging presenter so attendees are in for a treat. Bookings for these events are now live on the website.

The Barry Goldstein Medal was created by PESA to recognise the value of innovation, collaboration and communication in Energy Geoscience as we pursue a clean sustainable energy future.

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PESA Deal Day 2026

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Monday 18th May sees the return of the PESA Deal Day, a regular event in the PESA calendar that brings together a range of exciting opportunities and the community keen to invest in them. Spots are available now for both presenters and event sponsors - read on to learn more from co-convenor Wal Muir.

The PESA 2026 Deal Day will bring high quality exploration, appraisal and development opportunities from Australia and beyond to the attention of the international oil and gas industry.

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Offshore Otway Basin Federal offshore acreage release, NOPTA guidance note revisions and NOPIMS changes

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With the long awaited offshore Otway Basin drilling campaign finally underway, the Federal Minister for Resources the Hon Madeleine King announced on 11 December 2025 the release of five areas for work program bidding. Application bids on the five release areas is due 30 June 2026. A public consultation process in parallel is open until 6 February 2026. More on the acreage release and details on how to bid can be found at https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/2025-otway-offshore-petroleum-exploration-acreage-release

This petroleum exploration acreage release is the first since 2022 and the release of the Governments Future Gas Strategy in May 2024 .

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