General

Vale David (Dave) Roy McDonald (10.05.1932 – 26.11. 2025)

06/02/2026 Posted by Helen

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.

2025 Horstman Scholarship Winner Announced

05/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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.

New GSWA publications on plays of the Canning and Perth Basins

05/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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

Bookings Open – Barry Goldstein Medal Lecture Tour

04/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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.

Federation University closing Geology Course

09/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

The former Ballarat School of Mines, now Federation University, is abruptly closing its Geology course, mid-stream, leaving students marooned with their courses incomplete (ABC News).

Source: https://www.federation.edu.au/about/locations/ballarat/smb/

As highlighted by VIC/TAS PESA President Nick Hoffman, “This is the end of well over a century of geological teaching and marks the continued degradation of Australia's geoscience capacity at the same time as it is becoming apparent that minerals are not just stuff to dig up and sell but are the foundations of energy and commercial independence in an increasingly troubled world.

Natural hydrogen future to unfold with new drilling

09/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

Natural hydrogen pioneer Gold Hydrogen is aiming to gather enough information from its second round of drilling on its South Australia tenement to design a pilot project towards commercialisation of its hydrogen and helium assets.

The company was the first in Australia to drill natural hydrogen-specific exploration wells in 2023, confirming 100-year-old accidental finds of hydrogen by oil prospectors in the 1930s. It also discovered helium, a nice added value.

Armed with results from the 2023 drill program at two sites east of Minlaton, Ramsay 1 and 2, and having conducted an extensive regional 2D seismic survey since, Gold Hydrogen has identified up to three new well sites for its 2025-26 drill campaign.

Vale John Scott 1944-2025

04/12/2025 Posted by Rachel

Dr John Scott was an internationally known and respected geologist, knownespecially in Australia for his Curtin professorship and geochemical studies. Hiscareer across half a century was wide-ranging, enlivened by the adventure of foreignassignments and enriched by coincidences that brought new directions, lifelongfriends and a lifetime partner. He loved rocks, books and a glass or two of red wine,not necessarily in that order, his daughter wrote recently, and all who knew himwould agree.

Born in England in August 1944, John attended primary and secondary school inEssex and, on his father’s advice to spread his wings, studied geology at theUniversity of Wales (Aberystwyth), gaining a BSc in 1965 and an MSc and Diplomain Micropalaeontology in 1966.

Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources 2025 published by Geoscience Australia

10/11/2025 Posted by Rachel

Geoscience Australia’s latest edition of Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources (AECR) publication reinforces Australia’s position as a as a key global energy exporter and leader in emerging low carbon solutions.

Delivering a comprehensive assessment of the nation's emerging low-carbon technologies and non-renewable energy commodity resources, the 2025 edition shows the status of Australia’s energy resources as at the end of 2023 set against a backdrop of accelerating global decarbonisation, technological innovation, and shifting patterns of energy demand and trade.

For decades, Australia’s non-renewable resources have supported not only its own prosperity but also the economies of nations around the world.