Industry News

Santos announces Alaska appraisal success and provides major projects update

12/05/2026 Posted by Sarah.Harris

On 8 April 2016, Santos announced the successful completion of the Quokka-1 appraisal well, which has further delineated the high-quality Nanushuk reservoir in the Quokka Unit on Alaska’s North Slope. Santos controls a 51 per cent operating interest in the unit, with Repsol controlling the remaining 49 per cent.

The Quokka-1 well was spudded on 1 January 2026 and drilled to a total depth of 4,787 feet (1,459 metres). The well successfully encountered a high-quality reservoir with approximately 143 feet of net oil pay in the Nanushuk formation, demonstrating an average porosity of 19 per cent.

Commonwealth Government opens offshore exploration nominations for Gippsland and Bass basins

12/05/2026 Posted by Sarah.Harris

The Australian Government is seeking industry nominations for areas that may be included in a future offshore petroleum exploration acreage release across the Gippsland and Bass basins. The nomination round is open until 19 June 2026.

The proposed release forms part of the Federal Government’s Future Gas Strategy and is intended to support future domestic gas supply by encouraging exploration in proven producing basins with existing infrastructure. With production from several mature east coast gas fields continuing to decline, the acreage release is expected to generate strong industry interest.

The Gippsland Basin is one of Australia’s most significant offshore petroleum provinces and was home to Australia's first commercial offshore petroleum discovery at Barracouta-1 in 1965.

Woodside Announce Bandit-1 Discovery

12/05/2026 Posted by Rachel

Woodside Energy announced on April 10th success at their Bandit 1 exploration well.

Woodside announces a non-operated oil discovery at the Bandit prospect in the Gulf of America, approximately 125 miles south of the Louisiana coast. The Bandit-1 exploration well, drilled in Green Canyon Block 680 and operated by Occidental, encountered high-quality oil-bearing Miocene sands, with results now under joint review by the well participants.

Bandit is operated by Occidental with a 45.375% working interest, alongside Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (37.125%)and Woodside Energy (17.5%).

The co-owners are currently evaluating results to determine next steps.

New Exploration areas opening in NSW

11/05/2026 Posted by Rachel

The Minns Labor Government will open new areas for gas exploration in NSW for the first time in more than a decade, taking decisive steps to secure the State’s energy supply for households and businesses.

Two regions in the state's Far West – the Bancannia and Pondie Range Troughs – will be opened for gas exploration. These opportunities for new gas supply will complement the Narrabri Gas Project.

To attract investment and ensure NSW remains competitive with other states, the Government will also update regulations to reduce the gas exploration licence application fee from $50,000 to $1,000.

Not all exploration licences proceed to gas production.

Tamboran Resources Announce Results of Shenandoah South 6H

11/05/2026 Posted by Rachel

The Shenandoah South 6H (SS‐6H) well delivered a record average 20‐day initial production (IP20)flow rate of 10.3 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) from an 8,635‐foot (2,632‐metre) horizontalsection within the Mid Velkerri B Shale.

On a normalized basis, SS‐6H achieved a flow rate of 11.9 MMcf/d per 10,000 feet, which comparesfavorably to the average performance of more than 11,000 producing wells in the Marcellus Shaledry gas fairway with over 12 months of production history.

The flow test has now been concluded, with the well delivering a stable rate of8.8 MMcf/d (normalized to 10.

International Geological Congress 2028

11/05/2026 Posted by Rachel

The International Geological Congress (IGC) 2028 marks the 38th outing for this quadrennial event. Since its establishment in 1878, the IGC has served as a unique platform for international collaboration, networking, scientific exchange, and strategic dialogue within the geosciences. Recognised as the premier global forum for advancing Earth sciences, each Congress, convened under the auspices of the IUGS, offers an essential platform for deliberating urgent global geological issues and shaping the future of the geosciences. It is one of the world's largest gatherings of geoscience professionals, with this event expecting an estimated 10,000 delegates from across the global geoscience community.

The...

South Australia Core Workshop

11/05/2026 Posted by Rachel

Want a hands-on look at South Australia’s producing basins?

PESA Members are invited to a Core Workshop at the South Australia Drill Core Library this May for a practical deep dive into key oil and gas reservoirs and Moomba CCS intervals.

Led by senior geoscience experts at the Department for Energy & Mining (DEM), this interactive session explores basin architecture, petroleum systems, reservoir characteristics, and the evolving role of these basins in gas supply and carbon capture and storage.

With direct access to core material (including 600m of core on display) this is a rare opportunity to connect subsurface data with real geological evidence.

Geopolitics on the Agenda at AEP

21/04/2026 Posted by Rachel

Heightened geopolitical uncertainty is driving a fundamental shift in global energy priorities,reshaping trade, investment and policy settings — and will be a central theme at the AustralianEnergy Producers 2026 Conference & Exhibition in Adelaide this May.

These dynamics will be explored in depth throughout the conference, with expert plenary sessionsexamining how geopolitical tensions are reshaping global LNG flows, supply chains and energysecurity. As markets respond to greater uncertainty, security of supply and reliability are once againemerging as key drivers of decision-making.

In a more uncertain global environment, improving Australia’s energy security increasingly meansmeeting more of our own energy needs where possible, while reinforcing our role as a stable andtrusted supplier to the region.

Gas Market Review

21/04/2026 Posted by Rachel

The future of Australia’s east coast gas market will be front and centre at the Australian EnergyProducers 2026 Conference & Exhibition in Adelaide this May, as industry leaders, policymakers andmarket experts examine the current Gas Market Review and its implications for energy security,investment and long-term policy settings.

Dedicated plenary sessions will focus on east coast market dynamics and reform priorities,examining issues at the heart of the review, from supply adequacy and investment signals toregulatory design and the market outlook over the next decade.

With demand for reliable and affordable energy continuing, the challenge for policymakers is clear— ensuring sufficient domestic gas supply while maintaining Australia’s position as a trustedexporter to the region. T

Registrations open for South Australia Producing Basins Core Workshop

06/04/2026 Posted by Rachel

Title: Core Workshop - South Australia Producing Basins WorkshopDate: Friday 22 May 2026Time: 8:30am - 4:00pmLocation: South Australia Drill Core Library: 5 Tonsley Blvd, Tonsley SA 5042, Australia

South Australia hosts a diverse portfolio of producing hydrocarbon basins, each with distinct geological histories and resource potential. Join our technical workshop and gain a practical understanding of South Australia's key producing oil and gas reservoirs, and Moomba CCS sequestration intervals.

Delivered by senior geoscience experts, the program will examine basin architecture, petroleum systems, reservoir characteristics, and exploration history.