Latest News

Geoscience data management can help reduce subsurface uncertainty

12/02/2025 Posted by Helen

Author Neil Constantine

When modelling the subsurface as geoscientists and engineers, we work with multiple sources of data to ensure we best understand and mitigate any uncertainty. Raw data such as wells and seismic are key to improving our understanding of the subsurface, but we also rely on previous projects, interpretations and models to help fast track our knowledge. But what if these add to our uncertainty, with projects of unknown provenance requiring time to find, understand and review, and with mis-loaded or otherwise incorrect data negatively influencing our models?

Building on a career spent at the...

Looking Forward to PESA deal day 2025

12/02/2025 Posted by Helen

The PESA 2025 Deal Day will bring high quality exploration, appraisal and developmentopportunities from Australia and beyond to the attention of the international oil and gasindustry. The Deal Day is to be held in conjunction with the 2025 AEP Conference (formerlyAPPEA) thereby ensuring a wide exposure to industry leaders.

Company representatives will review the technical and commercial aspects of theiropportunities via short presentations, using selected data. There will be time during andafter the seminar to discuss additional details with interested parties in private.

The registration fee for presenters is A$840 and for attendees is A$450. Registrations madeafter 19/05/2025 are A$550.

Chris Watts – New Insights into Energy Geoscience from Postgraduate Research

12/02/2025 Posted by Helen

The Horstman Federal Postgraduate Scholarship, initially launched by PESA in 2019,continues to attract a growing number of talented applicants pursuing energy geosciencefocussed PhD and Masters projects at universities across Australia.

Last year, a record 21 applications were received for the PESA Horstman FederalPostgraduate Scholarship from candidates based in Brisbane, Sydney, Wollongong,Adelaide, and Perth. Research topics were very diverse, ranging from regional basin studiesto CO2 sequestration and storage projects as well as experimental hydrogen resourcestudies.

The overall technical quality of research projects continued to impress, with many projectshaving the potential for providing new insights into current areas of interest in energygeoscience.

PESA Strategy – towards 2030

11/02/2025 Posted by Helen

Every four-five years the PESA Federal Board spend a day meeting in person (where possible) to review and update the Society’s strategic plan. The first such plan was released in 2016 with the aim of navigating the downturn in the industry and building foundations for PESA’s future. The second plan (Towards 2024) was released in 2019 with a 5 year operational time frame set within a 10 year planning horizon. The plan was revisited in 2021 but had the means to weather the Covid-19 pandemic in place so did not need significant updates.

2025 PESA Webinar Series Kicks Off

11/02/2025 Posted by Helen

Peter Hoiles – PESA Webinar Coordinator

Running into its sixth year, the PESA Webinar Series has returned for 2025. Generally run every second Tuesday of the month from February to about November, the series offers members from all states and territories the opportunity to hear updates, challenges, stories and field examples from Australia and across the world.

The series kicked off for 2025 on Tuesday the 4th of February, with a talk by Donald Christie from Fugro.

“Drill Baby Drill”: Implications of Donald Trump’s 2nd Presidency for the US in the South China Sea

11/02/2025 Posted by Helen

Article by Ganesh Sahathevan. First published by Australian institute of International Affairs

Ganesh Sahathevan ERP, MGis (UNE) Grad Dip Spatial Info (UNSW) Director, Centre for Industrial Research Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia. CFRI provides research on the business and politics of this region with a particular emphasis on the oil, gas and renewables industry.

The Trump campaign war cry “we will drill, baby, drill” could lead to a resurgence of oil and gas (O&G) exploration and production in the South China Sea when (and not if) President Donald Trump removes obstacles to O&G production currently in place in the United States.

Upcoming Webinar in collaboration with the CCUS Network Australia – 19th Feb

11/02/2025 Posted by Helen

The CCUS Network Australia is hosting its next webinar on Wednesday 19 February 2025 at 11am (Perth time). In this installment of the CCUSNA Webinar Series, Julian Cheng, Partner at Gilbert + Tobin, will talk about "Navigating the Tax Landscape for CCS Projects".

Abstract:

This presentation will cover key tax considerations relevant to CCS projects including:

Speaker Biography:

With over 25 years’ experience, Julian Cheng provides tax advisory services to the full spectrum of clients. His clients include public and private corporate groups, fund managers across various asset classes, consortiums and joint ventures and high net worth individuals.

NZ looking to encourage exploration

10/02/2025 Posted by Matthew.Quinn

The New Zealand government is currently proposing a series of changes to the “Crown Minerals Act 1991” including:

The proposed amendments come in response to declining gas reserves within New Zealand (down 17% to January 2023) and associated energy security concerns.

The consultation period for these amendments is due to close on February 11, with changes possible during the year.

PESA members get discount on registration to the Australian Energy Producers conference

09/02/2025 Posted by Helen

PESA members (make sure you are logged in) can access a 10% discount on registration to the upcoming Australian Energy Producers Conference & Exhibition in Brisbane from 26–29 May 2025.

Just click here

Under the theme ‘The Energy Edge | Innovation, Opportunity, Security’, the conference will set the platform for the essential discussions, debates, and knowledge sharing to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping our industry.

Australia has the resources to be a global superpower to 2050 and beyond. However, we cannot take our edge for granted.

Barossa on-track

29/01/2025 Posted by Matthew.Quinn

Santos announced in it’s fourth quarter report, that the Barossa project is 88.3% complete and still on track for first production in 2025. The second and third wells of the six-well program have been completed with good results, both the fourth and fifth wells have been spudded.

The project consists of up to eight subsea wells and a subsea production system bringing gas and condensate to an FPSO. Water, gas and condensate will be separated at the FPSO with gas transported via an approximately 300km pipeline to Darwin. Condensate is to be transferred from the FPSO to tankers for sale.