Latest News

2026 PESA-QLD Scholarship Applications Close Friday Feb 27

05/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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

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.

PESA Deal Day 2026

03/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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.

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

03/02/2026 Posted by Rachel

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 .

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.