PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENTS IN QUEENSLAND DURING 1985

Petroleum exploration in Queensland during 1985 remained at the high levels that existed during 1984. Of the 115 wells spudded, 88 were wildcat exploration wells, 24 were appraisal wells, and three were development wells. New field discoveries numbered 23, being 16 oil and 7 of gas, the highest number ever recorded. All but two of the appraisal wells and all three development wells were successful. Seismic surveys totalled 23 158 km of subsurface section, 75 per cent in the western part of the state in the Eromanga/Cooper and Eromanga/Galilee basins and their environs, and the remainder in the Surat and Bowen basins. Similar levels of exploration are expected during 1986, although the amount of seismic surveying may decrease as much as 20 per cent. Exploration is expected to be in mostly the same basins as now over the next 15 years. Two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) separating plants came on stream in 1985 in the Surat/Bowen Basin, one at Kincora and one near Wallumbilla, with a combined output capacity of 50 000 tonnes annually. At Eromanga a mini-refinery with a capacity of about 880 barrels of oil per day commenced operations producing mostly distillate. Petroleum Leases were granted during the year over the Tintaburra and Bodalla South oilfields near Eromanga, and over the Riverslea and Yapunyah oilfields in the Surat region. Queensland's petroleum reserves now stand at 66 million barrels remaining recoverable oil, 17 billion cu m gas, and 500 000 tonnes of LPG. Daily production is about 29 000 barrels of oil and condensate, about 1.2 million cu m of gas, and 97 tonnes of LPG. There is relatively little impact to petroleum exploration in Queenland through the setting aside of land for special purposes. Legislation and administrative arrangements allow exploration in National Parks and Forest Reserves under conditions set down by the controlling bodies.