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Queensland delivering more domestic gas

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The Palaszczuk Government has given the green light to a new Surat and Bowen Basin project which will see more gas made available for the domestic market. Resources Minister Scott Stewart said energy company Santos has been granted an Authority to Prospect over a 764 km² parcel of land, 65km east of Surat in the gas rich Bowen and Surat Basins.

“We are serious about finding gas to keep power stations generating, stoves burning and workers working and have imposed strict conditions that any gas produced from this venture heads straight to the Australian market,” Mr Stewart said.

“The granting of this ATP means Santos has fulfilled all necessary land access agreements, environmental and Native Title requirements and can soon get down to work exploring for gas as part of Queensland’s $70 billion onshore gas industry. This is yet another example of Queensland doing the heavy lifting on gas and is further proof of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to securing Australia’s energy future.”

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said the company is continuing to invest in Queensland in 2021.

“Right through the global pandemic, Santos, a proudly Australian company, maintained its drilling program and 2021 will be the same, with around A$800 million being invested right here in Queensland to drill another 180 wells and deliver more gas supply,” Mr Gallagher said.

“This is a huge demonstration of Santos’ commitment to Queensland jobs, Queensland businesses and our regions. The gas we produce is supporting Queensland customers across the state as well as exports from the LNG industry out of Gladstone.”

Mr Stewart said Queensland continues to lead the way for the rest of the nation as we blaze a trail towards a renewable future.

“Queensland is the only state securing Australia’s east coast gas supply with nation-leading gas policy and land releases. Since 2015 this Government has released more than 80,000 km² of land for gas exploration with almost a quarter of it guaranteed for the Australian domestic market.

“Our gas supply policy is working for industry, it is keeping gas pumping and it is keeping jobs flowing,” Mr Stewart said.

You can view the Minister for Resources – Hon Scott Stewart’s Media Statement here.

What does this mean for landholders?

If you’re a landholder in the Surat, Galilee or Bowen basins and wish to know more about what to expect with gas field developments, the GasFields Commission (the Commission) strongly encourages you to download a copy of our flagship publication, The Gas Guide, to obtain all the information you need to negotiate a fair and reasonable outcome should a resource company request to operate on your land.

The Gas Guide catalogues pertinent information that landholders need to know about the various stages of petroleum and gas development in Queensland – beginning with the advertisement and awarding of new exploration tenders (see Chapter 3 – Exploration Phase).

If you have any questions regarding the exploration process, Queensland’s onshore gas industry, please contact us directly via: