Andrews government opens up state's western coastline to gas drilling

More than 1300 square kilometres of coastal waters and coastline in western Victoria has been opened up to gas exploration by the Andrews government, including potential drilling from onshore.

The Andrews government has opened up more than
1300 square kilometres of coastal waters to offshore
 gas exploration.

Industry has been invited to bid for the right to explore for gas along a vast stretch of ocean between the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park and the South Australian border.

Read Adam Carey’s story from The Age - “Andrews government opens up state's western coastline to gas drilling.”

Northern Territory's largest onshore gas producer to increase exploration

While Territorians await the final report from the inquiry into hydraulic fracking, to be released next month, the NT's largest onshore gas producer is ramping up production.

Central Petroleum's Operations Manager James van
 Rooyen checks the East Mereenie number 7 well.

Central Petroleum will be drilling up to four new wells in March, in an effort to source gas to fill the Northern Gas Pipeline.

The $800 million pipeline will run from Tennant Creek to Mt Isa, and is due to pipe its first gas at the end of the year.

As Central Petroleum use conventional methods to extract the gas, rather than unconventional extraction, or 'fracking', the current NT moratorium in place does not apply to their wells.

Read the ABC News story by Katrina Beavan - “Northern Territory's largest onshore gas producer to increase exploration.”