Information centre

The information centre contains a comprehensive list of publications and links to help explain the shale and tight gas industry in Western Australia.This section is designed to provide the community and industry with general information in respect to petroleum and geothermal energy in Western Australia. Information sheets have been produced to introduce the community and industry to petroleum and geothermal-related issues such as exploration, production, land access, investment opportunities and environmental protection.

Information sheets

Natural gas from shale and tight rock gantt chart

This gantt chart assists companies wishing to undertake shale and tight gas exploration and development activities in Western Australia. The information particularly assists in scoping government project approvals, including timelines, prior to activities.

Reports

Shale Gas Resource Assessment in the Merlinleigh Sub-basin, Southern Carnarvon Basin - APPEA 2015 Poster - 1524 Kb

Shale Gas Resource Assessment - APPEA 2015 Poster

Shale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays in the Canning Basin, Western Australia - Attachments - 1303 Kb

Shale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays in the Canning Basin - Attachments

Shale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays in the Canning Basin, Western Australia - 426 Kb

Shale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays, a Report by Nina E. Triche and Mohammad Bahar

Response to submissions on DMP Strategy Paper: Transparency in Environmental Regulatory Decision Making - 1543 Kb

Response to submissions on DMP Strategy Paper

Department of Mines and Petroleum Response to Report: 'Regulation of Shale, Coal Seam and Tight Gas Activities in Western Australia' - 1024 Kb

DMP response to 'Regulation of Shale, Coal Seam and Tight Gas Activities in Western Australia' Report

Summary of comments and departmental responses from public consultation for Petroleum Environment Regulations – by the department - 735 Kb

Comments and departmental responses from public consultation for Petroleum Environment Regulations

Dongara Mid-West onshore gas community workshop - 24 October 2012 - 367 Kb

Community information and engagement expectations

Regulation of shale, coal seam And tight gas Activities In Western Australia Report - 1299 Kb

An analysis of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 1967 (WA) to regulate onshore gas activities in Western Australia by Dr Tina Hunter

Online systems

In line with our commitment to transparent and equitable regulation of the resources industry, the department has developed a range of online systems, providing the community with easy access to mineral and petroleum information. To access information relating to natural gas from shale and tight rocks please visit:

Legislation

Western Australian legislation can also be downloaded from the State Law Publisher and Commonwealth legislation from ComLaw.

Australian Government

  • The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

State Government

  • Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGER Act);
  • Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Environment) Regulations 2012;
  • Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (PSL Act);
  • Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Environment) Regulations 2012;
  • Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (PP Act);
  • Petroleum Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012.
  • Environmental Protection Act 1986 (and Administrative Procedures 1993)
  • Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act)
  • Contaminated Sites Act 2003
  • Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914
  • Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945
  • Wildlife Conservation Act 1950

Environmental and safety management

The department's Environment Publications and Guidance page provides a range of materials detailing legislative and regulatory requirements that must be followed by companies wishing to undertake exploration and development activities in Western Australia.

Petroleum and geothermal safety helps protect employees in petroleum, pipeline and geothermal operations in Western Australia.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Environmental Protection Bulletin No. 22 – Hydraulic fracturing for onshore natural gas from shale and tight rocks details the EPA’s expectations and defines the circumstances under which proposals that include hydraulic fracturing are assessed.

Office of the Appeals Convenor  provides advice and makes recommendations to the Minister for Environment on environmental appeals made under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

All appeal decisions are available and can be found by searching the appeals decision database. Appeals numbered 95, 96, 99, 100 and 102 with a decision date of 02/03/2012 are related to natural gas from shale and tight rocks.

The department’s Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA administers referral of mineral and petroleum (onshore and offshore) and geothermal proposals (PDF 333 kb)

Further reading

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has released a report that examines the spectrum of issues facing the development of a shale gas industry in Australia. Engineering Energy - Unconventional Gas Production (2013) can be downloaded from the ACOLA website.

Managing and planning for the petroleum industry in Western Australia is a whole-of-government responsibility. Links to State Government agencies is provided below for further information.

The following links provide further reading about the shale and tight gas industry.

Australian Government agencies

Inter-State Government agencies

Industry

International bodies

General enquires

Communications Manager
Phone: +61 (08) 9222 3325
Email: media@dmirs.wa.gov.au