Area L20-3

Area Summary

Petroleum Acreage Release 1 of 2020 – Area L20-3

Released: Friday, 17 July 2020

Closed: Monday, 19 October 2020

Areas available: Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGERA)

Area: L20-3

Graticular blocks:

1:1,000,000 Perth Blocks Map Sheet (SH50)

Block No	Block No	Block No	Block No	Block No
6528	6600

Contains two (2) blocks to the extent only that the area is within the State as defined in section 26 of the PGERA.

Application Details – Work program expectation:

It is expected that work programs include at least one exploration well within the permit term.

Special Notices

Applicants should be aware of the following special notices in relation to Area L20-3:

I, Anthony Thomas Bullen, Acting Executive Director, Resource Tenure Division of Department Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, under delegation from the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, advise that it is intended that a condition under section 91B of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 will apply to any petroleum exploration permit granted in respect of Areas L20-3 prohibiting the holder from entering upon:
1. Crown reserves R 27886, R 31030 and R 26001, being areas of high environmental conservation value; and
2. land within the Eneabba townsite boundary.

Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing

Please be advised, the State Government’s decision to indefinitely extend the moratorium means that hydraulic fracturing cannot be undertaken under any new petroleum exploration permit granted in relation to Discrete Areas L20-1, L20-2, L20-3 and L20-4 by way of this acreage release process. Furthermore, any subsequent petroleum title deriving from this acreage release process will be prohibited from utilising hydraulic fracturing for exploration or production. For clarity this will include any production licences or retention leases arising out a permit granted from Release 1 of 2020. The continuation of the moratorium has been given effect by way of amendments to the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Hydraulic Fracturing) Regulations 2017. These amendments took effect in September 2019.

Environmental considerations

This area contains a number of environmental considerations (such as Threatened Ecological Communities, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Red Book Areas, and a Public Drinking Water Source Area) which potential applicants should consider when making an application and planning a work program. Operational activities may require consultation with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Cth). See map provided.