On 31 July 2019, the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science opened the federal 2019 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. A total of 64 blocks, covering approximately 120,000 sq km, have been opened for a single round of work programme bidding across the Browse, Bonaparte, Roebuck, North Carnarvon, Otway and Gippsland basins.   All blocks are due to close on 5 March 2020 under a new system that is seeing one closing date (rather than the usual two tranches that had been previously used) as well as other changes to nomination, consultation and negotiation, with an aim to streamline the bidding process and make it more efficient.  In the Gippsland Basin five areas have been released. Three blocks are located in the Central Gippsland Deep Sub-basin and two within the Northern Gippsland Terrace. The blocks are all located in close proximity to the existing oil and gas discoveries of the Gippsland Basin.  In the Central Gippsland Deep Sub-basin are the V19-3, V19-4 and V19-5 blocks. V19-3 covers an area of 581 sq km, and contains four dry wells.Â  It is adjacent to the Barracouta field, which is being further developed for additional production in 2019.Â  There are also several oil discoveries in the vicinity.  V19-4 covers an area of 277 sq km and contains no drilled wells.Â  It is adjacent to the Emperor and Sweetlips discoveries, which are considered sub-economic.  V19-5 covers an area of 676 sq km and contains the Leatherjacket oil discovery, which is considered sub-economic. It also contains two dry wells. It is adjacent to the largest oil discovery made in Australia, the Kipper field, which has been producing since the 1970s.   V19-6, which covers an area of 875 sq km, contains no wells. It is in close proximity to the Basker-Manta-Gummy fields, which have produced, but were shut-in after a downgrade in reserves, and the Blackback field, which also produced, between 1999 and 2010.  V19-7 covers an area of 1,340 sq km and contains no wells.Â  It is close to the Angler and Dory discoveries, which are in ExxonMobilâs VIC/P70 permit that it has been exploring recently.Â    The round consisting of 64 blocks is considerably larger than in previous years, when between 20 and 40 blocks has been usual. However, the amount of acreage on offer (just over 120,000 sq km) has not seen a significant increase, and is in fact less than the total acreage offered each year in 2017 and 2018.
On 31 July 2019, the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science opened the federal 2019 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. A total of 64 blocks, covering approximately 120,000 sq km, have been opened for a single round of work programme bidding across the Browse, Bonaparte, Roebuck, North Carnarvon, Otway and Gippsland basins. 