Australian companies Bridgeport Energy and Metgasco have accepted Queensland Government offers to explore for petroleum and gas in the Cooper Basin.
Queensland natural resources and mines minister Anthony Lynham said the exploration companies had won tenders to explore about 2150 square kilometres of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins.
“The Cooper Basin is a highly prospective region that has been supplying petroleum and gas to New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland for 50 years,” Lynham said.
“Bridgeport Energy and Metgasco’s exploration activity will build on the thousands of jobs and business opportunities that the Cooper Basin’s resources have already fuelled.”
Bridgeport Energy has accepted an offer of three areas covering about 1250 square kilometres and Metgasco has accepted two areas covering about 900 square kilometres.
The companies will need to meet the environmental and native title requirements with the Mithaka people and Wongkumara people before being granted exploration rights.
They will also have to enter into access agreements with landowners and meet other obligations before on-ground exploration activities can start.
More than 75 per cent of Queensland’s portion of the Cooper Basin is currently covered by petroleum and gas exploration or production authorities, according to the Queensland Government.