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Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

2010 Offshore petroleum exploration release

John Hartwell
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Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism

The APPEA Journal 50(1) 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ09001
Published: 2010

Abstract

The sustainable annual release of quality petroleum exploration acreage, to provide the global petroleum exploration industry with a variety of investment opportunities in Australian waters, is a key objective of the Australian Government.

The annual Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release (Acreage Release) is underpinned by Australia’s stable economic environment and well-established regulatory framework for offshore petroleum activities.

The 2010 Acreage Release areas are located across five basins. Release areas have been carefully selected to offer a range of investment opportunities; areas vary in size, known prospectivity, water depth and level of existing geological data and knowledge. Areas are supported by pre-competitive geological and geophysical data and analysis undertaken by Geoscience Australia.

John Hartwell is Head of the Resources Division, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, which provides advice to the Australian Government on policy issues, legislative changes and administrative matters related to the petroleum industry, upstream and downstream and the coal and minerals industries. He is also the Commonwealth Government representative to the Senior Committee of Officials for the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Australian Commissioner for the Australia/East Timor Joint Petroleum Development Area and the Sunrise Commission with East Timor. He Chairs the Clean Fossil Energy Taskforce under the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate (APP). He serves on two Industry/Government leadership groups, reporting regularly to the Australian Government, a Strategy for the Oil and Gas Industry and the uranium industry framework. He serves on the CSIRO Advisory Groups on the Light Metals Flagship and the Minerals Resources Sector Division and led a team charged with responsibility for taking forward the Australian Government’s proposal to establish a Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute. He has occupied a wide range of positions in the Australian Government dealing with trade, commodity and energy and resource issues, having worked in Treasury, the Department of Trade, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Primary Industries and Energy and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. In 2005, he was awarded a Public Service Medal for his work on resources issues for the Australian Government. He holds a Master of Commerce (Economics) honours degree.

petroleum.exploration@ret.gov.au