8412.0 - Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, Sep 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/12/2000   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 20, 2000
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
171/2000
Petroleum exploration expenditure increases

Expenditure on petroleum exploration during the September quarter 2000 rose by 33% ($55m) to $220m, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The rise in total petroleum exploration expenditure was due to a 33% ($46m) increase in offshore expenditure, all of which was in drilling expenditure.

Of the published regions for petroleum exploration, Western Australia reported an increase in expenditure of 31% ($35m), while Northern Territory/Ashmore and Cartier Islands reported an increase in expenditure of 111% ($16m).

The trend estimate for mineral exploration expenditure in the September quarter 2000 continued the flat trend evident since June quarter, ending a lengthy period of decline.

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure for the September quarter 2000 decreased by 7% ($13m) to $170m. Western Australia was the main contributor to the September quarter decrease, down 8% ($9m). Exploration expenditure for gold also decreased by 16% ($17m) for the quarter.

A total of 1.6 million metres were drilled for mineral exploration, 13% lower than the June quarter 2000.

This issue also includes a new table, 'mineral exploration (other than for petroleum) expenditure by type of lease'. This table, which will be published in future issues, reports expenditure on 'production leases' and 'all other areas' by State and Territory.

Further information can be found in Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, September Quarter 2000 (cat. no. 8412.0) available from the ABS Bookshop. A summary of the main featuires of this publication are available on this site.