8412.0 - Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, Dec 2013  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/03/2014   
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NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER) Release Date
March 2014 2 June 2014
June 2014 1 September 2014
September 2014 1 December 2014
December 2014 2 March 2015



CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes to this issue.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Tony Mitchell on Sydney (02) 9268 4044.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 9.8% (or -$58.0m) to $536.3m in the December quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (down 12.0% or -$42.7m). The current quarter estimate is 33.7% lower than the December quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure fell 12.5% (or -$75.8m) to $533.0m in the December quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall this quarter was Western Australia (down 19.3% or -$73.4m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION, Seasonally adjusted and trend
Graph: Mineral Exploration (Time Series Estimate): Expenditure and Metres Drilled, ; Total deposits , Australia


In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell 14.3% (or -$91.0m) to $547.4m in the December quarter 2013. Exploration on areas of new deposits fell 27.5% (or -$66.5m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell 6.2% (or -$24.5m).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (down 17.1% or -$38.0m). The next largest fall came from expenditure on nickel exploration (down 49.2% or -$18.6m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION, Original series
Graph: MINERAL EXPLORATION, Original series



METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 2.7% in the December quarter 2013. The current quarter estimate is 22.6% lower than the December quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 2.7% in the December quarter 2013.

METRES DRILLED, Seaonally adjusted and trend
Graph: METRES DRILLED, Seaonally adjusted and trend


In original terms, metres drilled fell 4.4%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 33.2% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 9.1%.

METRES DRILLED, Original series
Graph: METRES DRILLED, Original series



PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.1% (or -$33.4m) to $1052.0m in the December quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 2.2% (or $7.3m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 4.6% (or -$34.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 10.0% (or -$112.3m) to $1014.2m in the December quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 9.2% (or $28.2m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 17.2% (or -$140.5m).

The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate was Western Australia (down 6.4% or -$46.5m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Western Australia (down 17.6% or -$135.3m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, Seasonally adjusted and trend
Graph: PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, Seasonally adjusted and trend



ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 16.5% (or -$54.8m) to $277.1m in the December quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 12.8% (or -$24.0m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 1.2% (or -$1.3m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 9.3% (or -$27.1m) to $265.2m in the December quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 12.9% (or -$24.0m), while other onshore petroleum exploration fell 2.8% (or -$3.0m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: ONSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend
Graph: PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: ONSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend



OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 0.9% (or -$7.2m) to $785.8m in the December quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 0.2% (or $1.4m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 5.9% (or -$8.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 10.2% (or -$85.1m) to $749.1m in the December quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 13.5% (or -$94.2m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 6.7% (or $9.0m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: OFFSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend
Graph: PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: OFFSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend