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SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

• The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 5.4% ($34.4m) to $671.6m in the September quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (up 6.8%, $27.2m). The current quarter estimate is 21.4% higher than the September quarter 2018 estimate.
• The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 4.8% ($31.1m) to $673.7m in the September quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 7.2%, $28.5m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION, Seasonally adjusted and trend

• In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 7.7% ($51.5m) to $716.3m in the September quarter 2019. Exploration on areas of existing deposits rose 7.1% ($27.7m) and expenditure on areas of new deposits rose 8.7% ($23.8m).
• In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on Selected Base Metals (up 10.7%, $20.1m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION, Original series

• The trend estimate for metres drilled fell -0.8% in the September quarter 2019. Compared with the September quarter 2018 estimate, the current quarter was relatively unchanged.
• The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 3.4% in the September quarter 2019.

METRES DRILLED, Seaonally adjusted and trend

• In original terms, metres drilled rose 3.2%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 20.8% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell -6.1%.

METRES DRILLED, Original series

• The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 8.0% ($26.1m) to $352.8m in the September quarter 2019. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 17.8% (-$9.4m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 12.5% ($34.3m).
• The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 1.8% ($6.4m) to $361.0m in the September quarter 2019. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 11.0% (-$6.5m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 4.4% ($12.9m).
• The largest contributor to the rise in the trend estimate was Western Australia (up 12.0%, $22.9m) and the largest contributor to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Queensland (up 35.1%, $11.5m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, Seasonally adjusted and trend

• The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 10.8% ($13.1m) to $133.9m in the September quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 16.7% ($13.2m) and other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 0.5% (-$0.2m).
• The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 16.1% ($19.7m) to $141.9m in the September quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 46.3% ($33.8m) and other onshore petroleum exploration fell 28.6% (-$14.1m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: ONSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend

• The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 6.1% to $218.5m in the September quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 11.2% ($11.2m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 1.3% ($1.4m).
• The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 5.7% (-$13.3m) to $219.1m in the September quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 26.7% ($26.4m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 29.7% (-$39.7m).

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION: OFFSHORE, Seasonally adjusted and trend