About pre-competitive geological storage data acquisition
Identifying suitable geological sites for CO2 storage is a prerequisite for large scale demonstration and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in Australia.
Work to develop sufficient basic knowledge of prospective CO2 storage sites is being undertaken on a pre-competitive (public information) basis by government—similar to the approach used in the petroleum sector. This knowledge helps to inform government decisions on the release of suitable greenhouse gas exploration acreage which can be taken up for commercial exploration and development under CCS legislation.
The Australian Government with support from state and territory governments and industry is therefore undertaking a national, strategically phased program of pre-competitive data acquisition and characterisation of prospective greenhouse gas storage sites.
This program reflects the advice the Australian Government has received from the Carbon Storage Taskforce and is being funded through the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative and the National CO2 Infrastructure Plan.
On behalf of the department, Geoscience Australia manages the provision of Australian Government funding for the collection of pre-competitive exploration data relating to prospective greenhouse gas storage sites, in both offshore Commonwealth waters and with state and territory governments under National Geoscience Agreements.
The table on this page outlines the main elements of the program. The Geoscience Australia website provides further information.
| Region | Basins |
|---|
South west Western Australia | - South Perth (onshore)
- North Perth (onshore)
- Vlaming sub-basin (offshore)
|
North west Western Australia | - Browse (offshore)
- Canning Stage 1 (onshore)
- Canning Stage 2 (onshore)
- Esperance (onshore)
|
Victoria | - Gippsland (offshore)—Stage 1
- Gippsland (offshore)—Stage 2
|
Southern and central Queensland | - Surat and Bowen (onshore)
|
New South Wales | |
Northern Australia | - Petrel sub-basin/Bonaparte Basin (offshore)
|
Related pages
- National CO2 Infrastructure Plan
The National CO2 Infrastructure Plan was developed to accelerate the identification and development of sites suitable for the long term storage of CO2 in Australia that are within reasonable distances of major energy and industrial CO2 emission sources.
- Carbon capture and storage acreage release
The acreage release is the first step in the process whereby prospective CCS companies can obtain the necessary property rights and hence the investment certainty they need to proceed with commercial storage operations.
More information
For more information about precompetitive geological storage data acquisition, contact:
Peter van Rens
Manager, Domestic CCS Policy and Legislation
Clean Energy and Environment Division
Phone: (02) 6213 7189
Email: peter.vanrens@ret.gov.au