Release areas W08-21 and W08-22 are located in the southwestern part of the Exmouth Plateau, and lie approximately 230 to 360 km offshore from the Western Australian coastline. Water depths over the Release areas vary between the plateau and upper slope portions and are generally within the range of 1000 to 2500 m (Figure 1).
Release Area W08-21 comprises 83 graticular blocks with a total area of approximately 6685 km2 and W08-22 is 80 graticular blocks covering approximately 6405 km2.
The Exmouth Plateau is the deepwater frontier of the Carnarvon Basin, Australia's premier hydrocarbon province. Hosting several giant gas accumulations (eg Io/Jansz, Gorgon, Scarborough) it is an area of active exploration. No wells have been drilled in the Release Areas but these are immediately adjacent to petroleum exploration permits WA-364-P and WA-366-P in which the Eendracht 1 and Vinck 1 exploration wells were drilled.