Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Resources & Energy has provided the following response to the honourable senator's question:

Enovation Resources International Limited transferred their rights, title and interests in Exploration Permit WA-378-P and WA-379-P to Cathay Petroleum International Limited on 16 February 2010 Arcadia Petroleum Ltd holds a 90 per cent interest and Cathay Petroleum International Limited a 10 per cent interest.

Exploration Permits WA-378-P and WA-379-P are in year 5 of their work programs which list a minimum work requirement of 500 km2 new 3D seismic survey to be undertaken for each permit by the end of the permit year, 9 January 2013 unless varied.

The 3D seismic survey proposed by the joint venture has not yet commenced. An Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) referral decision for the survey was given on the 7 September 2012 for the survey to be undertaken as not a controlled action, if undertaken in a particular manner for the period of 1 November 2012 to 30 April 2013

Operators are required by the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 to have an accepted Environment Plan (EP) in place before commencing activities The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has not (as at 27/11/12) accepted an EP for the proposed activity.