You need this authority to prospect (ATP) if you intend to explore for petroleum, oil, coal seam gas and natural gas.
An ATP allows you to:
- explore for petroleum
- test for petroleum production
- evaluate the feasibility of petroleum production
- evaluate or test natural underground reservoirs for the storage of petroleum or a prescribed storage gas.
You can apply for this authority through a call for tenders.
An Australian market supply condition may be attached to an authority to prospect. The condition means that the authority holder must only sell gas produced from the tenure (or a subsequent lease) to customers within Australia. The objective is to increase gas supplies and lower prices for domestic users.