business.gov.au

Exploration Permit - Western Australia

Description

You may need this permit if you intend to explore for petroleum or geothermal energy resources. Exploring means conducting any geophysical survey, the data from which is intended to be used in the search for petroleum or geothermal energy resources.

Petroleum is any naturally occurring hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, including oil and gas. Geothermal energy resources are any subsurface rock or other substance that contains geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is thermal energy that results from natural geological processes and is contained in geothermal energy resources.

You may make a bid for up to 400 blocks of territory for petroleum and up to 160 blocks of territory for geothermal energy resources.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this licence you must:

  • ensure you and your employees hold relevant technical qualifications
  • have sufficient technical advice and financial resources.

Duration

The initial term of the permit is 6 years. Permits can be renewed (with a 50 percent reduction in area) for 2 consecutive 5 year periods.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Fees for 2025-26 can be found here.

Forms

Other resources

Task Business Structure Resources
Comply Company, Co-operative, Other, Partnership, Sole Trader Criteria for Assessment of Petroleum and Geothermal Exploration Permits (Opens in new window)
Comply Company, Co-operative, Other, Partnership, Sole Trader Petroleum and Geothermal Applications and Title Administration Forms (Opens in new window)
Comply Company, Co-operative, Other, Partnership, Sole Trader Western Australia????????s Petroleum and Geothermal Explorer????????s Guide (Opens in new window)

Act(s) name

Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 Western Australia

Regulation(s) name

Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Regulations 1987 Western Australia

Application process

Apply

Forms can be downloaded and submitted online through the Petroleum and Geothermal Register (PGR).

Administering agency

Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration

Petroleum

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.