The Australian government has awarded seven new offshore exploration permits with Shell Australia being the major beneficiary. Shell was awarded two permits in the Browse basin and one in the Timor Sea. Other awards went to BP Australia with a permit on the Exmouth Plateau, while Japan’s Inpex Corp. secured a permit in the Canning basin south of its Ichthys field development. Perth-based Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. was awarded a permit in the Timor Sea and Adelaide company Cooper Energy Ltd. won a permit in the Gippsland basin of Victoria.

Source: News