Shell will have a 25 percent interest in the block, Chevron Australia will be the operator of the block and will hold a 50 percent interest. Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited (25%) will hold the remaining 25 percent interest in the block. The WA-374-P permit area covers an area of 1,022 square miles (2,650 sq kilometres) and lies some 62 miles (100 km) northwest of Barrow Island. The Carnarvon basin, Australia’s premier petroleum basin, includes both the North West Shelf and Greater Gorgon resources. Shell Exploration & Production Asia Pacific Exploration Vice President, Dr Wouter Hoogeveen, said: “This is the sixth exploration permit awarded to Shell over the last seven months in three different areas. All lie off the Northwest coast of Australia, which we see as prospective for large gas discoveries. We are particularly pleased with the results of the latest gazettal round which also included the recently announced permit area, WA-371-P, in the northern Browse Basin, in which Shell will have a 100 percent interest”. Shell Development (Australia) Chief Operating Officer, Chris Gunner, added “Shell’s reinvigorated exploration undertakings in Australia underline the importance of Australia to the company’s regional and global growth ambitions for gas. Shell is a global leader in LNG and a long-term player in Australia.”
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