Australian Regulator Provides BP More Time to Modify Great Australian Bight Drilling Environment Plan

Australia's National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has granted BP’s request for an extension of the timeframe for resubmission plan for exploration drilling in the Great Australian Bight (GAB).

The modified plan was expected to be resubmitted by July 15 but is now expected to be resubmitted by 31 August, at which time NOPSEMA will recommence the assessment.

On May 16, 2016, NOPSEMA provided BP an opportunity to modify and resubmit their environment plan.

BP initially submitted its Environment Plan in October 2015 and a further iteration in March 2016. BP is proposing to drill four exploration wells in Commonwealth marine waters in the Great Australian Bight. The program will seek to determine whether commercial quantities of hydrocarbon resources exist within the permit areas.

The proposed GAB drilling area has water depths of approximately 1,000-2,500m. At the closest point, the proposed GAB drilling area is approximately 400 km west of Port Lincoln and 300 km southwest of Ceduna in South Australia.