SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 3.5% (or -$12.3m) to $344.1m in the September quarter 2015. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (down 3.1% or -$6.5m). The current quarter estimate is 23.7% lower than the September quarter 2014 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 11.6% (or +$38.5m) to $369.5m in the September quarter 2015. The largest contributors to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 12.8% or +$24.8m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 14.5% (or +$50.0m) to $394.0m in the September quarter 2015. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 0.9% (or +$1.0m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 21.3% (or +$49.0m).

In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on gold (up 19.2% or +$21.6m). The next largest increase came from expenditure on coal (up 12.2% or +$6.1m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 1.9% in the September quarter 2015. The current quarter estimate is 7.7% lower than the September quarter 2014 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 1.9% in the September quarter 2015.

In original terms, metres drilled rose 2.1%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 22.1% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 11.8%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 21.0% (or -$162.3m) to $608.8m in the September quarter 2015. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 12.6% (or -$20.0m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 19.8% (or -$120.9m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 14.5% (or -$102.2m) to $604.4m in the September quarter 2015. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 21.0% (or -$27.4m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 22.5% (or -$129.6m).

The largest contributor to the decrease in the trend estimate was Queensland (down 24.5% or -$38.4m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Queensland (down 39.1% or -$62.3m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 20.6% (or -$54.5m) to $209.6m in the September quarter 2015. Expenditure on drilling fell 23.9% (or -$39.6m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 13.7% (or -$13.5m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 21.3% (or -$54.9m) to $202.5m in the September quarter 2015. Expenditure on drilling fell 40.7% (or -$73.2m), and other onshore petroleum exploration rose 23.6% (or +$18.3m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 19.7% (or -$99.8m) to $406.9m in the September quarter 2015. Expenditure on drilling fell 26.2% (or -$93.0m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 4.5% (or -$6.8m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 10.5% (or -$47.3m) to $401.8m in the September quarter 2015. Expenditure on drilling fell 15.1% (or -$46.4m), and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 0.6% (or -$0.8m).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2015	29 February 2016
March 2016	30 May 2016
June 2016	29 August 2016
September 2016	28 November 2016

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

• There are no changes to this issue

INQUIRIES

Inquiries about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.