SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 0.6% ($2.1m) to $349.2m in the September quarter 2016. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (up 1.9%, $4.2m). The current quarter estimate is 0.8% lower than the September quarter 2015 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 1.0% ($3.5m) to $351.3m in the September quarter 2016. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Queensland (up 14.3%, $6.3m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 7.2% ($25.6m) to $379.5m in the September quarter 2016. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 9.3% ($9.7m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 6.3% ($15.8m).

In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on coal (up 22.8%, $6.9m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 0.4% in the September quarter 2016. The current quarter estimate is 12.9% higher than the September quarter 2015 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 0.8% in the September quarter 2016.

In original terms, metres drilled rose 0.1%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 28.9% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 8.6%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 6.9% (-$23.9m) to $324.5m in the September quarter 2016. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 35.7% (-$18.3m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 0.5% (-$1.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 22.2% ($65.8m) to $361.9m in the September quarter 2016. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 46.7% (-$27.2m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 39.1% ($93.0m).

The largest contributor to the decrease in the trend estimate was Western Australia (down 12.7%, -$32.2m) and the largest contributor to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Northern Territory (up 209.0%, $42.0m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 5.8% (-$4.6m) to $75.1m in the September quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 3.4% (-$1.2m) and other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 6.2% (-$2.7m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 41.8% ($27.4m) to $92.9m in the September quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling rose 32.9% ($10.2m) and other onshore petroleum exploration rose 49.9% ($17.2m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 6.4% (-$17.3m) to $251.3m in the September quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 16.4% (-$29.3m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 13.4% ($12.0m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 16.7% ($38.4m) to $269.0m in the September quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 12.2% (-$19.5m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 81.8% ($57.9m).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2016	27 February 2017
March 2017	5 June 2017
June 2017	4 September 2017
September 2017	4 December 2017

CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ISSUE

• There are no changes to this issue.

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