NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2017	5 March 2018
March 2018	4 June 2018
June 2018	3 September 2018
September 2018	3 December 2018

CHANGES TO THE NEXT ISSUE

• The ABS is considering proposals to change the survey questions in order to better capture greenfields exploration activity. The ABS invites, and welcomes feedback on this strategy and interested parties should contact alise.ferreira@abs.gov.au.

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SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 3.9% ($16.6m) to $443.8m in the September quarter 2017. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Queensland (up 10.4%, $6.1m). The current quarter estimate is 25.1% higher than the September quarter 2016 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 0.4% ($1.8m) to $439.9m in the September quarter 2017. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Queensland (up 14.1%, $8.4m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 6.8% ($30.3m) to $475.2m in the September quarter 2017. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 16.9% ($23.0m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 2.4% ($7.4m).

In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on selected base metals (up 18.7%, $17.6m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 4.1% in the September quarter 2017. The current quarter estimate is 28.8% higher than the September quarter 2016 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 1.7% in the September quarter 2017.

In original terms, metres drilled fell 0.2%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 23.3% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 10.1%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.5% (-$11.6m) to $315.9m in the September quarter 2017. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 12.9% ($6.8m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 6.0% (-$16.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 15.6% (-$54.5m) to $293.8m in the September quarter 2017. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 16.7% (-$10.5m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 15.5% (-$44.2m).

The largest contributor to the decrease in the trend estimate was Northern Territory (down 15.6%, -$16.1m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Northern Territory (down 58.4%, -$69.5m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.4% (-$4.0m) to $113.1m in the September quarter 2017. Expenditure on drilling fell 9.0% (-$6.0m) and other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 3.2% ($1.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 21.9% (-$26.7m) to $95.1m in the September quarter 2017. Expenditure on drilling fell 41.6% (-$31.8m) and other onshore petroleum exploration fell 11.0% (-$5.0m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.1% (-$6.6m) to $203.7m in the September quarter 2017. Expenditure on drilling fell 6.0% (-$7.4m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 0.8% ($0.7m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 12.3% (-$27.8m) to $198.7m in the September quarter 2017. Expenditure on drilling fell 24.9% (-$34.5m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 7.5% ($6.6m).