NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2013	3 March 2014
March 2014	2 June 2014
June 2014	1 September 2014
September 2014	1 December 2014

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes to this issue.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Mark Busby on Sydney (02) 9268 4533.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 8.5% (or -$57.1m) to $612.1m in the September quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (down 8.3% or -$33.6m). The current quarter estimate is 31.4% lower than the September quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure fell 1.0% (or -$6.3m) to $618.5m in the September quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall this quarter was South Australia (down 31.6% or -$12.5m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell 3.9% (or -$26.2m) to $638.4m in the September quarter 2013. Exploration on areas of new deposits fell 12.3% (or -$33.8m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 2.0% (or $7.6m).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on gold exploration (down 11.9% or -$17.8m). The largest rise came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (up 8.8% or $18.0m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 6.2% in the September quarter 2013. The current quarter estimate is 31.1% lower than the September quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled fell 8.2% in the September quarter 2013.

In original terms, metres drilled fell 7.3%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 14.3% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 3.5%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 2.6% (or -$29.6m) to $1111.7m in the September quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 1.7% (or -$5.8m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 2.3% (or -$18.7m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 9.5% (or -$119.5m) to $1140.6m in the September quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 18.0% (or -$69.0m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 5.7% (or -$50.4m).

The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate was Western Australia (down 3.3% or -$25.9m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Queensland (down 46.5% or -$135.9m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 4.4% (or -$16.6m) to $361.1m in the September quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 8.7% (or -$18.9m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 0.1% (or $0.1m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 36.1% (or -$163.5m) to $289.2m in the September quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 46.9% (or -$163.5m), while other onshore petroleum exploration did not change.

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 1.0% (or -$8.5m) to $810.0m in the September quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 2.1% (or $13.5m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 13.6% (or -$22.1m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 5.5% (or $44.1m) to $851.5m in the September quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 11.7% (or $75.2m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 18.8% (or -$31.2m).