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Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

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Expenditure and metres drilled in exploration for minerals and petroleum. Classified by state and commodity, and onshore/offshore for petroleum

Reference period
June 2019
Released
2/09/2019

Mineral exploration (other than for petroleum)

Total expenditure

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 5.2% ($31.3m) to $629.6m in the June quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (up 6.2%, $22.9m). The current quarter estimate is 16.5% higher than the June quarter 2018 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 6.9% ($41.5m) to $639.6m in the June quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 4.2%, $15.7m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 31.1% ($157.4m) to $663.1m in the June quarter 2019. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 57.1% ($100.1m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 17.4% ($57.4m).

In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on Selected Base Metals (up 47.3%, $60.6m).

Metres drilled

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 1.2% in the June quarter 2019. The current quarter estimate is 4.7% higher than the June quarter 2018 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled fell 10.6% in the June quarter 2019.

In original terms, metres drilled rose 20.6%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 22.8% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 19.5%.

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 2.8% ($8.5m) to $314.1m in the June quarter 2019. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 29.5% (-$21.3m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 12.6% ($29.5m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 42.7% ($105.7m) to $353.0m in the June quarter 2019. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 74.6% ($25.2m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 37.7% ($80.5m).

The largest contributor to the rise in the trend estimate was Western Australia (up 11.4%, $19.7m) and the largest contributor to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Western Australia (up 131.2%, $138.9).

Onshore

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 2.9% ($3.2m) to $112.5m in the June quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling fell 10.1% (-$7.1m) and other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 24.7% ($9.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 25.1% ($24.1m) to $120.3m in the June quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 16.3% ($9.6m) and other onshore petroleum exploration rose 38.8% ($14.5m).

Offshore

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 2.7% ($5.3m) to $201.5m in the June quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling fell 8.0% (-$7.3m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 12.0% ($12.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 54.0% ($81.6m) to $232.7m in the June quarter 2019. Expenditure on drilling rose 28.4% ($20.6m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 77.9% ($61.1m).

Data downloads

Table 1. Private exploration, actual and expected expenditure

Table 2. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure and metres drilled

Table 3b. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by type of deposit

Table 4. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by state and territory

Table 5. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by mineral sought

Table 6a. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by onshore and offshore

Table 6b. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by type of lease

Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory

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