The shale and oil revolution that has transformed U.S. and global energy markets is on its way to Australia. According to a U.S. government report, resource-rich Australia could be home to as much as 10 times the existing known gas reserves, higher than its existing oil reserves.
Australia's political stability, regulatory transparency and proximity to Asia make it an attractive place for investments.
Australia's massive mineral exports allowed it to weather the global recession, which began in 2008, quite nicely.
The U.S. government's Energy Information Administration noted in its country's analysis for Australia, "Australia, rich in hydrocarbons and uranium, was the world's second largest coal exporter in 2011 and the third largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2012. Australia is rich in commodities, including fossil fuel and uranium reserves, and is one of the few countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that is a significant net hydrocarbon exporter, exporting over 70 percent of its total energy production according to government sources. Australia was the world's second largest coal exporter based on weight in 2011 and the third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2012."
Related: Australia’s Resource Boom: From Blessing to Curse
Six months ago Brisbane company Linc Energy Ltd. released two reports, based on drilling and seismic exploration, estimating the amount of shale oil in the as yet untapped 30,000 square mile Arckaringa Basin surrounding Coober Pedy ranging from 3.5 billion to a mind boggling 233 billion barrels of oil.
If the upper end estimates are correct then it means that the Arckaringa Basin is six times larger than the Bakken, seventeen times the size of the Marcellus formation, and 80 times larger than the Eagle Ford U.S. shale deposits.
To put the potential of the Arckaringa Basin in context, Saudi Arabian reserves are estimated at 263 billion barrels.
Related: Can the US Dethrone Saudi Arabia as the World’s Top Oil Producer?: Chris Faulkner Interview
So, what next for Linc Energy Ltd.? The company has been in discussions to find a partner to develop the Arckaringa Basin after hiring Barclays Plc to help with the process and expects to narrow the talks to one group in a "few weeks," according to Linc Energy Ltd. chief executive officer Peter Bond. Bond added that Linc Energy Ltd. is talking with at least four parties from outside Australia interested in the shale oil project in the Arckaringa Basin.
Linc Energy Ltd. said that the characteristics of its Australian acreage "compare favourably" to the prolific Bakken and Eagle Ford shale regions of the U.S. Global energy companies including Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Statoil ASA and BG Group Plc are already making shale investments in Australia.
Australian State Mineral Resources Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis said, "Shale gas and shale oil will be a key part to securing Australia's energy security now and into the future. We have seen the hugely positive impact shale projects like Bakken and Eagle Ford have had on the U.S. economy. There is still a long way to go, but investment in unconventional liquid projects in South Australia will accelerate as more and more companies such as Linc Energy Ltd. and Altona prove up their resources."
Natural gas?
Six basins in Australia stretching from coastal Queensland to Western Australia's far northwest contain recoverable shale resources of as much as 437 trillion cubic feet of gas, all of which was previously inaccessible because it is contained in shale formations, which could be unlocked by "hydraulic fracturing." But the U.S. Department of Energy predicts that Australia's shale gas industry will develop at a "moderate pace" because the nation's shale oil and gas resources do not as yet have the advanced production infrastructure that has underwritten the U.S. production boom.
Related: Is the US Shale Boom Already Over?
And what if estimates for the Arckaringa Basin basin pan out? We'll leave the final word to the EIA, which notes, "Australia's stable political environment, relatively transparent regulatory structure, substantial hydrocarbon reserves, and proximity to Asian markets make it an attractive place for foreign investment. The government published an Energy White Paper in 2012 that outlines its energy policy including balancing its priority of maintaining energy security with increasing exports to help supply Asia's growing demand for fuel."
Accordingly, Adelaide had better upgrade its airport to handle all those energy company corporate jets that may well be visiting soon.
John C. K. Daly
Oilprice.com
