The information centre contains a comprehensive list of publications and links to help explain the shale and tight gas industry in Western Australia. This section is designed to provide the community and industry with general information in respect to petroleum and geothermal energy in Western Australia.
Information sheets have been produced to introduce the community and industry to petroleum and geothermal-related issues such as exploration, production, land access, investment opportunities and environmental protection.
Information sheets
Show moreFinding oil and gas Exploration is the basis for a successful petroleum industry. This information sheet explains some of the activities undertaken
Producing oil and gas This information sheet talks about the key steps in the production approval process
Regulating oil and gas The department’s regulations cover safety, environmental management, resource management and a wide range of community priorities
Petroleum titles on country A snapshot of Native Title consultation requirements
Protecting the environment Learn more about the department’s role in protecting the environment during petroleum industry activities
Geological Survey of Western Australia The department’s Geological Survey of Western Australia provides objective and authoritative geoscientific data, information and services to support the responsible use of the State’s natural resources.
Natural gas from shale and tight rock Gantt chart
Show moreThis Gantt chart assists companies wishing to undertake shale and tight gas exploration and development activities in Western Australia. The information assists in scoping government project approvals, including timelines, prior to activities
Reports
Show moreShale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays in the Canning Basin - Attachments |
Shale Gas Resource Assessment - APPEA 2015 Poster |
| Shale Gas Volumetrics of Unconventional Resources Plays, a Report by Nina E. Triche and Mohammad Bahar (426.12 KB) |
DMP response to 'Regulation of Shale, Coal Seam and Tight Gas Activities in Western Australia' Report |
Response to submissions on DMP Strategy Paper |
Dongara Mid-West onshore gas community workshop - 24 October 2012 (367.89 KB) Community information and engagement expectations |
Regulation of shale, coal seam And tight gas Activities In Western Australia Report (1.27 MB) An analysis of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 1967 (WA) to regulate onshore gas activities in Western Australia by Dr Tina Hunter |
Comments and departmental responses from public consultation for Petroleum Environment Regulations |
Online systems
Show moreIn line with our commitment to transparent and equitable regulation of the resources industry, the department has developed a range of online systems. These systems provide the community with easy access to mineral and petroleum information. To access information relating to natural gas from shale and tight rocks, visit:
- Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System (EARS)
Petroleum Environment Regulations, introduced in 2012, require industry to provide public access to environment plan summaries and all chemicals proposed for use down a well. - Western Australian Petroleum and Geothermal Information Management System
(WAPIMS) contains data on titles, wells, geophysical surveys and other related exploration and production information. The database also contains information on mineral boreholes drilled in the State. - Petroleum and Geothermal Register (PGR)
Provides information relating to petroleum and geothermal titles.
Legislation
Show moreWestern Australian legislation can also be downloaded from the State Law Publisher and Commonwealth legislation from ComLaw.
Australian Government
- The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
State Government
- Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGER Act);
- Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Environment) Regulations 2012;
- Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (PSL Act);
- Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Environment) Regulations 2012;
- Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (PP Act);
- Petroleum Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012.
- Environmental Protection Act 1986 (and Administrative Procedures 1993)
- Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act)
- Contaminated Sites Act 2003
- Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914
- Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945
- Wildlife Conservation Act 1950
Environmental and safety management
Companies wishing to understate exploration and development activities in Western Australia must follow a set of legislative and regulatory requirements. The department's publications page provides a range of materials detailing what is assessed by DEMIRS.
Petroleum and geothermal safety helps protect employees in petroleum, pipeline and geothermal operations in Western Australia.
Hydraulic fracturing for onshore natural gas from shale and tight rocks (EPB 22) | EPA Western Australia Environmental Protection Bulletin No. 22 – Hydraulic fracturing for onshore natural gas from shale and tight rocks details the EPA’s expectations and defines the circumstances under which proposals that include hydraulic fracturing are assessed.
Office of the Appeals Convenor provides advice and makes recommendations to the Minister for Environment on environmental appeals made under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
All appeal decisions can be found by searching the appeals decision database. Appeals numbered 95, 96, 99, 100 and 102 with a decision date of 02/03/2012 are related to natural gas from shale and tight rocks.
Further reading
Show moreThe Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has released a report that examines the spectrum of issues facing the development of a shale gas industry in Australia. Engineering Energy - Unconventional Gas Production (2013) can be downloaded from the ACOLA website.
Managing and planning for the petroleum industry in Western Australia is a whole-of-government responsibility. Links to State Government agencies is provided below for further information.
- Environmental Protection Authority
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Atrractions
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
- Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
The following links provide further reading about the shale and tight gas industry.
Australian Government agencies
Inter-State Government agencies
- Department of Industry and Skills (South Australia)
- Department of Primary Industry and Resources (Northern Territory)
