Shell wins permits to explore for gas off northwestern Australia

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Monday it had won two permits to explore in the oil- and gas-rich undersea region off northwestern Australia.

Photo: Shell wins permits to explore for gas off northwestern Australia

One of the permits, with Shell holding 50 percent equity and Nexus Energy Ltd. holding the other 50 percent, would allow or geological studies, the drilling of exploration wells and acquisition of seismic data in the Eastern Browse Basin, Shell Development Australia said in a statement.

The permit covers an area of about 1,900 square kilometers (733 square miles) about 200 kilometers (125 miles) off the coast of the Kimberly region.

The other permit covers an area of about 3,100 square kilometers (1,200 square miles) in the Carnarvon Basin, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) off the same coast.

Chevron, based in San Ramon, California, holds 50 percent equity in that permit, with Shell and Irving, Texas-based, ExxonMobil each taking 25 percent, reports AP.

"Australia is an important part of our regional and global growth aspirations for gas, and will help us sustain our leading LNG position around the world," Shell Development (Australia) Chief Operating Officer Chris Gunner said in a statement.

Shell also has interests in other exploration projects in the region.