Helium drilling set to start after WA taxpayers shielded from cleanup costs
UK-listed Georgina Energy plans to drill in the remote Little Great Sandy Desert in search of helium, hydrogen and natural gas.
The Perth Basin extends 1300km north of Perth and has supported onshore and limited offshore oil and gas production. Major companies in the basin include Mitsui E&P, Beach Energy, Hancock Energy and Strike Energy.
With WA's days of cheap and abundant gas coming to a close, the chances of onshore gas being exported are shrinking fast.
Pilot Energy is a going concern, but its accounts report "a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt" on that continuing.
The Belisama project inland from Dongara could supply up to 20 per cent of WA's demand from 2029.
A struggling deal between two companies will determine if an unused oil platform off the WA coast is used for carbon storage or needs to be decommissioned.
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