Prior to the commencement of exploration, Santos representatives have conducted briefings of local councils, parliamentarians, and business and community groups to provide information about the planned exploration program.
Santos’s manager for coal seam gas assets, Stephen Kelemen, said that while some coal seam gas exploration had previously been carried out in the area, the company’s program would take in a larger area and draw together several existing exploration licenses.
Mr Kelemen said: The area under exploration is approximately 20,000sqkm and extends from Narrabri, west to Coonabarabran, and south to Scone and Gulgong. It also takes in the areas around Gunnedah and Quirindi. Initial exploration would be limited to four or five specific sites and would have minimal impact on farming activity. We expect to drill between 20 and 30 core holes over the next 12-18 months.
