The state government in Western Australia has invited bids for one offshore exploration block and seven onshore permits in the Carnarvon and Amadeus basins.

The state government releases acreage for petroleum exploration through a competitive bidding system.

Successful bidders will be permitted to conduct exploration activities in the awarded block for six years.

Applications for the acreage release close at 4pm on Thursday 16 June 2022.

Bill Johnston, the state's mines and petroleum minister said: "The McGowan government will continue to create opportunities within the state's natural resources industry and exploration is the bedrock of ongoing success."

"The petroleum sector continues to be a key contributor to WA's economic success with sales of more than $23 billion in the 2020-21 financial year.

"Any acreage awarded will be subject to the state government's policy on hydraulic fracturing, which means this extraction process will not be permitted on these blocks."

More details on the acreage can be found here.

The offshore permit is a nearshore shallow-water block just north of Thevenard Island.

Three of the onshore permits are very large blocks in the onshore section of the Carnarvon basin; likewise, the four permits in the Amadeus basin are very large.