National projects Australia’s Future Energy Resources

This national project is evaluating the potential for new energy commodities hosted within sedimentary basins, including oil, natural gas and hydrogen, to support Australia’s transition to a low carbon economy.
The current status of knowledge of petroleum geology and exploration history in several underexplored and frontier basins will be captured to expand the national basin inventory.
The project aims to unlock the potential of underexplored sedimentary basins in central Australia (e.g. Pedirka, Simpson, Warburton, western Eromanga). In many of these basins exploration drilling failed to make commercial discoveries but did confirm the presence of active petroleum systems. Examining why past exploration failed will shed new light on these basins and potentially identify new exploration opportunities.
The project investigates the feasibility of enhanced oil recovery using carbon dioxide to boost Australia’s petroleum resource potential while economically storing greenhouse gases.
To stimulate the hydrogen industry, new geological storage sites are being mapped for hydrogen fuel storage, including salt accumulations. The utility of geothermal resources in deep-seated aquifers is being assessed for hydrogen production. Importantly, the economics of blue, green, and natural sources of hydrogen are being assessed to inform investment and government policy.
What we are doing
The project incorporates a number of study areas and activities, including:
Outputs
The Australia’s Future Energy Resources project will produce a set of comprehensive geoscientific reports, providing new information and integrated datasets that will address exploration uncertainties supporting industry stakeholders in their investment decisions. These products will assist government with the formulation of future energy strategies, including Australia’s path to a low carbon economy.
Publications, interpretations and new data collected during the course of the project will be made publicly available at regular intervals through the Exploring for the Future website and Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future Data Discovery Portal.
Collaboration
Geoscience Australia acknowledges all landholders and communities who have supported our work in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Related information

Important community information
Geoscience Australia is committed to land, air and marine access best practice and to protecting cultural heritage and the environment.
We thank the people and communities who collaborate with us to ensure the success of the Exploring for the Future program.
Geoscience Australia activities are not undertaken on behalf of any exploration company; we work for the benefit of all Australians.
All data produced by Geoscience Australia, including the data from this project, will be made publicly available after quality assurance has been performed.
For more information or general enquiries, please email clientservices@ga.gov.au

Current program
The current Exploring for the Future program (2020–24) focuses on 8 interrelated projects, united in growing our understanding of Australia's geology.
Deep-dive
Three deep-dive projects in potentially resource-rich corridors identified in the east and west of Australia: Darling–Curnamona–Delamerian, Officer–Musgrave–Birrindudu and Barkly–Isa–Georgetown projects.
National
Three national projects with a focus on southern Australia: Australia’s Resources Framework, National Groundwater Systems and Australia’s Future Energy Resources projects.
Program support
Two program support projects: Enhanced Data Delivery and Geoscience Knowledge Sharing projects.