Vintage Energy, Bridgeport Energy and a joint venture including Amplitude Energy are among the successful tenderers in the latest petroleum and gas acreage releases announced by the Queensland Government.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said the sheer interest in the tenders and commitment from proponents to sign up for new acreage was a vote of confidence in the future of Queensland’s resources sector.  

In the Cooper-Eromanga Basin, Bridgeport Energy has been awarded about 2712sq km of exploration ground (across PLR2026-1-4, PLR2026-1-5, and PLR2026-1-11) while Vintage Energy has been awarded about 625sq km (across PLR2026-1-3). 

A joint venture that includes subsidiaries of Amplitude Energy, Beetaloo Energy, Eastern States Energy and Xstate Resources has been awarded a land release tender for exploration in the Taroom Trough.

The new tenders are in addition to three prospective acreages announced last month in the Taroom Trough, along with three awarded in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin and one in the Bowen-Surat Basin in 2025. 

Bridgeport Energy managing director and chief executive officer Christian Lange said the blocks would build on the company’s established presence in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin. 

“Bridgeport is 100 per cent Australian owned and operated, with 891 square kilometres of net oil-producing acreage across nine production projects in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin,” Mr Lange said. 

“These blocks are a natural extension of that footprint, and we see real potential for future oil and gas production in the area. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Crisafulli Government to help meet Queensland’s and Australia’s long-term energy needs.” 

Related: State awards new coal, gas and vanadium acreage

Vintage Energy managing director Neil Gibbins said the need for new supply of gas and petroleum liquids had never been more apparent. 

“The release of these blocks will enable the identification and testing of new targets in a proven oil and gas province,” Mr Gibbins said. 

“The initiative of the Crisafulli Government at this time warrants acknowledgment because awarding these blocks to junior explorers means opportunities which might otherwise be overlooked or downgraded are addressed by agile and innovative players who are keen to develop resources and build wealth.” 

Amplitude Energy said the acreage awarded to the Taroom Joint Venture (PLR2026-1-7) covered an area of about 305sq km on the eastern flank of the Taroom Trough, located between Chinchilla and Roma.

The initial Taroom Joint Venture work commitment entails seismic processing and appraisal activities up to FY29. The Taroom Joint Venture has agreed that Xstate Resources will be the operator during the commitment appraisal activities, leveraging their established position in the area.

“Our participation the Taroom Joint Venture allows us to test the long-term potential of this basin for a modest capital commitment over the next few years,” Amplitude managing director and chief executive officer Jane Norman said.

“The opportunity compliments our growth strategy, which remains focused on maximising production through our existing infrastructure in the near term and delivering ECSP (the East Coast Supply Project) on time and on budget.

“With vast resource running room, the Taroom Trough could, in time, represent an attractive third leg to Amplitude Energy’s portfolio – balancing our offshore operations in southern domestic markets while providing greater liquids and global pricing exposure, in addition to domestic gas supply.”