Australia’s Northern Territory Frees Up Land 5 Times Singapore’s Size for Oil Exploration

The proposed acreage is around 400 square kilometres and falls within the Beetaloo Sub-basin, one of Australia’s most significant onshore shale gas plays.

Indigenous footballers participate in a handball drill during a Santa Teresa Football Club training session in Alice Springs, Northern Territory in Australia on May 28, 2014. Michael Dodge/Getty Images

The Northern Territory (NT) Country Liberal government has released a tract of land over five times the size of Singapore for petroleum exploration.

The announcement was made during a visit by the state’s industry representatives to the North American Prospect Expo in Houston, Texas, from Feb. 18-20.

The expo is a premier international marketplace for the upstream energy sector, where companies buy, sell and trade oil and gas prospects and produce assets, with the participation of over 8,000 senior decision-makers, investors, service providers and technology leaders.

The NT government’s announcement comes after Queensland’s LNP government opened up a parcel of land the size of “Singapore” for oil and gas exploration a week earlier.

According to Geoscience Australia data released in 2025, Australia’s crude oil production has decreased rapidly and will only last until 2032 without new commercial discoveries.

Australia is currently a minor oil producer, ranking 31st in the world and accounting for just 0.4 percent of global oil production in 2023.

The acreage being freed up by the NT government is around 400 square kilometres and sits near the Amadeus Gas Pipeline and the Stuart Highway within the highly prospective Beetaloo Sub-basin, one of the country’s most significant onshore shale gas plays.

NT Mining and Energy Minister Gerard Maley said senior officials from his department would travel to the Texas expo to promote the Beetaloo sub-basin and new acreage offerings, and hold talks with major oil and gas companies.

“The Beetaloo has been recognised as the next big global shale play, and it is critical the Territory is seen and heard in an increasingly competitive international investment environment,” he said in a statement.

“Texas is the leader of global shale gas development and home to the world’s most mature shale gas operations, advanced expertise and investor networks, so it is critical we are there promoting the release of this new acreage.”

The new acreage will allow for a competitive bidding process under NT’s Petroleum Act.

The NT government is releasing 50 full and partial blocks and calling for applications and submissions from oil and gas companies, with a closing date of July 31, 2026.

“The Beetaloo is a key part of rebuilding our economy—attracting global investment, creating local jobs, backing Territory businesses and delivering long-term energy security,” Maley said on social media.

“This is about growth. This is about certainty. And it’s about securing a stronger future for [Northern] Territorians.”