The main player in the Amadeus Basin outside the Palm Valley and Mereenie field production licences is Perth-based Central Petroleum, which listed earlier this year.
The company's six applications and four permits give it a virtual clean sweep of the basin.
Managing director John Heugh says the exploration schedule will depend on when the applications are granted permit status.
"Our preference is to send a seismic crew first into EP115 west of Mereenie to firm up drilling locations on the Johnstone and Gypsum oil prospects later this year or early 2007," he said.
"However, that's subject to the permit being granted in time.
"If not, we will swing the crew into work in EPs 82, 112 and 125 where we have the Waterhouse, Ooraminna and Mt Kitty gas prospects. Mt Kitty also has good potential to be a valuable helium find.
"We expect to be ready to drill in the Amadeus within six to 12 months from now."
All of Central's prospects are targeting Neoproterozoic and/or Palaeozoic-age reservoirs. Heugh says the company is focusing on targets that can plug into existing infrastructure or are amenable to value-adding technology that will ensure a marketable product.
Pedirka
Central Petroleum has also emerged as the major player in the Pedirka Basin, with one NT permit awarded (EP93) and two more under application (EPAs 130 and 131), plus one application in SA (PELA77).
"We've firmed up drilling locations for two prospects in the Madigan/Eringa Trough, which has an early Permian-age depositional history similar to the Cooper further south," Heugh says.
"This area has had oil shows in the past. We're seeking permission from the Central Land Council to bring in a rig to drill the Blaymore prospect and perhaps also the nearby Avalon structure before the end of 2006."
Central is also planning to run clarifying seismic over two other leads Guinevere and Vivian in the same permit early next year.
The other active explorer in the Pedirka is Rawson Resources in EP97 immediately to the east. The company has identified four prospects. A recently completed geochemical survey high-graded one of these the Simpson feature in the central west of the block.
Both Rawson and Central Petroleum are seeking farminees while a third company, Enterprise Energy, has applied for three western Pedirka NT permits.
CTP Price at posting:
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