Ann: GAS-Santos JV Granted New Central Qld Exploration Permit, page-2

This is the second time that the QLD govt has offered a permit and the second time that GAS & STO have been the successful bidders so their is a relationship emerging between the parties.
My question is why do STO need GAS apart from sharing risk / costs albeit these permits seem to be de-risked?
Is STO perhaps interested in obtaining an interest in Reid's Dome and Rollerstone as well?
Not the worst JVP to have and would get the market interested and the SP moving north as well
AIMHO & DYOR

* I hold indirectly through TEG