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The question is feasibility studies for what and to whom? Pipelines etc for Jemena?

To be conducting feasibility studies for supplying the East coast suggests that production is economically viable and a fait accompli..that adds commercial value to our 30%

slowly, the momentum is building

From Empire's annual report dated 28 March

http://empireenergygroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2018-Annual-Report-Signed.pdf

A focus on the Northern Territory
As we reach the end of an extended period of industry inactivity in the Northern Territory caused by the
fracking moratorium, which was lifted in April 2018, and subsequent regulatory implementation, the
immediate future for our Company is exciting.
The shale development revolution that has occurred in the United States over the last decade has created
hundreds of billions of dollars of value. The Marcellus Shale located in the Appalachia region of the USA
now produces 25% of the USA’s natural gas and has strong geological similarities to the Velkerri Shale in
the Beetaloo sub-Basin, a significant portion of which extends into our Northern Territory tenements.
The Northern Territory Government is supportive of our industry and is working hard to implement the
regulations required for a recommencement of industry investment. It has indicated that the necessary
regulations will be in place in the coming weeks to allow regulatory approval requests to drill and complete
fracture stimulated horizontal appraisal wells to be submitted.
Recent public statements by Santos, Origin and the Northern Territory Government and associated press
coverage indicate that the industry is on track to recommence substantial appraisal activities in the second
half of 2019.
Empire Energy is well placed to directly benefit from appraisal drilling programs by Origin and Santos in
the Beetaloo sub-Basin. The Middle Velkerri Shale, one of the most prospective shales of the Beetaloo
sub-Basin, contains more than 500 TCF of gas in place according to the Northern Territory Geological
Survey. Our 100% owned EP187, EP184 and EP(A)188 tenements, which are directly adjacent to the
tenement on which Santos will be drilling, contain an independently certified Velkerri Shale prospective
resource of up to 3 TCF of recoverable gas equivalent, a substantial resource for a company of our size.
Our tenements are highly prospective for not only gas but also petroleum liquids. The presence of liquids
in the Velkerri Shale in our tenements is likely to enhance economics.
In addition to the areas referred to above, our Northern Territory assets are also highly prospective for the
Barney Creek Shale and Wollongorang Formation in the McArthur Basin Central Trough. These
prospective areas, while early in their exploration, appraisal and development, have multibillion barrel of
oil equivalent prospective resource potential. We are continuing to progress planning for the exploration of
these areas.
cont

Mr Nott says security of land tenure and Native Title are causing uncertainty nation-wide: “From the North Australian White Paper it can be concluded that 56% of the land in North Queensland, 45% of the land in the Territory, and 38% of the land in Northern Western Australia is held under pastoral lease.

“Nearly 94% of North WA is subject to a native title claim or determination as is 62% of North Queensland and 30% of the NT. So to sum up, if and when all outstanding claims have been resolved this may grow close to 70% of Australian land mass.

“What we want is that we can go about the business of doing business without uncertainty. We want to know we can spend money on infrastructure; on people on our property without it being sold out from underneath us.”

Mr Nott says giving freehold titles to pastoral lease land needs to be re-visited.

“Back in the late 1980s and early 90s the NTCA came to within a whisker of having pastoral leases converted to freehold. The likes of Ken Warriner and the late Grant Heaslip were driving forces behind that push.

“We are again exploring that option and in looking around the country it appears only Queensland has a path to it.

“After 40 years of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and more than 20 years since Mabo there has got to be a land tenure system which is better than the restricted one we have now. This isn’t about winners and losers. This should be about everyone winning.

“The beef industry in the Territory is estimated at $1bn. Our live export trade with Indonesia generated more than $360m last year alone and with the onset of the new trade agreement we will see that grow as the tariffs on the first 500,000 head of cattle is lifted. This will increase by 4% per annum before being capped at 700,000.”

UPDATE 12.30pm

The News put to the NTCA that under current legislation (NT Pastoral Land Act 1992 – Sect 85b Registration) the Pastoral Land Board (PLB) can grant permits for land under pastoral lease to be used “for non-pastoral purposes to the extent specified in the permit”. There are currently no native title implications.

A spokesman for the NTCA says the NT Government is proposing “to insert a ‘right to negotiate.’

“This effectively means the PLB would have to follow the wishes of the Native Title holders, and if they do not wish for it to go ahead then the PLB would be duty bound to follow those wishes.

“This would then trigger another appeals mechanism which would add to the length of process. It is a right which does not exist today.

“What does exist is notification. To date there have been 18 non pastoral use applications and only three have been opposed. The NT Government is adding a requirement to fix a problem which doesn’t exist.”

end

Any ideas as to how this affects our application to explore and appraise at Beetaloo?

though I wish I knew what effect it would have on Origin and Santos -

http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2019/03/29/cattlemen-grapple-with-land-tenure-gas-live-export-and-native-title/

Cattlemen face land tenure, gas, live export and Native Title
2593 Chris Nott 2 OKBy ERWIN CHLANDA

Live export restrictions, on-shore gas production, Native Title and security of land tenure present challenges to the cattle industry, according to Chris Nott, president of the NT Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA), speaking at its annual meeting today.

Some uncertainties come from “global protein competition in a world made smaller by free trade” as well as “irrational government interventions” such as banning live export which was “dramatic and with substantial consequences. We now see that same intervention with the live export of sheep.

“The existence of the entire live export trade can be gone at the stroke of a politician’s pen. What industry in Australia faces such a threat?” asked Mr Nott (pictured).

It is a “threat fuelled by well-resourced animal activists whose primary modus operandi is to undermine the very existence of an industry that has existed since time itself.”

Troubles from other directions may include the development of onshore gas and the demands and actions of the mining sector.

“It would be a mistake should government allow gas companies to railroad land access agreements through before legislation is enacted protecting landholders as per recommendations [of the fracking inquiry].

“We also believe there is scope for the NTCA to be the independent trustee for the holding of Bond money and establish an office to ensure the integrity of the oil and gas industry.

“We believe this will give the pastoral industry and the broader community greater confidence because onshore gas development can only occur on the pastoral estate.”

Mr Nott says non-pastoral use permits are “in a state of paralysis. We simply don’t know what can be approved without challenge. Do the Native Title holders have the power to veto the entire application?

“Despite the best efforts none of these have been answered and we are in the position of stifling potential private investment in a flat depressed economy while this matter remains unresolved by the NT Government.

“I am well past hearing from the NT Government they support the economic diversification of the pastoral estate when their words are not being supported by actions.

“It is them, and them alone, who are behind this delay. The NT Government has missed the bigger picture in their attempt to win the so-called bush vote.”

cont...

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