Australia’s Queensland Expands Gas Basin to Address Shortfall

Australia’s Queensland state has expanded oil and natural gas exploration in a major basin, as the fossil fuel exporter seeks to address local shortfalls.

Omega Oil & Gas Ltd., closely held Tri-Star Stonecroft Pty and a unit of Beach Energy Ltd. were appointed preferred tenderers for three exploration areas in the Taroom Trough, the state government said in a statement on Tuesday. That follows the naming of Santos Ltd. and the Beach unit as preferred tenderers for three gas exploration areas in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin in January.