Shark Bay, Western Australia
Santos makes Australasia progress
New discovery bolsters frontier WA basin’s prospects, while a PNG project also inches forward
ASX-listed Santos has made another “significant oil discovery” near its Dorado development off the coast of Western Australia (WA), which should further improve the viability of the Bedout basin for wider development. And it has also advanced a previously stalled Papua New Guinea (PNG) gas project, albeit the lead time for its realisation still looks concerningly long in an energy transition world. The Australian independent found success with its Pavo-1 exploration well, which is located around 46km east of the Dorado field. Santos says the new discovery is “similar” and “de-risks” the ongoing Dorado development. Pavo-1’s 2C resource is assessed at 43mn bl. The operator expects Pavo-1 “to s
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
