**2. The Roadmap**

**•** Licensees monitor and report on the efficacy of their risk management, and the regulator

**•** Regulator can prevent and stop operations, require restitution, levy fines and cancel licences;

Since implementing South Australia's *Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000* [1] *(*PGE Act), more than 11,000 notices of entry for petroleum operations led to just one court action, and that was to establish a legal precedent that geophysical surveys can extend outside a li‐

The introduction of new energy development technologies is inevitable, so regulatory Nir‐ vana requires adaptive learning so that the previously mentioned principles are maintained. Expeditious, welcomed access to land for compatible, multiple uses is the metric for per‐ formance, and leading practice is based on the principle that trust is the most valuable lead factor and lag outcome in sustaining land access for resource exploration, development and

The Australian oil and gas industry has contributed greatly to the economic prosperity and quality of life of our communities for decades to date. An opportunity to prolong and expand welcomed contributions in a golden age of unconventional gas is arising. The challenges ahead of a prospective golden age of unconventional gas are many, and include getting regulation and operations right. Results that consistently, simultaneously meet community and investor expectations for social, environmental and economic outcomes will deliver trust in land access and investment – and create a virtuous lifecycle for the upstream petroleum sector for decades

Coal seam methane was Australia's first unconventional gas play to be commercialised and reserves will underpin LNG exports from Gladstone, Queensland. In October 2012, the tap was turned on the first domestic commercial use of shale gas from Moomba 191 in the Cooper Basin – another milestone on the road to develop a variety of unconventional gas resources across Australia. Foreseeing the potential scope of development of unconventional gas

**•** Companies have shifted budgets to explore, appraise and develop unconventional gas

**•** Industry compliance records are public, so the efficacy of regulation is transparent.

**•** 24 unconventional gas plays are being explored, each with giant gas potential;

cence to enable a complete understanding of the potential resources within a licence.

**•** Hundreds of wells have been safely hydraulically fracture stimulated;

These principles are deployed in South Australia where:

probes same;

240 Effective and Sustainable Hydraulic Fracturing

and

production.

to come.

resources:

plays;

**1. Introduction**

The Roadmap for Unconventional Gas Projects in South Australia [2] was developed to provide timely, credible information to people, communities and markets, outlining potential risks and rewards associated with unconventional gas projects. It sets the course for the environmentally sustainable development of South Australia's large endowment of uncon‐ ventional gas, and encourages safe exploration and production under this State's robust and effective regulatory framework, the PGE Act. The Roadmap helps to ensure people and enterprises potentially affected by unconventional gas projects understand the regulatory framework, the transparent environmental assessment and activity approval processes; and how they will be consulted, so their rights to object in part or in full are supported. The Roundtable also identifies 125 recommendations which cover the life cycle of unconventional gas projects – from exploration to production and possible liquefied natural gas exports, as well as related supply chains and infrastructure matters. Roundtable working groups have reconvened to develop plans to implement these recommendations.

To comment on and further inform the implementation of the 125 recommendations posed in the Roadmap or to enquire regarding participation in the Roundtable for Unconventional Gas Projects in South Australia – readers are asked to contact dmitre.petroleum@sa.gov.au.
