Gulf Energy Pty Limited propose to undertake a Geophysical and Geotechnical Site Survey within the Q/23P petroleum exploration permit in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The Site Survey will occur within a 5 km x 5 km Operational Area within the Q/23P petroleum exploration permit. The Operational Area is located wholly within Commonwealth waters, and within water depths of ~65 m. The Operational Area covers the spatial extent of all planned activities.

The Operational Area is located more than 170 km west of the Queensland coast, and more than 350 km east of the Northern Territory coast. The Operational Area is located over 200 km northwest of Weipa.

The Site Survey is scheduled to occur over a period of approximately four-weeks during Q3/Q4 2022.The Site Survey is likely to consist of two separate vessel mobilisations each of approximately two weeks duration; the geophysical survey will be completed first, followed by the geotechnical sampling survey.

The geophysical survey may include the use of multibeam echo sounders, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profilers, and magnetometry. The positioning of geophysical surveys may utilise ultra-short baseline techniques. The multibeam echo sounders, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profilers will be conducted simultaneously. The magnetometer survey may also be conducted at the same time as the other geophysical surveys, or may be completed sequentially, depending on data quality implications and target areas.

The geotechnical survey comprises in-situ testing and recovery of sediment samples at locations within the Operational Area, and may include the use of grab sampling, core samples, penetrometer tests, and borehole sampling. Geotechnical surveys are performed utilising seabed sampling equipment deployed over the side of a vessel. Once the equipment is placed upon the seabed, the test is performed and/or the sample is collected.