Overview
Buru holds interests in or rights to tenements covering the most prospective parts of the Canning Superbasin. The map set out below shows the location of the Canning Superbasin and the interests in the Canning Superbasin held by Buru. To view a full list of the interests held by Buru, click here.
Approach to exploration
Buru and its key joint venture partner, Mitsubishi Corporation, have a shared approach to exploration of the Canning Superbasin. This approach is to focus on identifying and drilling those prospects that have the potential for early discovery of hydrocarbons and a clear pathway to commercialisation. Buru's partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation will ensure the funding required to effectively explore the Superbasin is available. Buru’s outstanding technical knowledge of the Superbasin together with Mitsubishi Corporations’s funding commitment of up to $102.4m provide the ideal combination to effectively explore the basin. Buru’s “pre-commercialisation” activity and Mitsubishi Corporation’s development funding commitment of up to $50m will assist with the early development of discoveries to provide the operational cashflow to "bootstrap" further exploration and development, including proving up sufficient gas reserves to underpin the development of the Great Northern Pipeline allowing gas sales into the Perth and South West Australian industrial markets.
Buru is also committed to developing its technical understanding of the Superbasin. A thorough technical understanding of the Superbasin underpins a successful on-ground exploration program. In parallel with the on-ground exploration program, Buru’s extensive technical data base is being developed on an ongoing basis as part of the continuing rigorous technical evaluation of Buru's permits to ensure a full regional understanding of the Canning Superbasin. A particular emphasis is on the development of the unconventional resources (shale oil and shale gas) potential of Buru’s permits.
Exploration environment
The Kimberley region is a difficult operating environment. Buru operates successfully in the region, but this requires significant forward planning and is always at risk of disruption. Most significantly, December to March is the monsoonal “wet season” during which time torrential rain, flooding and temperatures regularly in excess of 45 degrees celcius can severly restrict operations.
Buru’s permits are located on land the subject of Native Title claims, and often in areas of cultural significance to the Traditional Owners. Buru conducts all of its operations in a manner sensitive to cultural concerns and undertakes a process of consultation and approval with Traditional Owners before commencing on-ground activities. The consultation and approval process may occasionally be protracted or result in conditions being imposed which can require modification to Buru’s on ground activities.
Much of the Kimberley is also environmentally sensitive. Before commencing any on ground activities Buru conducts an assessment of the likely enviromental impact of it's activites and prepares an environmental management plan to govern its activites and minimise any harm to the environment. The environmental impact of Buru's actitivites is regulated and monitored in the first instance by the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum and, in areas of particular environmental sensitivity, by specialist Western Australian bodies. Buru takes it's obligation to protect the environment seriously and wants to ensure all of it's activities are conducted in and environmentally sensitive fashion and in accordence with all appropriate regulations.