A huge onshore exploration block has been made available for competitive bidding by the state government in Australia’s Northern Territory, which hosts the much-hyped Beetaloo sub-basin.

The area being released covers some of the most prospective areas of the southern part of the Georgina basin, which the Northern Territory state government said is known for organic-rich shales and widespread documented oil and gas.

The total area is 30,780 square kilometres or 392 full and part blocks.

Previous exploration work over the area includes 2D seismic surveys and 13 exploration wells, some of which have undergone hydraulic fracture stimulation and testing.

The competitive bid process opened on 16 June 2021 and runs for a period of five months.