Permits L/01-2 and IT/01-2 were awarded to a joint venture of Eagle Bay Resources, Rawson Resources, Empire Oil and Icon Energy. These were offered to industry some months ago as T002 and T003.
Participants were notified on Monday that their applications were successful. It is understood that this marks the first foray into offshore Australian waters for Icon. Icon has small production interests in onshore USA and Queensland.
It will also mark the return to "active service" of Dr John Connolly as head of Rawson Resources. Connolly was the head of Sydney Oil, which was taken over by Command Petroleum in the 1980's.
Eagle Bay managing director, Tony Rechner, said the blocks were exciting because they were just south of the Stag oilfield and nearby two upcoming wells, Ceres and Altostratus, which are scheduled to be drilled at the end of the current Ensco 35 drilling program.
The work commitments of each block include the acquisition of 2D seismic in year two and a well in years three and five respectively.
