In a joint announcement with the WA Minister for State Development, Clive Brown, Mr Macfarlane said that it's estimated the winning companies will spend around $122 million in exploration activities over the next six years.

The permits cover a variety of play types, from the emerging gas province of the Bonaparte Basin to the frontier acreage of the Perth Basin.

"It is proposed that more than $100 million will be spent on exploration in the Perth Basin over the next six years," Mr Macfarlane said.

"The awarding of four permits in the Perth Basin is of particular interest, not only because of its proximity to Geraldton and the southern markets, but because this represents exploration in an area that historically has received very little attention from petroleum explorers.

"Australia is under-explored but not unprospective. A greater understanding of our frontiers, such as the Perth Basin, is essential if we are to keep supplying locally the energy we need to underpin our future development."

The permits have been awarded as follows:

WA-324-P Bounty Oil through Daytona Energy Corporation; WA-325-P Roc Oil (WA) PL, Bounty Oil and Gas NL, Voyager Energy through Chimelle Petroleum Ltd; WA-326-P Agip Australia BV; WA-327-P Voyager Energy through Chimelle Petroleum Ltd and WA-328-P AGIP Australia BV, Santos Offshore PL.

"Australia's energy needs for the next 10 to 20 years will require continued development of our petroleum resources. An active exploration industry is the key to Australia avoiding a high reliance on fuel imports," Mr Macfarlane said.

This week's announcement follows on from others related to the April close of bidding. Further announcements of awards of permits are expected shortly, the Minister said.