Announcing the land release last week, Resources Minister Francis Logan said the state now accounts for 56% of Australia’s total petroleum exploration.

“From 2005 to 2006, petroleum exploration increased by 65 percent in WA – from $572 million to $942 million,” he said.

The new acreages include eight areas in the Canning Basin, four in the Carnarvon Basin and one in the Perth Basin.

The Canning Basin release areas range from 321 to 9971square kilometres, with four in the south and four in the north.

Logan said there had been increased interest in the Canning Basin in recent years, with bids for acreage involving Australian and Canadian companies.

“Up to 10 wells may be drilled this year in the Canning Basin, a significant increase on previous years,” he said.