Shark Bay, Western Australia
Santos makes Australasia progress
New discovery bolsters frontier WA basin’s prospects, while a PNG project also inches forward
ASX-listed Santos has made another “significant oil discovery” near its Dorado development off the coast of Western Australia (WA), which should further improve the viability of the Bedout basin for wider development. And it has also advanced a previously stalled Papua New Guinea (PNG) gas project, albeit the lead time for its realisation still looks concerningly long in an energy transition world. The Australian independent found success with its Pavo-1 exploration well, which is located around 46km east of the Dorado field. Santos says the new discovery is “similar” and “de-risks” the ongoing Dorado development. Pavo-1’s 2C resource is assessed at 43mn bl. The operator expects Pavo-1 “to s
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
