Since the 2006 bidding rounds, exploration activity in both the Timor-Leste exclusive offshore area (TLEA) and joint petroleum development area (JPDA) has progressed steadily.

Within the JPDA, exploration remains largely focussed in the Jurassic-age Plover and Elang Sandstone formations in the Flamingo Trough-Sahul Syncline region. Over 700 MMbbls of liquids and 4Tcf of gas have been discovered in this western region of the JPDA, including the 2008 Kitan oil field discovery by Eni, which is currently scheduled for production in 2011.

Recent seismic survey activity within the JPDA by PSC holders Petronas and Oilex has resulted in the combined acquisition of 2,800 square kilometres of new 3D data. These surveys, together with on-going re-evaluation of existing well data by these companies, has helped further refine the knowledge of petroleum systems within the JPDA, in preparation for drilling campaigns scheduled for late 2009 and early 2010.

Within the TLEA, multi-client seismic surveys undertaken in 2005, together with on-shore academic research, indicates that the prospective Mesozoic sequence of the Northern Bonaparte Basin underlies the Timor Trough, greatly enhancing the petroleum prospectivity of this region.

Further detailed 2D and 3D seismic surveys in the TLEA have been recently completed by PSC holders Reliance Exploration and Eni. The first wells to be drilled in this deeper water frontier region are scheduled for 2010.