Australia's state government of Queensland has put up two oil and gas blocks, one near Condamine and the other near Miles, for auction.

The new competitive tendering process, which Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps announced earlier this month, would ensure continued exploration activity in Queensland. He clarified however that the new regulation only applies to areas holding highly prospective gas, oil and coal as chosen by the government.

For the first two oil and gas blocks put up on auction, Area 1 is said to be about 75sq km in size and situated eight kilometres south east of Condamine and is east of the Leichhardt Hwy. Area 2, on the other hand, is about 75sq km in size and located eight kilometres west of Miles on the Warrego Hwy.

"Both areas are surrounded by existing granted petroleum exploration and production tenures and existing infrastructure," Mr Cripps said.

But Mr Cripps warned interested bidders will face the same demanding assessment and approvals process required by the State Government. These applies to all applications for coal, mineral, petroleum and gas exploration permits, including land access laws.

"From today (Friday), companies will be able to submit a tender to explore in two areas of potentially highly prospective land for petroleum and gas in the Surat Basin," Mr Cripps said.

"The new competitive process to secure exploration rights will ensure the most appropriate explorers with a commitment to resource development secures access to available land."

An evaluation panel composed of senior officers from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Projects Queensland and the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning will be the ones to recommended potential or preferred tenderers.

Expressions of interest for the competitive cash-bidding tenders will close at 2.30 p.m. on February 14, 2013.

The state government has prepared a tender document that contains detailed information on the geology of the two areas, other land uses that exist in the two areas, the tender process and application requirements.

For more information about the process and to download the tender documentation, go to: www.mines.industry.qld.gov.au/mining/competitive-cash-bidding.htm