Energy data to go on Google

Map of New Zealand from Google Earth. Photo / Supplied

A new Government-funded mapping programme has started to lure more oil and gas explorers to New Zealand by putting results on Google Earth.

Offshore geological, geophysical and geographical datasets will be displayed on Google Earth, ensuring the information is readily available to interested parties around the world.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee yesterday said Crown Minerals had contracted GNS Science to deliver the $7.6 million Petroleum Exploration and Geosciences Initiative (PEGI) Project - a range of individual projects focused on improving knowledge of New Zealand's petroleum potential.

The two-year project, which began in January, will cover New Zealand's territory out to the extended continental shelf limit.

Brownlee said investment to improve knowledge of New Zealand's petroleum resources was one of the key actions of the Government's Petroleum Action Plan.

Information from the project would supplement the seismic data acquisition the Crown was now undertaking.

"Providing better information about New Zealand's petroleum resources will increase the attractiveness of investing in exploration for local and foreign companies," he said.

"This Government is determined to see New Zealand realise the benefits of its petroleum resources. The focus must first be on increasing exploration activity in our frontier basins."

In the 2008/09 year the Government collected $511 million in royalties from petroleum producers.