An area of interest is defined in AASB 6 as:

1. A cost centre as defined for the purposes of tracking expenses and revenues and which is also used as a basis for completing taxation returns.

2. An individual geological area which is considered to constitute a favourable environment where there may be a mineral deposit or natural gas field, or which has been proved to contain such a deposit or field.

3. A specific geological area as defined by the initial geological surveys or as grouped according to the nature of the natural substance to be extracted.

4. A specific type of exploration activity as defined by either the production process, type of mineral or gas extracted, or expected future pattern of cash inflows.