Vast swathes of regional Victoria are about to be sized up to see how much natural gas lies beneath the ground and if it can be tapped as a new energy source.

Onshore gas extraction was shut down in Victoria in 2014 following anti-fracking campaigning by farming and environment groups, but the Andrews government will consider lifting the moratorium on conventional gas exploration in June next year.

A moratorium on onshore gas exploration in Victoria could end next year.

Fracking has been permanently banned in Victoria.

The move to potentially revive onshore gas production follows a recent 10-year high in the wholesale price of gas on the Victorian spot market and a warning from the Australian Energy Market Operator that the state faces winter shortfalls in gas by 2024.