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The APPEA Journal The APPEA Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Latest Permian (Changhsingian) to Early Triassic (Induan-Olenekian) of the Mt Goodwin Sub-group at Blacktip gas field, southeastern Bonaparte Basin, Australia

John Gorter A , Robert Nicoll B , Andrea Caudullo A , Robyn Purcell C and Kon Kostas A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Eni Australia

B Australian National University

C P&R Geological consultants

The APPEA Journal 50(1) 203-240 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ09013
Published: 2010

Abstract

Gas was discovered in intra-Mt Goodwin Sub-group sandstones (Ascalon Formation) of the southeastern Bonaparte Basin in Blacktip–1 in 2001 from a zone characterised by a discrete seismic amplitude anomaly. This integrated study uses wireline logs, cores, cuttings, palynology, micropaleontology and geochemical analyses to determine the depositional environment of the Mt Goodwin Sub-group reservoirs and the source rock potential of this large, latest Permian (Changhsingian) to Early Triassic (Induan Olenekian) section of the Bonaparte Basin in northern Australia. Specific outcomes include a better understanding of the Early Triassic reservoir sandstone depositional environment and recognition of marker horizons on electric logs and seismic profiles, resulting in a more consistent regional interpretive framework for the uppermost Permian (Changhsingian) and Early Triassic (Induan Olenekian), in the Bonaparte Basin.

John Gorter is the PNG Project Manager for Eni Australia where he has been employed since 1992 (previously employed with Hardy Petroleum and British Borneo). He graduated from the Australian National University in 1972 with a BSc (Hons), and was awarded a PhD from the University of New South Wales in 1992. After six years with the BMR (petroleum branch) he joined Esso Australia in 1978 and, since 1980, has worked in the petroleum exploration industry with various local and international companies, mainly on Australian basins. Member: PESA, AAPG and GSA.

john.gorter@eniaustralia.com.au

Robert (Bob) Nicoll was educated in the USA and obtained his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1971. He worked for the Bureau of Mineral Resources/Australian Geological Survey Organisation for 28 years and is a school visitor in the Research School of Earth Sciences of the Australian National University, as well as being contracted to Geoscience Australia, developing the Australian datapack for time scale creator. His principal research interest involves all aspects of conodont biostratigraphy and palaeobiology from the Cambrian to the Triassic.

Bob.Nicoll@ga.gov.au

Andrea Caudullo graduated from the University of Rome La Sapienza (IT) in 1995 with an MSc in petroleum engineering. In 1996 he joined Schlumberger Oilfield Ltd as a field engineer, working in USA, Europe and Africa. In 2001 he joined Royal Dutch Shell to work in the Netherlands as a petrophysicist. In 2006 he was employed by Eni Australia in Perth, where he is working as a principal petrophysicist in the exploration and development department. Member: SPWLA, SPE and PESA.

andrea.caudullo@eniaustralia.com.au

Robyn Purcell graduated with a BSc from the University of Sydney in 1967. She worked as a palynologist for WAPET (1967–9), and then as a Research Geologist for Consolidated Goldfields and Continental Oil Company (1969–70). In 1970 she moved to the USA and worked in Conoco’s Research Department (1971–3), specialising in Southeast Asian Tertiary palynology. From 1972–4, she worked as a geologist for Whitestone in Ethiopia, before retiring for family reasons. Back in Australia in 1980, she formed P & R Geological Consultants Pty Ltd with husband Peter, and specialises in Australian Palaeozoic palynology. She has edited several books on the Western Australian basins and their petroleum potential. Member: AAPG, AASP and PESA.

robynpurcell@tpgi.com.au

Kon Kostas graduated from Curtin University of Western Australia in 1993 with a BSc in physics and geophysics. In 1994 he joined Schlumberger GeoQuest as a Geophysicist in Perth, serving the Asia Pacific region. In 1999 he joined Paradigm Geophysical as an interpretation and processing geophysicist, based in Perth and working throughout the Asia Pacific region. In 2004 he was employed by Eni Australia in Perth, where he is working as a development geophysicist in the reservoir department. Member: SEG, ASEG, and PESA.

kon.kostas@eniaustralia.com.au