The Hayfield Sandstone Play: the characterisation of a Mesoproterozoic sourced, Proterozoic sandstone reservoired, tight oil and gas play in the Beetaloo Sub-basin
Carl Altmann A B , Brenton Richards A , Alexander Côté A , Cassandra Bein A , Elizabeth Baruch-Jurado A and Les Jenkinson AA Origin Energy, Level 28, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: carl.altmann@origin.com.au
The APPEA Journal 60(1) 242-266 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19079
Submitted: 20 February 2020 Accepted: 7 April 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
The Hayfield Sandstone is a Neoproterozoic, 10–15 m thick, very fine- to fine-grained sandstone, interpreted to have been deposited in a shelfal-marine environment. The reservoir sandstone is characterised by high porosity and low matrix permeability, which is complimented by partially mineralised open fractures which may contribute significantly to overall system permeability. Hydrocarbon phase across the identified play fairway is interpreted to range from a gas with the potential for condensate and liquefied petroleum gas streams to a light, ~38 API gravity oil. The extent of the prospective play fairway and the distribution and connectivity of reservoir facies is poorly constrained due to a limited number of well penetrations and poor resolution 2D seismic data. From the wells drilled to date, the gross area of the prospective play fairway could be as low as 300 km2 or greater than 1500 km2.
Keywords: Codell Sandstone, Cox Formation, Hayfield Sandstone Member, Proterozoic hydrocarbons, Sussex Sandstone, tight sandstone, unconventional.
Carl Altmann is a Senior Geologist within the Growth Assets team at Origin Energy, currently focussing on exploration and appraisal opportunities within the Beetaloo Sub-basin and broader Australia. Carl received a BSc with majors in Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Geoscience from Adelaide University and Honours in Petroleum Geoscience from the Australian School of Petroleum. Professionally Carl has a passion for exploration concept and prospect development, integrated basin analysis and geochemistry. Carl is a member of AAPG and SPE. |
Brenton Richards is a Staff Geologist with Origin Energy in Brisbane, Australia. He has worked for numerous Australian operators on a range of conventional and unconventional oil and gas exploration, appraisal and development projects across Australia and New Zealand. Brenton received his BSc from the Queensland University of Technology. |
Alexander Côté is the Exploration and Appraisal Manager for Beetaloo and the Growth Assets team with Origin Energy. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a licenced Professional Engineer (PEng), and holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from Western University (Canada). Alexander has worked on a range of tight and shale gas assets in North America and Australia. |
Cassandra Bein is a Geologist with Origin Energy in Brisbane, Australia and is currently focussing on exploration and appraisal opportunities within the Beetaloo Basin and wider Australia. She received her BSc (Geoscience) from the Queensland University of Technology before completing a BSc (Honours) at the University of Queensland. |
Elizabeth Baruch is a Senior Geologist for Origin Energy in Brisbane, Australia. She received her BSc degree in Geophysical Engineering from Simon Bolivar University (Venezuela), her MSc in Geology from the University of Oklahoma, and is currently a PhD candidate in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. Elizabeth worked for ConocoPhillips Co. in Houston before joining Origin Energy. Elizabeth has worked in unconventional exploration roles with expertise in shale gas, shale diagenesis and sedimentology. |
Les Jenkinson is a Staff Geologist with Origin Energy in Brisbane, Australia. Les has worked for several operators in exploration, appraisal and development projects in eastern Australia and obtained a BSc Geology from James Cook University in Townsville. Les also obtained an MPhil from the Australian School of Petroleum at the Adelaide University. Les is currently a member of the AAPG, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Petroleum Well Log Analysts and PESA. |
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