AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ONSHORE PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Abstract

THE AMADEUS. Arrowie, Officer and Warburton Basins contain pre-Permian sediments with petroleum potential. The Cooper and Pedirka Basins have petroleum potential in Permian sediments. The Murray Basin contains Devonian. Permian and Cretaceous sediments with some potential.

The Cooper Basin has established reserves of 6.5 t.c.f. raw gas in place in 16 fields from which Adelaide and Sydney markets will be served. Another seven small or unassessed fields have been discovered. Further exploration should probably double the established reserves. Wildcat drilling success is 1 in 3 so far.

The Pedirka Basin is in an early stage of exploration. The geological elements of good sandstone reservoir beds, coaiy source beds, fold and fault structures and geological history analogous to the Cooper Basin gives it great attraction to the explorationist.

The Amadeus Basin is an established petroleum province with gas and gas/oil deposits established in the enormous fold structures of the Palm Valley and Mereenie Fields respectively. Further prospects remain to be drilled but prior to drilling a market must be established for these resources which are in the centre of the Continent.

Many geological and geophysical features of the Officer Basin are analogous to the Amadeus Basin but it is virtually unexplored. The basin is a high cost, high risk, possible high reward exploration area.