THE DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MOONIE — AUSTRALIA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL OILFIELD

Abstract

The Moonie Field, located in the eastern portion of the Surat Basin and 300 km west of Brisbane, was discovered in December 1961 by Union Oil, operator of the 'UKA' joint venture consisting of Union Oil, Kern and AOG. Successful appraisal and development drilling led to the construction of the Moonie to Brisbane pipeline in 1963-64. Oil production commenced in 1964 and peaked in 1966 at a rate of 9000 BPD (1.4 ML/d). The oil is reservoired in the Precipice Sandstone and is trapped within the closure of the Moonie Anticline, located on the eastern and upthrown side of the Moonie-Goondiwindi Fault. Of the 38 wells drilled in the field to date, 32 have produced oil at economic rates. By August 1990, 22.23 MMBBL (3.5 GL) of oil had been produced from an estimated 59.1 MMBBL (9.3 GL) in place. Remaining recoverable reserves, with primary recovery, are estimated to be more than 1.5 MMBBL (0.2 GL). Enhanced oil recovery using both carbon dioxide and microbial techniques is currently being investigated by AGL Petroleum.

The discovery of oil at Moonie represented the start of the commercial oil era in Australia. It provided encouragement for the petroleum exploration industry to expand the search and demonstrated that there were profits to be made from Australia's sedimentary basins. Moonie spawned a generation of petroleum exploration and production people who contributed to discoveries and developments elsewhere in Australia.