The definition and development of the Mackerel field, Gippsland Basin

Abstract

The Esso?Hematite Mackerel oilfield (Fig. 1) is located approximately 70 kilometres offshore in the Gippsland Basin, southeastern Australia, in 75 m?90 m of water. It is one of a number of fields in this basin in which the reservoir occurs at an unconformity at the top of the Paleocene?Eocene Latrobe Group. The trap has been formed within a topographic erosional feature, sealed by calcareous shales and mudstones of the Oligocene Lakes Entrance Formation. The Latrobe Group within the Mackerel Field consists of a generally massive sandstone section with few fine grained lithologies. The sandstones have high porosities and consequently, have excellent productivity.