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

The changing face of Queensland’s petroleum industry

Alison Troup A and Peter Green A
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Geological Survey of Queensland

The APPEA Journal 51(1) 225-240 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ10016
Published: 2011

Abstract

The cycles and related changes in exploration targets identified in this study show the evolution of the Queensland petroleum industry from conventional petroleum to coal seam gas dominance. Delineation of these cycles was undertaken using petroleum exploration well data, and production and reserves statistics. Although the cycles are defined on the basis of exploration activity, there is a very different history in the types of targets and commodities explored for in the Bowen-Surat and Cooper-Eromanga basins. Trends in exploration success have been influenced by technology improvements, better understanding of target reservoirs, proximity to infrastructure, government policy and world oil prices.

Four distinct exploration cycles have been identified from the data. During the first cycle (1959–74) exploration focused predominantly on the shallower Jurassic-aged reservoirs in the Bowen-Surat basins resulting in the discovery of most of the major conventional oil and gas fields. The second cycle (1979–89) saw exploration begin in earnest in the Cooper-Eromanga basins and a switch to predominantly Triassic-aged reservoirs in the Bowen-Surat basins. The first coal seam gas exploration wells were drilled during this cycle. The third cycle (1990–99) shows a decrease in the number of conventional petroleum wells across both regions and the beginning of the switch to the present dominance of coal seam gas. The fourth cycle (2000–present) shows a significant decrease in the number of conventional exploration wells drilled across both regions, but an increase in the success rates. All conventional discoveries in the Bowen-Surat basins during cycle four have been in Permian-aged reservoirs, reflecting a change in the exploration focus to deeper parts of the Bowen Basin. Coal seam gas exploration has expanded significantly, with the Walloon Coal Measures being targeted, resulting in nearly four coal seam gas wells drilled for each conventional petroleum exploration well state-wide since 2000.

Examination of coal seam gas exploration highlights the many false starts since the first well was drilled in 1980. Exploration has shifted from area to area as companies tested different exploration concepts and completion techniques. The most obvious shift has been from Permian-aged targets of the Bowen Basin into the Jurassic-aged Walloon Coal Measures in the Surat and Clarence-Moreton basins, as its prospectivity was realised.

Alison Troup graduated from UQ with a BSc (Hons) in geology in 2009. She joined the Geological Survey of Queensland as a graduate geoscientist in the Energy Geosciences group in 2010. Since joining the GSQ, she has participated in the North West Queensland Minerals and Energy Province report and the Coastal Geothermal Energy Initiative drilling program.

alison.troup@deedi.qld.gov.au

Peter Green joined the Geological Survey of Queensland as a geologist in 1976 and has been involved in regional geological mapping and analysis of the state’s petroleum potential and held various managerial roles in these areas.In January 2009, he was appointed as manager, Energy Geoscience, Geological Survey of Queensland with responsibility for petroleum, coal and geothermal energy. Peter holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in geology from UQ and a Master of Science from the University of Reading, UK.

peter.m.green@deedi.qld.gov.au