THE GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE NORTH-WESTERN OFFICER BASIN

Abstract

Recent petroleum exploration in EP 186 and EP 187 in the north-western Officer Basin has greatly increased knowledge of the regional stratigraphy, structure and petroleum prospectivity of the region. This exploration programme has involved the drilling of two deep stratigraphic wells (Dragoon 1 and Hussar 1) and the acquisition of 1438 km of seismic data. Integration of regional gravity and aeromagnetic data with regional seismic and well data reveals that the Gibson Sub-basin primarily contains a Proterozoic evaporitic sequence. In contrast, the Herbert Sub-basin contains a Late Proterozoic to Cambrian clastic and carbonate sequence above the evaporites. This sequence, which was intersected in Hussar 1, is identified as the primary exploration target in the Western Officer Basin. The sequence contains excellent reservoir and seal rocks in association with mature source rocks. Major structuring of the basin has also been caused by compressive movements associated with the Alice Springs Orogeny. The northwestern Officer Basin thus has all of the ingredients for the discovery of commercial hydrocarbons.