THE GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE EP 104 PERMIT, NORTHWEST CANNING BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

Current interpretations suggest the presence of five Devonian reef building cycles in EP 104 with a further two in the Ordovician, Nita, and Willara formations. The possible Devonian reefs occur in the NVorral, Lower and Upper Pillara, Virgin Hills, and Nullara carbonate cycles. Minor buildups may be present in the Fairfield and Laurel formations.

The Upper Pillara reef complex was subaerially exposed and partly eroded for a period of 10 to 50 million years, following the Early Frasnian 'Tappers Inlet orogeny'. Large potential hydrocarbon reservoirs were created by the secondary mega-porosity formed during this period, and these were sealed by the regional Laurel transgression in the Early Carboniferous. This mode of porosity enhancement is applicable to all the potential reef cycles, as varying degrees of unconformity mark their upper boundaries, generally followed by onlap of sealing lithologies. The Upper Pillara cycle is considered the most prospective of the Devonian carbonate cycles which were the main targets in the first five wells.

In response to the success of Home Energy Co. Ltd at Sundown, the last four wells in EP 104 have had Permo-Carboniferous objectives. This drilling resulted in the discovery in 1982 of the small Kora oilfield, believed to have been sourced from the Laurel Formation.

The Black Rocks Prospect, in King Sound, is being considered for the first 1986 exploration well. This represents a return to Devonian Pillara reefs, the traditional primary targets in EP 104. As a bonus, drape, accentuated by late collapse of the reefal core, has localized multiple Permo-Carboniferous structural closures, coincident with reefal closure.

By comparison with the highly productive Swan Hills and Rainbow-Keg River reefs in Canada the Pillara and Worral carbonate cycles in EP 104 must have considerable potential.