IN FOR THE LONG HAUL - 50 YEARS OF SHELL EXPLORATION IN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

On 27th November, 1939 Shell was awarded its first exploration concession in Australia. The initial holdings covered much of southern Queensland, including parts of the Eromanga, Surat and Bowen Basins. An exploration programme involving field geology, aerial photography, a gravity survey and shallow structural drilling preceded a 'deep test' in 1950, Morella-1, located in the Denison Trough near Springsure. In the course of the venture, Shell was responsible for the first effective application of several modern techniques to petroleum exploration in Australia, including geophysics, organic geochemistry and wireline logging. Although disappointing results led to relinquishment of this first area, Shell has continued to explore in Australia, initially through participation in the WAPET and North West Shelf consortia, and from 1962 in a series of other ventures throughout the country. The rewards, in terms of Shell equity reserves, total some 1.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent at an exploration cost since 1964 of 1.1 billion dollars (1988 equivalent value).