New insights into the Kingia Sandstone facies distribution, and implications for hydrocarbon prospectivity, north Perth Basin, Western Australia
Aisling Sloan A * , Matthew Wright A , Anthony Cortis B , Andrew Farley A and Michael Wilkins AA
B
Aisling Sloan holds a MSc in Petroleum Geoscience with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen (2019) and a BSc with honours from The University of Western Australia (2018). Since joining Strike as a Geologist in early 2022, Aisling has been actively involved with prospect evaluation, well planning, and operations geology across Perth Basin assets. Prior to joining Strike, Aisling worked across multiple basins for Beach Energy. She is a member of PESA. |
Matthew Wright has over 17 years of oil and gas experience and graduated from Curtin University (Perth) with a BSc in Geology. He spent the first 12 years working with Baker Hughes, supporting Australia and Asia Pacific operations as a Log Analyst and Geosteering Supervisor while being involved in advancements in both logging while drilling and mudlogging technologies. Matthew joined Strike Energy in early 2020 as Senior Geologist just prior to the start of the West Erregulla appraisal campaign; he is responsible for operations and formation evaluation. |
Anthony (Tony) Cortis is a Professional Geologist (APEGA) and Principal in Igesi Consulting Inc. based in Canada. Tony has worked closely with Strike Energy Ltd since 2017 and has been part of teams that evaluate both deep coals in the Cooper Basin and the various plays in the North Perth Basin. He holds a BSc in Geology from Laurentian University and an MSc in Geology from the University of Manitoba. His company provides integrated upstream and venture management consulting to clients. Previously, he worked for 28 years at both Shell Canada and Royal Dutch Shell in various roles in Canada and worldwide. |
Andrew Farley graduated from the University of Newcastle (Australia) in 2002 with a BSc in Geology. He has over 20 years of experience working with onshore oil and gas operators on exploration and development projects in all five mainland states of Australia. Prior to joining Strike Energy in 2012, Andrew worked with AGL Energy in Sydney. Andrew has held a number of technical positions at Strike Energy, becoming GM Subsurface and Exploration in 2023. Andrew led the subsurface team during the design and execution of the company’s Exploration and Development projects, most notably the West Erregulla, South Erregulla and Walyering fields in the Perth Basin. Andrew is a member of SPE, PESA, SEAPEX and the Australian Geothermal Association. |
Michael Wilkins is a Senior Geophysicist at Strike Energy and is responsible for all of Strike’s geophysics projects including seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation. He specialises in quantitative interpretation, rock physics and velocity modelling, having spent much of his career as a QI geophysicist. He has over 20 years of experience working across both exploration and development assets, with previous roles at Woodside Energy and Mubadala Petroleum (Thailand), before joining Strike Energy in 2022. He graduated from Curtin University with a BSc (Geophysics) in 2000 and is a member of SPE and PESA. |
Abstract
The Kingia Sandstone has proven to be a prolific play fairway within the north Perth Basin, with primary porosity preservation observed down to at least 4600 mSS. However, the distribution of the Early Permian depositional and diagenetic facies has remained enigmatic. This is especially true given recent exploration results. Recent wells targeting the Kingia Sandstone have highlighted facies variability. As such, an opportunity exists to leverage legacy well data to investigate the interplay between sediment supply and accommodation space, resulting in improved reservoir characterisation. Through the integration of well logs, core and petrography studies, new insights into the spatial and temporal trends governing the presence and effectiveness of the Kingia are proposed. Implications of this work include Kingia Sandstone facies models that may be extended beyond known well control to help reduce subsurface uncertainty.
Keywords: Dandaragan Trough, depositional history, Early Permian, facies, Kingia Sandstone, Perth Basin, sequence stratigraphy, South Erregulla.
Aisling Sloan holds a MSc in Petroleum Geoscience with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen (2019) and a BSc with honours from The University of Western Australia (2018). Since joining Strike as a Geologist in early 2022, Aisling has been actively involved with prospect evaluation, well planning, and operations geology across Perth Basin assets. Prior to joining Strike, Aisling worked across multiple basins for Beach Energy. She is a member of PESA. |
Matthew Wright has over 17 years of oil and gas experience and graduated from Curtin University (Perth) with a BSc in Geology. He spent the first 12 years working with Baker Hughes, supporting Australia and Asia Pacific operations as a Log Analyst and Geosteering Supervisor while being involved in advancements in both logging while drilling and mudlogging technologies. Matthew joined Strike Energy in early 2020 as Senior Geologist just prior to the start of the West Erregulla appraisal campaign; he is responsible for operations and formation evaluation. |
Anthony (Tony) Cortis is a Professional Geologist (APEGA) and Principal in Igesi Consulting Inc. based in Canada. Tony has worked closely with Strike Energy Ltd since 2017 and has been part of teams that evaluate both deep coals in the Cooper Basin and the various plays in the North Perth Basin. He holds a BSc in Geology from Laurentian University and an MSc in Geology from the University of Manitoba. His company provides integrated upstream and venture management consulting to clients. Previously, he worked for 28 years at both Shell Canada and Royal Dutch Shell in various roles in Canada and worldwide. |
Andrew Farley graduated from the University of Newcastle (Australia) in 2002 with a BSc in Geology. He has over 20 years of experience working with onshore oil and gas operators on exploration and development projects in all five mainland states of Australia. Prior to joining Strike Energy in 2012, Andrew worked with AGL Energy in Sydney. Andrew has held a number of technical positions at Strike Energy, becoming GM Subsurface and Exploration in 2023. Andrew led the subsurface team during the design and execution of the company’s Exploration and Development projects, most notably the West Erregulla, South Erregulla and Walyering fields in the Perth Basin. Andrew is a member of SPE, PESA, SEAPEX and the Australian Geothermal Association. |
Michael Wilkins is a Senior Geophysicist at Strike Energy and is responsible for all of Strike’s geophysics projects including seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation. He specialises in quantitative interpretation, rock physics and velocity modelling, having spent much of his career as a QI geophysicist. He has over 20 years of experience working across both exploration and development assets, with previous roles at Woodside Energy and Mubadala Petroleum (Thailand), before joining Strike Energy in 2022. He graduated from Curtin University with a BSc (Geophysics) in 2000 and is a member of SPE and PESA. |
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