Offshore Northern Perth Basin Petroleum Prospectivity Assessment

A 2026 assessment by Geoscience Australia synthesizes data from fourteen new wildcat wells drilled since 2001 and regional 2D seismic data from survey 310 (2008-2009). The dataset provides a refined tectono-stratigraphic model for Release Area W11-18, covering parts of the Abrolhos, Houtman, and Vlaming sub-basins. It details three petroleum discoveries within the area and evidence for active Permo-Triassic and Jurassic petroleum systems.

Use Cases

• Evaluate petroleum prospectivity based on the synthesis of well and seismic data.
• Model basin evolution using the refined tectono-stratigraphic framework.
• Assess exploration plays in water depths predominantly less than 200 meters.
• Correlate offshore petroleum systems with proven onshore-nearshore equivalents.

Strengths

• Integrates data from fourteen new field wildcat wells drilled since 2001.
• Includes interpretation of new regional 2D seismic data from a 2008-2009 survey.
• Covers a very large offshore block with three known petroleum discoveries.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified despite the 2026 update date.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia (GA) via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Assessment conducted as part of the Australian Government's Offshore Energy Security Program, involving well data synthesis and seismic interpretation.

Time Range

Well data from post-2001; seismic data from 2008-2009; assessment published 2026.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16.

Geography

Offshore Northern Perth Basin, Australia, specifically Release Area W11-18 covering the Abrolhos, Houtman, and Vlaming sub-basins.