Offshore Northern Perth Basin: Petroleum Prospectivity Assessment

Geoscience Australia's assessment of Release Area W11-18 includes data from fourteen new wells drilled since 2001 and new regional 2D seismic data from a 2008-2009 survey. The analysis provides a refined tectono-stratigraphic model for the offshore basin, identifying evidence for both Permo-Triassic and Jurassic petroleum systems. Oil has been produced since 2006 from the adjacent Cliff Head field, and three petroleum discoveries are located within the release area.

Use Cases

• Model basin evolution and prospectivity based on the refined tectono-stratigraphic framework.
• Identify potential hydrocarbon plays based on interpretations of new 2D seismic data.
• Assess source rock effectiveness using evidence from oil stain and fluid inclusion sampling.
• Evaluate exploration targets in water depths predominantly less than 200 meters.

Strengths

• Assessment includes synthesis of data from fourteen new field wildcat wells.
• Interpretation incorporates new regional 2D seismic data from a dedicated 2008-2009 survey.
• Analysis covers a very large block over multiple sub-basins and ridges.

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 Data

Collection Method

Assessment includes synthesis of well data and interpretation of seismic surveys as part of the Offshore Energy Security Program.

Time Range

Well data post-2001, seismic data from 2008-2009.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-25 17:21:55.928203

Geography

Offshore Northern Perth Basin, Australia, covering Abrolhos, Houtman and Vlaming sub-basins and Beagle and Turtle Dove ridges.