ODNL Penola No 1 Well: Geological Log of a 1961 Dry Hole in South Australia

ODNL Penola No 1 Well was drilled by Oil Development N.L. to a depth of 4985 feet between February and May 1961. The well log describes a sequence of Oligocene to probable Upper Jurassic marine and non-marine rocks, including Gambier Limestone and Compton Conglomerate, encountered while testing the Coonawarra subsurface structure. Minor gas showings were found, but no commercially significant hydrocarbons were observed.

Use Cases

• Analyze stratigraphic sequences based on described rock layers and depths.
• Study the petroleum potential of the Coonawarra subsurface structure based on the well's findings.
• Model geological timelines based on the described Tertiary and Mesozoic rock formations.
• Compare drilling outcomes and rock properties with other wells in the region.

Strengths

• Provides specific drilling dates (7th February to 5th May 1961) and total depth (4985 feet).
• Contains detailed stratigraphic descriptions with measured thicknesses for multiple rock formations.
• Identifies the drilling contractor (Australian Tube Wells Pty Ltd) and rig model (Failing 2500 - Holemaster).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is historical (1961) and may not reflect current geological understanding.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Drilling operation with electric and mud logging, testing, and coring.

Time Range

Drilling occurred from 7th February 1961 to 5th May 1961.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 03:03:49.214401; freshness should be verified.

Geography

North-east corner of Section 500, Hundred of Penola, South Australia.