Southwest Bairnsdale No. 1 Well: Geological and Drilling Summary, Gippsland Basin

One exploratory well, Southwest Bairnsdale No. 1, was drilled to a total depth of 3926 feet in the Gippsland Basin of Victoria. The well was drilled by Reading and Bates (Australia) Pty Ltd for Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company N.L. and Arco Limited between 8th January and 14th February, 1963. It achieved its stratigraphic objectives but was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole with no hydrocarbon shows.

Use Cases

• Analyze stratigraphic sequences based on the described Tertiary, Lower Carboniferous-Upper Devonian, and granite layers.
• Evaluate drilling and coring results from a subsidized exploration well based on the documented depth intervals and formation tests.
• Study the hydrocarbon potential of pre-Tertiary sediments based on the stated objectives and negative results of the well.
• Model subsurface geology in the Gippsland Basin based on the well's location and the encountered rock formations.

Strengths

• Specific drilling dates (8 Jan - 14 Feb 1963) and total depth (3926 feet) are documented.
• Clear geological objectives and results are described, including stratigraphic layers and test intervals.
• The data source is the Australian Ocean Data Network, a government-affiliated platform.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is a historical summary from 1963; its freshness for modern exploration should be verified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Drilling operation with a full programme of coring and logging, subsidized under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1961.

Time Range

Drilling occurred from 8th January to 14th February, 1963.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 06:45:58.612801; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Gippsland Basin, Victoria, Australia, approximately 15 miles west-south-west of Bairnsdale.