Exploration leads in a proven petroleum system - Offshore Northern Perth Basin

The Offshore Northern Perth Basin is a north to northwest trending basin located on the West Australian margin. Formed during the separation of Australia and Greater India in the Permian to Early Cretaceous, it includes a series of NW - SE trending sub-basins and structural highs (Figure 1). Exploration success in the basin has been sparse to date with the exceptions of the Cliff Head Field, three non-commercial discoveries and numerous hydrocarbon shows (Figure 2). Despite limited success, evidence from exploration to date provides invaluable information of a working petroleum system and the key risks to be addressed. In 2015 Spectrum acquired the modern long offset ‘Rocket’ 2D seismic survey, covering the majority of the Houtman sub-basin and extending northwards into the South Carnarvon Basin, providing further seismic coverage within licensed blocks and open acreage (Figure 1). Improved seismic imaging obtained from this dataset is expected to form an integral part in reviving interest in this basin and in helping operators to exploit this underexplored portion of the Australian margin. Integrating new modern seismic data with information provided by key wells within both the Abrolhos sub-basin and the South Carnarvon basin, points to the presence of an extensive, viable, petroleum system within the province.