Regional Geology Bonaparte

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
ACREAGE RELEASE | AUSTRALIA 2014
Regional Geology
of the Bonaparte Basin
Basin outline
The Bonaparte Basin is located predominantly offshore (Figure1) and covers an area of approximately 270000km2 on
Australias northwestern continental margin. It contains a Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary succession
in excess of 15000m that hosts significant reserves of oil and gas (Figure2). It is bounded to the northwest by the
Timor Trough, where water depths exceed 3000m. Well locations and gravity data are shown in Figure3 and Figure4
respectively. Gas is produced from the Bayu/Undan accumulation in the Timor Sea Joint Petroleum Development Area
(JPDA) between Timor-Leste and Australia. The gas is transported by pipeline to Wickham Point, Darwin, from where
LNG is exported to markets in Japan. The growth of the gas hub in Darwin is assured since the announcement by INPEX
Browse Ltd (INPEX) and Total E&P Australia to commit to the Ichthys gas processing plant at Blaydin Point (INPEX,
2012). Gas is also produced from the Blacktip accumulation in the Petrel Sub-basin and sent by pipeline to an onshore
plant near Wadeye for domestic use. Two floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities are producing oil
in the Bonaparte Basin, one from the Laminaria-Corallina fields in the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Offshore
Area (Commonwealth waters), and the other from the Kitan accumulation in the JPDA.
The Bonaparte Basin is one of a series of extensional basins that form the Westralian Superbasin underlying the North
West Shelf region (Bradshaw et al, 1988). In the northeast, beyond the limits of the Darwin Shelf, the Bonaparte Basin
adjoins the Money Shoal Basin and to the southwest it is contiguous with the Browse Basin. The Mesozoic stratigraphy
of the Bonaparte Basin is shown in Figure5 and Figure6, and the Paleozoic stratigraphy in Figure7. Regional seismic
lines across the basin are shown in Figure8, Figure9, Figure10 and Figure11. Figure12 shows the petroleum systems
of this basin.
Tectonic development
The regional geology, structural evolution and petroleum potential have been described by Laws and Kraus (1974), Gunn
(1988), Lee and Gunn (1988), Gunn and Ly (1989), MacDaniel (1988), Mory (1988, 1991), Botten and Wulff (1990),
Petroconsultants Australasia Pty Ltd (1990), Hocking et al (1994) and Woods (1994), and summarised by Longley et al
(2002), Cadman and Temple (2004), and Ahmad and Munson (2013). Numerous papers on the petroleum geology of the
region were presented in the Proceedings of the Timor Sea Symposium, Darwin, June 2003 (Ellis et al, 2004).
The Bonaparte Basin is structurally complex and comprises a number of Paleozoic and Mesozoic sub-basins and
platform areas (Figure1). The basin developed during two phases of Paleozoic extension, followed by MiddleLate
Triassic compression and further extension in the Mesozoic that culminated in the breakup of Gondwana in the Middle
Jurassic (OBrien et al, 1993). Convergence of the Australia-India Plate and Southeast Asian microplates in the Miocene
to Pliocene resulted in flexural downwarp of the Timor Trough and widespread fault reactivation across the western
Bonaparte Basin.
The main structural elements of the Bonaparte Basin are described briefly below, with representative geological sections
through the basin being shown in Figure8, Figure9, Figure10 and Figure11. The structural makeup of the basin is also
reflected in the residual gravity image in Figure4.
AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 1
DISCLAIMER: This document has been developed as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
Image courtesy of BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd.
Petrel Sub-basin
The Petrel Sub-basin is an asymmetric, northwest-trending Paleozoic rift in the eastern portion of the Bonaparte Basin
(Figure1). The sub-basin contains a thick Paleozoic section overlain by thinner Mesozoic sediments (Figure6 and
Figure7), and is underlain by Proterozoic crystalline basement and sediments of the Kimberley Basin (Colwell and
Kennard, 1996). The eastern and southwestern faulted margins of the sub-basin converge onshore to form the southern
termination (Figure1). To the south and east of the Petrel Sub-basin, extensions of the Halls CreekFitzmaurice Mobile
Zone separate this sub-basin from the Precambrian Victoria River Basin and Pine Creek Geosyncline. Extensive
basement shelves overlain by a thin cover of Phanerozoic sediments lie on the eastern, western and southern margins
of the Petrel Sub-basin (Figure1 and Figure8). To the east, the Kulshill Terrace and Moyle Platform extend to the
north-northeast onto the Darwin Shelf. In the southwest, the Berkley Platform has been subdivided into several smaller
southeast-trending horst and graben structures including the Lacrosse Terrace and Turtle-Barnett High, and the
Cambridge Trough.
Sedimentation in the sub-basin commenced in the Cambrian and a northwest-trending rift was initiated in the Late
Devonian to Mississippian. Offshore, the northern part of the Petrel Sub-basin is orthogonally overprinted by a
northeasttrending structural grain associated with late Paleozoic and Mesozoic rifting.
Structurally, the Petrel Sub-basin consists of a broad northwest-trending syncline that plunges to the northwest, resulting
in exposure of lower Paleozoic sediments in the southern onshore area, and in the progressive sub-cropping of upper
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments offshore. The upper PaleozoicMesozoic section exceeds 15000m in
thickness in the central and northern Petrel Sub-basin (Figure6 and Figure7).
Vulcan Sub-basin
The Vulcan Sub-basin is a major northeast-trending Late Jurassic extensional depocentre in the western Bonaparte
Basin (Figure1). The sub-basin comprises a complex series of horsts, graben and marginal terraces. It is flanked by
the PermoTriassic platforms of the Londonderry High to the southeast and the Ashmore Platform to the northwest
(Figure9). The structurally significant and proven hydrocarbon source provinces of the Swan Graben and Paqualin
Graben die out to the northeast beneath the Neogene Cartier Trough. The Montara Terrace flanks the Swan Graben to
the east, while the Jabiru Terrace borders the eastern margin of the Cartier Trough. The boundary between the southern
Vulcan Sub-basin and the northern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin) is poorly defined. OBrien et al (1999) considered
that the boundary is marked by a fault relay zone that overlies a major northwest-trending Proterozoic fracture system.
The Vulcan Sub-basin formed during a period of northwestsoutheast extension in the Late Jurassic (OBrien, 1993;
Etheridge and OBrien, 1994; OBrien et al, 1996; OBrien et al, 1999). The margins of the depocentre are characterised
by northeast-striking faults. Deposition during the sub-basins thermal sag phase continued until the late Neogene and
resulted in the accumulation of over 10000m of sediments in the deeper graben (Figure6) (Baxter et al, 1997).
Ashmore Platform
The Ashmore Platform is an extensive, elevated and structurally complex block (Figure1 and Figure9). It borders the
Vulcan Sub-basin to the east, the northern Browse Basin to the south and deepens into the Timor Trough to the west.
Onthe platform, up to 1500m of flat-lying Cretaceous and Cenozoic strata overlie up to 4500m of heavily faulted and
folded Permo-Triassic sediments (Figure6). Rifting before the Late Jurassic breakup on the Argo margin to the south,
led to the development of tilted fault-blocks prior to widespread peneplanation, subsidence and burial in the Cretaceous
Cenozoic. Fault reactivation occurred during the MiocenePliocene convergence of the Australia-India Plate and the
Southeast Asian microplates.

Londonderry High
The Londonderry High in the western Bonaparte Basin is flanked by the Petrel Sub-basin to the east, Sahul Syncline
to the north, Vulcan Sub-basin to the northwest and the Browse Basin to the southwest. It is characterised by a highly
faulted succession of Paleozoic and Triassic rocks that acted as a major sediment source for adjacent depocentres
during the Late Jurassic rifting (Whibley and Jacobsen, 1990; de Ruig et al, 2000). The PaleozoicTriassic section
is overlain unconformably by a relatively unfaulted, Upper Jurassic and younger succession (Figure6 and Figure9).
Although most faulting terminates at the top of the Triassic sequence, some faults show evidence of Miocene
reactivation. On higher parts of the Londonderry High, the Triassic section is deeply eroded. Uplift and erosion are less
pronounced on the eastern and northern flanks where the unconformity is underlain by progressively younger sediments.
Flamingo and Sahul synclines

The Flamingo Syncline and Sahul Syncline (including its western extension, the Nancar Trough) are northwest-trending
Paleozoic to Mesozoic depocentres that link and offset the northeast-trending Vulcan Sub-basin, and the Malita and
Calder graben rift systems (Figure1, Figure5 and Figure10). The synclines are separated by the Laminaria and
Flamingo highs and are the primary source kitchens for petroleum accumulations on those highs and the southwestern
Sahul Platform.
Botten and Wulff (1990) considered that the Sahul Syncline formed in the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic, whereas
Durrant et al (1990) believe it formed as part of the Late Devonian rift system in the Petrel Sub-basin. OBrien et al (1993)
and Robinson et al (1994) described the Sahul Syncline as a sag feature, and suggested that the latest Carboniferous
to earliest Permian extension reactivated pre-existing, northwest-striking fault zones (such as the Sahul Syncline) as
transfer faults.
Sahul Platform
Most of the Sahul Platform is located within the JPDA between Australia and Timor-Leste, while the northeastern part
is located in Australian and Indonesian waters (Figure1). The Sahul Platform is an area of relatively shallow basement
(Figure10). The overlying PermoTriassic succession in this area was uplifted to form a structural high during Jurassic
extension of the adjacent Malita and Calder graben. The platform is divided into the Troubadour High in the east,
where basement lies at approximately 3000m, and the Kelp High in the west, where basement is interpreted to be
significantly deeper (Whittam et al, 1996). The Troubadour High is also referred to as the Sunrise High (Longley et al,
2002). The Permo-Triassic to Cenozoic sedimentary section varies in thickness from 3000m on the Troubadour High to
more than 5000m on the Kelp High (Figure5). The Troubadour Terrace is an area of slightly deeper basement on the
northeast flank of the Sahul Platform (Figure1 and Figure11). The southern boundary of the Sahul Platform is marked
by northeast-striking Mesozoic normal faults showing displacement down into the Malita and Calder graben, creating a
series of prominent blocks and terraces. The Heron Terrace is a perched, downfaulted block covering an extensive area
adjacent to the Troubadour Terrace.
Malita and Calder graben

The Malita Graben and Calder Graben form a major northeast-trending rift system that lies between the Petrel Sub-basin
and the Sahul Platform (Figure1). Both graben contain a thick (up to 10000m) succession of Mesozoic and Cenozoic
sediments that are underlain by a considerable section of PennsylvanianPermian sediments (Figure5). These graben
are bounded by northeast to east-northeasttrending faults that show large displacement. One of these, the Lynedoch
Fault System, separates the Calder Graben from the Money Shoal Basin.

Basin evolution
The Phanerozoic evolution of the region has been described by Gunn (1988), Gunn and Ly (1989), Veevers (1988),
Pattillo and Nicholls (1990), OBrien et al (1993, 1996), AGSO NWShelf Study Group (1994), Baillie et al (1994),
Whittam et al (1996), Kennard et al (2002) and Peresson et al (2004). Neogene tectonism and its implications for
petroleum exploration in the Bonaparte Basin are described by McCaffrey (1988), Shuster et al (1998), Keep et al (1998,
2002) and Longley et al (2002).
Palaeogeographic reconstructions of the North West Shelf region, including the Bonaparte Basin, are provided by
Bradshaw et al (1988), Norvick (2001) and Longley et al (2002). These reconstructions show that Paleozoic sediments
are largely restricted to the onshore and inboard portions of the Petrel Sub-basin, while Mesozoic and Cenozoic
sequences are largely confined to the outboard portion of the Bonaparte Basin. The stratigraphy of the Bonaparte Basin
was defined by Beere and Mory (1986) and Mory (1988, 1991), with many localised revisions since, such as those by
Whittam et al (1996), Gorter (1998, 2006a, 2006b) and Labutis et al (1998).
The Paleozoic stratigraphy of the basin is summarised in Figure6 and Figure7. It has been updated to the Geologic
Time Scale 2012 (Gradstein et al, 2012) and includes revisions to the stratigraphy by Gorter (1998) and Gorter et al
(2004, 2005, 2008, 2009).
The Mesozoic stratigraphy of the Laminaria and Flamingo highs, Flamingo and Sahul synclines, Troubadour Terrace,
Sahul Platform, and the Calder and Malita graben, are summarised in Figure5. The western and southern Bonaparte
Basin, including the Ashmore Platform, Vulcan Sub-basin, Londonderry High and Petrel Sub-basin are summarised in
Figure6.
The Bonaparte Basin has a complex structural history. The key events in the evolution of the Bonaparte Basin include:
Widespread volcanism and subsidence during the Cambrian initiated deposition in the onshore Petrel Sub-basin.
Late Devonian to Mississippian extension formed the northwest-trending Petrel Sub-basin.
Extension in the Pennsylvanian (late Carboniferous) to Cisuralian (early Permian) superimposed a

northeastoriented structural grain. The proto-Vulcan Sub-basin and Malita Graben developed at this time.
A compressional event in the MiddleLate Triassic caused uplift and erosion on the Londonderry High, the Ashmore
and Sahul platforms, and the southern margins of the Petrel Sub-basin.
In response to Mesozoic extension, the Vulcan Sub-basin, Sahul Syncline, Malita Graben and Calder Graben
became major Jurassic depocentres. This structuring coincided with the commencement of seafloor spreading in the
Argo Abyssal Plain west of the Browse Basin.
With the onset of thermal subsidence in the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian), a thick wedge of fine-grained, clastic
and subsequently carbonate sediments prograded across the offshore Bonaparte Basin throughout the Cretaceous
and Cenozoic.
Regional compression associated with the convergence of the Australia-India Plate and Southeast Asian microplates
in the Miocene formed the Timor Trough and the strongly faulted northern margin of the Sahul Platform.
Volcanism and clastic sedimentation commenced in the onshore Petrel Sub-basin in the Cambrian. This pre-rift
sequence contains extensive evaporite deposits, but the precise age (Ordovician, Silurian or Devonian), lateral continuity
and extent of these salt bodies is poorly understood. Subsequent salt tectonics including flow, diapirism and withdrawal
has controlled the development of numerous structural and stratigraphic traps within the sub-basin (Edgerley and Crist,
1974; Gunn, 1988; Durrant et al, 1990; Lemon and Barnes, 1997).
Northeast-oriented extension commenced in the Late Devonian, and clastic and carbonate sediments were deposited in
shallow marine and non-marine environments within the Petrel Sub-basin. During the Carboniferous, a thick succession
of marine and fluvio-deltaic (Langfield to Wadeye groups) and, finally, glacial sediments (Kuriyippi and Treachery
formations) were deposited in response to post-rift subsidence and salt withdrawal.
The initial northwest-trending Late DevonianMississippian rift-sag system of the Petrel Sub-basin was orthogonally
overprinted in the Pennsylvanian (late Carboniferous) to Cisuralian (early Permian) by northeast-trending rifts which
formed the proto-Malita Graben and probably a proto-depocentre in the Vulcan Sub-basin (OBrien, 1993; Colwell and
Kennard, 1996). A succession of northwest-thickening, shallow marine to fluvio-deltaic, Permian and Triassic sediments
was then deposited across the Bonaparte Basin (Quoin to Cape Londonderry formations). Sandstones within this
succession form the reservoir facies for gas discoveries in the Petrel Sub-basin and on the Londonderry High.

The Fitzroy Movement period of compression in the MiddleLate Triassic resulted in reactivation and inversion of
the previous Paleozoic fault systems (OBrien et al, 1993; Colwell and Kennard, 1996) and caused widespread uplift
and erosion on the Ashmore Platform, Londonderry High and in the southern Petrel Sub-basin. Upper TriassicLower
Jurassic fluvial sedimentation deposited the Malita Formation. This was followed by the thick, widespread succession of
LowerMiddle Jurassic fluvial and coastal plain deposits of the Plover Formation across most of the Bonaparte Basin.
The Plover Formation is, however, absent from the Ashmore Platform and the crest of the Londonderry High. The unit
forms a major source and reservoir unit in the northern Bonaparte Basin.
The onset of extension in the MiddleLate Jurassic resulted in a widespread marine transgression and deposition of
the retrogradational deltaic sandstones of the Elang and Montara formations, which form reservoir units in many of
the commercial petroleum accumulations in the northern Bonaparte Basin. Continued extension and rapid subsidence
resulted in the deposition of a thick succession of Vulcan Formation and Frigate Shale marine mudstones within the
Vulcan Sub-basin, Sahul Syncline, Malita Graben and Calder Graben. These marine sediments are gas-prone within the
Malita and Calder graben, but contain good quality oil-prone source rocks in the Vulcan Sub-basin.
Mesozoic extension ceased with the onset of seafloor spreading in the Valanginian and was followed by widespread
thermal subsidence and flooding of the western Australian continental margin. Fine-grained clastics and carbonates of
the Bathurst Island Group were deposited across the Bonaparte Basin during this phase. At the base of the Bathurst
Island Group, claystones of the Echuca Shoals Formation provide a regional seal for the hydrocarbon accumulations in
the Vulcan Sub-basin and northern Bonaparte Basin. This formation thins onto the Ashmore and Sahul platforms in the
west, and in the Petrel Sub-basin to the east. The Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic successions typically comprise thick,
prograding platform carbonates. Lowstand sandstones accumulated in the Maastrichtian (Puffin Formation) and Eocene
(Grebe Sandstone Member).
Regional compression associated with the convergence of the Australia-India Plate and Southeast Asian microplates,
reactivated Mesozoic faults and breached many fault-dependent structures in the Vulcan Sub-basin and adjacent areas.
This regional tectonism resulted in the loss of hydrocarbons from previous accumulations (OBrien and Woods, 1995;
OBrien et al, 1999; Longley et al, 2002) and leakage to the sea floor that appears to have controlled the development
and distribution of present-day biohermal mounds in the region (Bishop and OBrien, 1998; OBrien et al, 2002).
Northern Bonaparte Basin

The stratigraphy and geological history of the northern Bonaparte Basin have been described by Mory (1988), Mory
and Beere (1988), Gunn (1988), MacDaniel (1988), Veevers (1988), Pattillo and Nicholls (1990), OBrien et al (1993),
Whittam et al (1996), Labutis et al (1998) and Shuster et al (1998) and are summarised by Cadman and Temple (2004).
Whittam et al (1996) concluded that the geological history of the northern Bonaparte Basin was broadly similar to that of
the Vulcan Sub-basin, but that there were significant differences. The northern Bonaparte Basin, as defined by Whittam
et al (1996), encompasses the area to the northwest of the Petrel Sub-basin containing a thick Mesozoic and Cenozoic
succession. Two major depocentres of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age are recognised in the northern Bonaparte
Basin; the northeast-trending Malita and Calder graben, and the northwest-trending Sahul Syncline, including its
western extension, the Nancar Trough. These depocentres are flanked to the north by the Sahul Platform and to the
south by the Londonderry High (Figure1).
The present day configuration of the northern Bonaparte Basin is the result of three cycles of rifting:
an initial northwest-trending Late Devonian rift extending outboard from the Petrel Sub-basin
a northeast-trending CarboniferousPermian rift
similarly oriented Jurassic rifts in the Malita and Calder graben and Vulcan Sub-basin
The pre-existing Paleozoic structural grain had considerable influence on the distribution and thickness of the Mesozoic
and Cenozoic succession on the western part of the Sahul Platform, particularly during the Triassic. It is expressed in the
northwest trend of both the Sahul and Flamingo synclines (Whittam et al, 1996).
The northwest-trending structural grain is cross-cut by a series of Jurassic faults, the strike of which varies from
northeast adjacent to the Londonderry High, through north-northeast at the western end of the Malita Graben, to east in
the area of the Flamingo and Laminaria highs. Woods (1992) and Langhi and Borel (2008) attribute this latter easterly
trend to Tithonian and Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian (upper Jurassic) tectonism respectively. This phase of faulting on the
Laminaria High likely affected trap formation within the Laminaria Formation, and also controlled the deposition of the
oil-prone syn-rift Frigate Formation.

Whittam et al (1996) concluded that the geological history of the northern Bonaparte Basin was characterised by:
The strong influence of the Permo-Carboniferous structural fabric in the distribution of the Triassic succession.
A tectonic event at the TriassicJurassic boundary, which marks the onset of extension during the Mesozoic.
The relative unimportance of the Callovian (Middle Jurassic) phase of tectonism that initiated subsidence in the
Vulcan Sub-basin.
A Tithonian (Late Jurassic) extensional event which resulted in the development of the east-trending horsts and
graben that characterise the Sahul Syncline and Flamingo Syncline regions, and which have proven to be the most
prospective structural traps in the area.
The identification of the base-Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) disconformity as a regional seismic marker that is the
principal structural mapping horizon in the region and the most reliable indicator of regional structure at the top of the
Callovian (Middle Jurassic) reservoir section.
These characteristics have important implications for petroleum exploration in the region. Variations in the subsidence
history and timing of tectonic events between the two regions influenced the distribution and preservation of potential
reservoir and source rocks (Whittam et al, 1996). For example, it is considered unlikely that deposition of the Elang
(Laminaria) Formation reservoir sandstones would be widespread on the Laminaria and Flamingo highs and Sahul
Platform, if the major Middle Jurassic extension that affected the Vulcan Sub-basin had occurred on the western part of
the Sahul Platform. Similarly, differences in subsidence history and in the thickness of the mid-Cretaceous to Cenozoic
succession had a major impact on the timing of hydrocarbon generation, and on the extent to which later episodes of
faulting affected the integrity of Jurassic traps.

Regional petroleum systems
Numerous petroleum systems of Paleozoic and Mesozoic age have been mapped within the Bonaparte Basin by
combining geochemical studies of hydrocarbon families with their postulated source rocks, interpreted from geological
and palaeogeographic studies. Bradshaw (1993) and Bradshaw et al (1994, 1997, 1998) developed a petroleum systems
and supersystems framework linking together Australian basins of similar age, facies, structural history and generated
hydrocarbons. Each petroleum system within a supersystem is defined by a combination of play elements separated by
either tectonic and/or climatic events. The Oils of Western Australia studies (AGSO and GeoMark, 1996; Edwards and
Zumberge, 2005) put the geochemically defined oil families from the Bonaparte, Browse, Canning, Carnarvon and Perth
basins into this framework, resulting in the following petroleum systems being recognised in the Bonaparte Basin:
Lower Cretaceous-sourced petroleum system (Westralian3)
Upper Jurassic-sourced petroleum system (Westralian2)
LowerMiddle Jurassic-sourced petroleum system (Westralian1)
Permian-sourced petroleum system (Gondwanan1)
Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian)-sourced petroleum system (Larapintine4)
Upper Devonian-sourced petroleum system (Larapintine3)
Despite the fact that many potential source rock units are either undrilled or of poor quality, and commonly occur at
multiple stratigraphic levels, Barrett et al (2004) followed the sourcereservoir couplet nomenclature of Magoon and Dow
(1994) and defined seven known (!), hypothetical (.) and speculative (?) petroleum systems in the offshore Bonaparte
Basin. These include three Jurassic systems, three Permian systems and one Permo-Carboniferous system as follows.
Jurassic Elang-Elang(!) Petroleum System (Sahul Syncline and Flamingo High)
Jurassic Plover-Plover(.) Petroleum System (Malita Graben and Sahul Platform)
Jurassic Vulcan-Plover(!) Petroleum System (Vulcan Sub-basin)
Permian Hyland Bay-Hyland Bay(?) Petroleum System (Kelp High)
Permian Hyland Bay/Keyling-Hyland Bay(.) Petroleum System (central Petrel Sub-basin)
Permian-Hyland Bay(?) Petroleum System (Londonderry High and southern Petrel Sub-basin)
Permo-Carboniferous Milligans-Kuriyippi/Milligans(!) Petroleum System (southern Petrel Sub-basin)
The distribution of the Bonaparte Basin petroleum systems is shown in Figure12, and was presented in montage format
by Earl (2004). The continuing success of exploration within the basin and further geological studies necessitates the
remapping of these petroleum systems. In particular, numerous hydrocarbon charges have been expelled from the
Permo-Carboniferous system in the southern Petrel Sub-basin, as exemplified by gas at Blacktip and Penguin, and
significant oil and gas shows at Barnett-Turtle, Marina1 and Torrens1. However, the source potential of the Langfield,
Weaber, Kulshill and Kinmore groups is not well understood.
Source rocks
Petrel Sub-basin
McConachie et al (1995, 1996), Colwell and Kennard (1996), Loutit et al (1996), Kennard et al (1999) and Taylor
(2006) provide details of the petroleum system elements for the Petrel Sub-basin. Geochemical studies of natural
gases from this sub-basin are given by AGSO and Geotech (2000), Boreham et al (2001) and Edwards et al (2006).
Thegeochemistry of oils and source rocks from the Petrel Sub-basin have been documented by Kraus and Parker
(1979), McKirdy (1987), Jefferies (1988), Edwards and Summons (1996), Edwards et al (1997, 2000), Gorter et al
(2004, 2005), Gorter (2006a), and Gorter and McKirdy (2013). These studies recognised oil- and gas-prone mudstones
within the Langfield Group equivalent (previously assigned to the Milligans Formation), gas-prone shales and coaly
shales within the Keyling Formation (upper Kulshill Group) and gas-prone shales within the Hyland Bay Subgroup,
KinmoreGroup.

Potential source rocks within the Keyling Formation and Hyland Bay Subgroup are prospective for gas throughout the
central and outboard regions of the Petrel Sub-basin. The Guadalupian to Lopingian Hyland Bay Subgroup is dominated
by fluvio-deltaic facies, including pro-delta mudstones with moderate to good source potential (Barrett et al, 2004;
Kennard et al, 2002). The Cisuralian (early Permian) Keyling Formation is dominated by marginal marine and coastal
plain mudstones and coaly mudstones that have significant source potential. Geochemical analyses of the wet gases
from the Petrel, Tern and Penguin (Polkadot) accumulations indicate that they were generated from the same source,
modelled to be either the Hyland Bay Subgroup and/or the Keyling Formation (Kennard et al, 2002). The isotopic
compositions of the gases from Blacktip1 are different to those of the aforementioned gases, implying generation
from another source, most likely within the Keyling Formation (Edwards et al, 2006). Hence, all of the Petrel, Tern and
Penguin (Polkadot) gases belong to the Gondwanan1 Petroleum System and have been assigned to the Hyland Bay/
Keyling-Hyland Bay(.) Petroleum System by Barrett et al (2004; Figure12). The gases from Prometheus and Rubicon on
the Londonderry High and the gas discovered at Kelp Deep on the Kelp High of the Sahul Platform, are also attributed to
derivation from Permian source rocks (Kennard et al, 2000).
In the southern Petrel Sub-basin, anoxic marine mudstones in the lowermiddle Tournaisian Langfield Group
equivalent (early Carboniferous Bonaparte Formation) and Visean Tanmurra Formation penetrated in the NBF1002
well are the source of the Larapintine4 oils present in the offshore Barnett2 and Turtle1and2 wells (Gorter and
McKirdy, 2013) and presumably the oil show at Waggon Creek1, in the onshore part of the sub-basin (Figure1).
Hence, the MilligansKuriyippi/Milligans(!) Petroleum System of Barrett et al (2004) could be renamed the Langfield/
TanmurraKuriyippi/Milligans(!) Petroleum System while the distribution of its effective source rock requires remapping.
However, the source potential of the Milligans Formation remains unknown, since this formation is not present in the
NBF1002 well and, where penetrated offshore, it is organically lean but mature for hydrocarbon generation.
Vulcan Sub-basin
Geochemical studies of Vulcan Sub-basin oils include those by Carroll and Syme (1994), George et al (1997, 1998,
2004a) and van Aarssen et al (1998a, 1998b), and oil and gas families are discussed by Edwards et al (2004).
Comprehensive assessments of the source rock potential of the Vulcan Sub-basin are included in the study by Kennard
et al (1999), and oil-source rock correlations have been made by Dawson et al (2007). These studies recognised that
local, thin, high-quality coals and pro-delta shales with high source potential occur within the LowerMiddle Jurassic,
fluvio-deltaic Plover Formation on the Montara Terrace, where these source rocks are thermally immature. If these source
rocks are present within the Swan and Paqualin graben, the increased depth of burial would allow generation and
expulsion of hydrocarbons. Mature marine, oil- and gas-prone source rocks occur within the OxfordianKimmeridgian
(upper Jurassic) lower Vulcan Formation and underlying Montara Formation within the Swan and Paqualin graben.
These are the major source kitchens for the accumulations found in the Vulcan Sub-basin and on the adjoining margins
of the Ashmore Platform and Londonderry High (Edwards et al, 2004).
The majority of the oil accumulations (including all produced oils) throughout the Vulcan Sub-basin are sourced from
the Upper Jurassic lower Vulcan Formation (Edwards and Zumberge, 2005; Dawson et al, 2007). Hence, these oils are
classified as belonging to either the Westralian2 or Vulcan-Plover(!) Petroleum System (Barrett et al, 2004; Figure12).
The source rocks comprise predominantly marine mudstones that contain variable amounts of terrigenous organic
matter (TypeII/III kerogen; Edwards et al, 2004). Waxy oils, such as those found in the southern part of the sub-basin
at Maret and Montara, are derived from fluvio-deltaic to marginal marine mudstones and coals developed within the
Plover Formation, which contain a greater terrestrial component than the lower Vulcan Formation (Edwards et al, 2004).
Hence,these oils are classified as belonging to the Westralian1 Petroleum System. Gases within the sub-basin are
derived from both Plover and lower Vulcan Formation source rocks (Kennard et al, 1999).

In the northern Bonaparte Basin, appraisal of the hydrocarbon potential of the JurassicLower Cretaceous source rocks
has been undertaken by Brooks et al (1996a, 1996b), Preston and Edwards (2000), and Abbassi et al (2013). Oiloil
and oilsource rock correlations in this region have been made by Gorter and Hartung-Kagi (1998), and Preston and
Edwards (2000), while George et al (2002a, 2002b, 2004a, 2004b, 2004c) carried out oilfluid inclusion correlations.
Geochemical studies of natural gases from this region are included in studies undertaken by AGSO and Geotech (2000)
and Edwards et al (2006).

In the central northern Bonaparte Basin on the Laminaria and Flamingo highs, oils reservoired within the Jurassic Plover
and Elang formations have been divided into two end-member families by Preston and Edwards (2000). The oils from the
Laminaria and Corallina accumulations and those from the neighbouring Sahul Syncline region have a mixed landplant
and marine source affinity whereas the oils/condensates of the Elang, Kakatua and Bayu/Undan accumulations to the
southeast, on and near the Flamingo High, have a marine source affinity. Recent work suggests that the Jurassic
Lower Cretaceous marine shales within the Flamingo Group are the main potential sources of oils reservoired in the
Laminaria and Corallina accumulations. The Lower Cretaceous Echuca Shoals Formation is a potential source of wet
gas and some light oil (Abbassi et al, 2013). Barrett et al (2004) placed them within the Elang-Elang(!) Petroleum System
(Figure12).
Oil shows reservoired in the Lower Cretaceous Darwin Formation from Elang West1, Layang1 and Kakatua North1
(Preston and Edwards, 2000), as well as gas at Firebird1 (ConocoPhillips, 2008), are reported to originate from organic-
rich marine sediments in the Lower Cretaceous Echuca Shoals Formation in the Sahul Syncline. These hydrocarbons
are assigned to the Westralian3 Petroleum System, which is also active in the Browse Basin (Blevin et al, 1998).
Recent geochemical studies of the gases from the northern Sahul Platform Greater Sunrise area, and in the Malita and
Calder graben indicate that they are sourced from the Plover Formation in the main depocentres and on the Heron and
Troubadour terraces (Longley et al, 2002; Edwards et al, 2006). Thus, these northern Bonaparte gas accumulations
are categorised as the Westralian1 Petroleum System, with Barrett et al (2004) naming them as the Plover-Plover(.)
Petroleum System (Figure12).
Reservoirs and seals

Petrel Sub-basin
The most prospective reservoirs within the central Petrel Sub-basin are the upper Permian Cape Hay and Tern
formations of the Hyland Bay Subgroup, as exemplified by the gas reservoirs at Petrel and Tern, and the Torrens
Formation (Hyland Bay Subgroup), which hosts the gas at Penguin1/Polkadot1 (Figure2 and Figure7). Reservoir
distribution and characterisation for the Hyland Bay Subgroup have been detailed by Robinson and McInerney (2004).
In addition, the Penguin Formation is an important reservoir for gas at Fishburn1. The transgressive, thick marine
shales of the Mount Goodwin Subgroup form the regional seal to the reservoirs of the Hyland Bay Subgroup. Thereare
intraformational seals within the Hyland Bay Subgroup, including marine shales of the Cape Hay Formation and
biomicritic limestones of the Dombey and Pearce formations (Colwell and Kennard, 1996; McConachie et al, 1996).
Saltdiapirs are also likely to provide effective seals in some settings.
Gas at Blacktip1 is reservoired in sandstones of the Ascalon Formation (Mount Goodwin Subgroup), Fossil Head
Formation and the Keyling, Quoin and Treachery formations (Kulshill Group) (Figure7; Gorter et al, 2008). The Fossil
Head Formation provides the seal to Keyling Formation reservoirs, with intraformational seals occurring within the upper
Kulshill Group.
The most prospective reservoirs within the offshore southern Petrel Sub-basin are the Permian Keyling and Treachery
formations, the Permo-Carboniferous Kuriyippi Formation, and the Carboniferous Tanmurra Formation, Kingfisher Shale
and Yow Creek Formation, as exemplified by the oil accumulations at Barnett and Turtle (Figure7). The reservoir quality
of the Keyling Formation sandstone is typically excellent, whereas the reservoir quality of the Carboniferous sandstones
is typically poor due to calcareous matrices and authigenic clays. The Permian Fossil Head Formation and Treachery
Shale provide regional seals for the underlying Keyling and Kuriyippi formations, respectively.
Vulcan Sub-basin
The main exploration targets in the Vulcan Sub-basin are clastic units within pre-rift and syn-rift sequences developed
beneath the regional seals. Reservoirs from which commercial petroleum production has taken place include the shallow
marine Upper Triassic Challis Formation (Challis and Cassini oil fields), the fluvio-deltaic Jurassic Plover Formation
(Skua and Jabiru oil fields) and the Upper Cretaceous Puffin Formation fan sandstones (Puffin oil accumulation)
(Figure2 and Figure6). Other reservoirs include: the shallow marine Upper Triassic Nome Formation; Oxfordian (upper
Jurassic) shoreface/barrier bar sandstone of the Montara Formation; and the Tithonian (upper Jurassic) submarine fan
sandstones of the Vulcan Formation. The Upper JurassicLower Cretaceous Vulcan Formation and Lower Cretaceous
Echuca Shoals Formation form a widespread and competent seal across the sub-basin with good sealing capacity,
extent and integrity (Kivior et al, 2002). Claystones and marls of the overlying Jamieson Formation may provide an
additional top seal.

Upper Cretaceous fan sandstones of the Puffin Formation draped over TriassicJurassic horsts provide additional
targets, sealed by carbonates of the Paleocene Johnson Formation. The Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic sandstones
generally have excellent or good reservoir qualities, respectively, whereas quality is good to locally poor within the
intersected Middle Jurassic and Triassic sections (e.g. Cash1 and Maple1 respectively).
Within the Cenozoic section, the Eocene Grebe Sandstone Member of the Hibernia Formation is sealed by carbonates
within the Hibernia Formation, while those of the OligoceneMiocene Oliver Formation are sealed by internal carbonates
or those of the overlying Barracouta Formation. For the deeper Permian plays, seal is provided by Lower Triassic shales
of the Mount Goodwin Formation.

Reservoirs from which commercial petroleum production has occurred in the northern Bonaparte Basin include the
Oxfordian (upper Jurassic) shoreface/barrier bar sandstone of the Elang Formation in the Buffalo, Elang, Corallina and
Laminaria oil fields, and the fluvio-deltaic Jurassic Plover Formation in the Bayu/Undan gas accumulation (Figure2 and
Figure5). These reservoirs are also the primary targets within the northern Sahul Platform, Malita Graben and Calder
Graben, as exemplified by the Barossa, Blackwood, Caldita, Chuditch, Evans Shoal, Heron and Greater Sunrise gas
accumulations. The regional seal is the thick claystone unit of the Echuca Shoals Formation. Additional top seal is
provided by claystones of the Frigate Shale and equivalent units of the Flamingo Group that have increasing sealing
capacity to the west, particularly across the Troubadour Terrace and Sahul Platform.
The Sandpiper Sandstone of the Flamingo Group is a secondary reservoir in the region. These quartz clastics were
deposited on a marine shelf and possibly in slope and basin-floor fan complexes (Anderson et al, 1993; Barber et al,
2004). The Bathurst Island Group contains high-quality reservoirs, including regionally developed Santonian upper
Wangarlu Formation and Maastrichtian Puffin Formation sandstones that are sealed by carbonates of the Paleocene
Johnson Formation.
Timing of generation
Petrel Sub-basin
Hydrocarbon expulsion modelling (Kennard et al, 2002) of Mississippian and Permian petroleum systems in the Petrel
Sub-basin, suggests multiple effective source units for oil and gas expulsion in the sub-basin. Mesozoic source rocks are
immature for hydrocarbon generation.
Modelled oil and gas expulsion from postulated source rocks within the Mississippian Milligans Formation is restricted
to two offshore depocentres immediately north and south of the Turtle-Barnett High, with expulsion commencing in the
Pennsylvanian and reaching a peak in the Cisuralian (early Permian). This model was originally used to explain the
occurrence of oil at Barnett and Turtle. However, since it has been proven that these oils are generated from the slightly
older Langfield Group (Gorter et al, 2004, 2005; Gorter, 2006b) and younger Tanmurra Formation (Gorter and McKirdy
2013), modelling of these source rocks is required. Similarly, the many oil shows within the southern Petrel Sub-basin
require oil-source correlation studies to determine if the Milligans Formation is the source of any oil.
Modelled gas and oil expulsion from shales and coaly shales of the Cisuralian (early Permian) Keyling Formation
is restricted to the central and outer portions of the Petrel Sub-basin. As modelled, expulsion from the outer Petrel
Subbasin occurred in the LopingianEarly Triassic, whereas in the central Petrel Sub-basin (e.g., below TD of the
Petrel wells) it commenced and peaked in the Early Triassic and continued into the mid-Cretaceous. Structural traps
within the sub-basin predominantly formed during the MiddleLate Triassic Fitzroy Movement, and hence, post-date the
main phase of modelled oil expulsion from any oil-prone source units within the Keyling Formation, Treachery Shale
and Kuriyippi Formation. Modelled gas expulsion from the Hyland Bay Subgroup is limited to the outer portions of the
Petrel Sub-basin adjacent to the Malita Graben. Expulsion occurred throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous, with peak
expulsion in the middle to late Cretaceous. This subgroup is considered too lean to expel significant quantities of oil.
ThePetrel, Tern, Penguin and possibly the Fishburn gas accumulations, are most probably sourced from the Hyland Bay
Subgroup or Keyling Formation, although a Carboniferous input to the Fishburn and Blacktip gas accumulations has not
been discounted.

Vulcan Sub-basin
Various models have been proposed to predict hydrocarbon expulsion and migration in the Vulcan Sub-basin. The 1D
modelling undertaken by Kennard et al (1999) predicted relatively restricted areas of oil and gas expulsion from the lower
Vulcan Formation in the Swan and Paqualin graben. Subsequent 2D and 3D modelling undertaken by Chen et al (2002),
Fujii et al (2004) and Neumann et al (2009) showed more widespread expulsion extending northward into the Cartier
Trough, and migration paths within the underlying Plover Formation westward onto the Ashmore Platform and eastward
to the Skua, Cassini-Challis and Jabiru accumulations. Significantly, Chen et al (2002) modelled hydrocarbon migration
westward to Puffin and northwestward onto the Ashmore Platform, explaining the Warb1A oil show.
Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in the Vulcan Sub-basin is modelled to have commenced in the Late Jurassic
and continued through to the Early Cretaceous, largely in response to elevated heat flow associated with rifting (Kennard
et al, 1999; Fujii et al, 2004; Neumann et al, 2009). However, the main phase of oil expulsion in the Swan Graben
occurred in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and during the middle to late Cenozoic in the Cartier Trough, being
largely driven by burial compaction. In contrast, the main phase of gas expulsion coincided with the main phase of gas
generation, which occurred in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Later phases of gas expulsion, in response to burial
compaction, took place in the PaleoceneEocene and PlioceneHolocene. Source rock transformation ratios and bulk
generation rates indicate that the source rocks are still generating (Neumann et al, 2009).
Fujii et al (2004) and Neumann et al (2009) also modelled generation and migration from the combined lower Vulcan and
Plover formations, which resulted in more pervasive expulsion, migration and accumulation in the eastern portion of the
Vulcan Sub-basin, especially on the Montara Terrace. These models suggest middle Cenozoic expulsion and migration
from the Plover Formation in the Kimberley Graben (the southwestern extension of the Swan Graben) into the Montara
Tahbilk structures, which is consistent with the geochemical interpretation of Edwards et al (2004) that these oils and
gases are sourced from the Plover Formation.

There are no published hydrocarbon expulsion models for the Sahul Syncline region of the northern Bonaparte
Basin. Preston and Edwards (2000), provided a temperature map of the Top Elang surface showing the 120C and
140C isotherms, which they considered to be the effective limits for expulsion of hydrocarbons from the Elang/Plover
formations and basal Frigate Shale, respectively. They determined that the Elang and Plover formations are mature for
hydrocarbon generation across the Sahul Syncline, northern Flamingo Syncline and southwestern Malita Graben and are
the likely source for the majority of hydrocarbon accumulations in the area, including all producing fields. Geochemical
differences between the Laminaria-Corallina oils and the Bayu/Undan gas/condensates were explained by a more
mature hydrocarbon charge and an additional source input from the marine Flamingo Group into the latter accumulation.
The occurrence of gas rather than liquids on the northeastern Sahul Platform, Malita and Calder graben has been
explained by the relatively poorer source quality of the Plover Formation within the depocentres (Ambrose, 2004) and the
possible absence of syn-rift CallovianOxfordian (Middle-Upper Jurassic) organic-rich shales within the Elang Formation,
which is sandstone-dominated in this region. Modelling by West and Miyazaki (1994) and Shell Development (Australia)
Limited (1999) at Heron1 in the Malita Graben indicates that the Flamingo Group and lowermost Bathurst Island Group
were within the gas window in the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene. High geothermal gradients are recorded throughout
the Malita and Calder graben, precluding the preservation of liquid hydrocarbons below approximately 2.5km.
The basal unit of the Bathurst Island Group, the Echuca Shoals Formation, has good source character and could be a
potential source of both liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in the northern Bonaparte Basin (West and Passmore, 1994).
To date, oil shows within the Darwin Formation (e.g. Elang West1; Figure5) and the gas discovery at Firebird1 within
the Flamingo Group have been attributed to this source.

Exploration history
The Bonaparte Basin is currently Australias third most prolific offshore hydrocarbon-producing basin (after the Northern
Carnarvon and Gippsland basins) with 4.2MMbbl (0.7Gl) of oil and 153.1Bcf (4.3Bcm) of gas produced in 2010
(Geoscience Australia, 2010a; Geoscience Australia and ABARE, 2010; Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics,
2012). The most recent drilling activity in the Bonaparte Basin includes the exploration wells Durville1, Ironstone1,
Kingtree1 and Laperouse1 in 2011, and the extension/appraisal wells Cash2, Petrel7, Heron South1 and Maple2
in 2012. The appraisal well EvansShoalNorth 1 in exploration permit NT/P48 was completed in October 2013 by Eni
with Shell, Petronas and Osaka Gas (MEO Australia, 2013b), and Blackwood 2 was spudded 28 October 2013 by Eni
and MEO in NT/P68 (MEO, 2013f). Recent production advances include first oil from Montara in June 2013 (PTTEP
Australasia, 2013).
Information on drilling successes, permit histories and reserves are given by Geoscience Australia and ABARE (2010),
Geoscience Australia (2010b), Department of Resources, Minerals and Energy Group (2012) and Department of Mines
and Petroleum, Petroleum Division (2011a, 2011b, 2012a, 2012b). A review of production and development and appraisal
drilling is provided by Dello (2012) and by Geoscience Australia and BREE (2012). Reviews of exploration during 2011
have been provided by Cooney (2012) and Brooks (2013). The distribution of wells in the Bonaparte Basin can be seen
in Figure3.
Exploration in the offshore Bonaparte Basin commenced in 1965 when regional aeromagnetic data were acquired.
Thiswas supplemented by regional seismic coverage acquired between 1965 and 1974. The first offshore exploration
well to be drilled in the basin was Ashmore Reef1, on the Ashmore Platform, which was drilled in 1968 as a stratigraphic
test. Although this well failed to encounter hydrocarbons, it indicated that the Jurassic section is either thin or absent and
that Triassic sandstones form potential petroleum reservoirs over much of the platform.
Between 1969 and 1971, seven wells were drilled in the offshore Petrel Sub-basin. This drilling campaign resulted in
the discovery of the Petrel and Tern gas accumulations reservoired within the Permian Hyland Bay Subgroup, which
constitutes a primary exploration target in the central Petrel Sub-basin.
In the early 1970s, exploration expanded beyond the limits of the Petrel Basin into the Vulcan Sub-basin and onto
the Londonderry High and Sahul Platform. Between 1971 and 1975, 24 wells were drilleda further five in the Petrel
Subbasin, two on the Sahul Platform, seven in the Vulcan Sub-basin, five on the Londonderry High, three on the
Ashmore Platform and two in the Malita Graben. Several significant petroleum discoveries were made during this period,
including the Penguin (gas), Puffin (oil), Troubadour (gas) and Sunrise (gas) accumulations. Between 1975 and 1982,
relatively low levels of exploration drilling took place in the offshore Bonaparte Basin (a total of eight wells) due to a
dispute over sovereignty of the sea-bed boundary.
The discovery in 1983 of economic oil in Jabiru1A, which tested a Jurassic horst block in the Vulcan Sub-basin,
stimulated further exploration in the offshore part of the Bonaparte Basin, and 21 exploration wells were drilled in the
next three years (1984 to 1986). Of these wells, 12 were located in the Vulcan Sub-basin and on the western flank of the
Londonderry High. This phase of exploration resulted in the discovery of a further three commercial oil accumulations
in the Vulcan Sub-basin (Cassini, Challis and Skua). During the mid-1980s, two oil discoveries were made in stacked
reservoirs within the Permo-Carboniferous succession at Turtle1 (1984) and Barnett1 (1985) in the Petrel Sub-basin.
After a brief downturn in 1987, levels of offshore exploration drilling in the Bonaparte Basin accelerated. Between
1988 and 1990, 31 exploration wells were drilled in the Vulcan Sub-basin. Drilling results from these wells proved
disappointing, although several oil and gas discoveries were made, including Maple1 (gas) and Montara1 (oil and gas).
In the northern Bonaparte Basin, Evans Shoal1 (1988) intersected a significant gas accumulation within the Jurassic
Plover Formation. However, it was 10 years before this discovery was appraised with Evans Shoal2 (1998). In the early
1990s, appraisal of the offshore Petrel and Tern accumulations continued, as did the appraisal of the onshore Weaber
gas accumulation, first discovered in 1982 by Australian Aquitaine. Of the eight offshore exploration wells drilled at this
time, only Fishburn1, drilled by BHP Petroleum Pty Ltd, was successful in making another gas discovery. Of the four
wells drilled onshore in the 1990s, Waggon Creek1 and Vienta1 were gas discoveries made by Amity Oil NL.
Resolution of the territorial dispute between Indonesia and Australia in 1991 established the Zone of Cooperation (ZOC).
The establishment of ZOC Area A allowed exploration on the Sahul Platform and adjacent areas to resume (Botten and
Wulff, 1990). Between 1992 and 1998, the exploration focus in the offshore Bonaparte Basin shifted to this area. Of the
73 exploration wells drilled here during this period, 43 were located either on or adjacent to the Sahul Platform, Laminaria
High and Flamingo High. The first commercial petroleum success resulting from this phase of exploration occurred in
1994, when Elang1 discovered liquid hydrocarbons and identified a new oil play on the Flamingo and Laminaria highs.
This was followed by the discoveries at Laminaria1 (1994), Kakatua1 (1994), Buffalo1 (1996) and Corallina1 (1996).
Shell and Woodside carried out appraisal drilling of the Troubadour and Sunrise discoveries. Elsewhere at this time, the
only significant oil discovery was at Tenacious1 (1997) in the Vulcan Sub-basin (Woods and Maxwell, 2004).

In 1999, Timor-Leste was granted independence by Indonesia. In that year, only one exploration well (Jura1) was drilled
in the former ZOC Area A. During 20022003, the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) was established by the
governments of Australia and Timor-Leste (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2003).
During 20002001, exploration drilling in the Vulcan Sub-basin peaked and oil was discovered in Audacious1
(Maxwell et al, 2004; Woods, 2004). At this time, exploration drilling on the Londonderry High identified numerous gas
accumulations within the Hyland Bay Subgroup at Prometheus1, Rubicon1, Ascalon1A and Saratoga1.
Over the last decade, exploration has continued in the Bonaparte Basin, with between three and ten wells drilled
per year. This contrasts with the previous decades exploration drilling activities, in which greater than seven wells
per year were drilled with a maximum of 19 wells being drilled in 1994. Currently there is increased focus on the
commercialisation of existing discoveries as indicated by the number of extension/appraisal and development wells
drilled, reflecting the maturity of exploration within the basin.
Petrel Sub-basin
There have been moderate levels of exploration activity within the Petrel Sub-basin between 2001 and 2009, with one or
two exploration wells being drilled per year. Of these, Blacktip1 (2001) was completed as a gas discovery (Leonard et al,
2004) and Polkadot1 (2004) encountered a gas accumulation. The latest exploration wells drilled in this sub-basin are
Marina1 (2007), Frigate Deep1 (2008), Sidestep1 (2008) and Windjana1 (2009). Of these, Marina1 was reported as a
gas and condensate discovery (Drillsearch Energy Limited, 2007) and Frigate Deep1 as a gas discovery (Santos, 2008).
In 2009, in the offshore Petrel Sub-basin, the Blacktip gas accumulation was appraised by Enis Blacktip2 and two
development wells, BlacktipP1 andP2, were also drilled. In August 2011, Santos drilled Petrel7 to further appraise
the Petrel accumulation, hosted within the Cape Hay Formation of the Hyland Bay Subgroup. In the onshore Petrel
Sub-basin, Advent Energy has recently re-entered the Waggon Creek1 (1995) and Vienta1 (1998) wells for production
testing; both of these are cased and suspended for future production (MEC Resources, 2012).
Future activities currently planned in the Petrel Sub-basin include:
Murphy Australia are planning to drill the Fulmar Prospect (NTP/80) in 2014 (Murphy Oil Corporation, 2013).
Penguin Deep1 is scheduled to be drilled in 2014 in WA-313-P north of the Blacktip accumulation by Eni (MEO
Australia, 2013a).
Vulcan Sub-basin
Since 2001, gas has been discovered at Vesta1 (2005), and oil at Katandra1A (2004) and Swallow1 (2006) in the
Vulcan Sub-basin. Subsequent exploration wells drilled in this sub-basin are Sea Eagle1 (2007), Wisteria1 (2008),
Clairault1, Great Auk1 and Spruce1ST1 (all in 2009), and Ironstone1 and Kingtree1 by PTTEP Australasia in 2011.
For the last decade, extension/appraisal and development drilling in the Vulcan Sub-basin has been concentrated in and
around the Challis-Cassini and Jabiru oil fields [Newfield Australia (Cartier) Pty Ltd], as well as the Puffin (East Puffin
Pty Ltd) and Skua (Coogee Resources Pty Ltd) oil fields. Extension/appraisal and development drilling peaked during
2008 and 2009 in the sub-basin with PTTEP Australasias development of the Montara and Swift-Swallow accumulations.
Oilproduction at Montara commenced in June 2013 using FPSO Montara Venture (PTTEP Australasia, 2013). Extension
and appraisal of other discoveries in the sub-basin have been undertaken with the drilling of Audacious5 (OMV Timor
Sea Pty Ltd) and Vesta2 (Eni Australia Ltd) in 2008, Oliver2 in 2009 (Stuart Petroleum Ltd), Cash2 in 2011 and Maple2
in May 2012 (PTTEP Australasia, 2012).
Exploration activities planned in the Vulcan Sub-basin include:
Drilling of an exploratory well in AC/P51 in the western Vulcan Sub-basin by MEO, probably targeting the Ramble
On prospect identified using the recently acquired Zeppelin3D seismic survey in conjunction with the reprocessed
Onnia3D survey (MEO Australia, 2013d).
PTTEP are carrying out pre-drilling surveying activities for Dillon South1 (AC/P4), Maple East1 (AC/P54), and
Cash3 and Maple3 in AC/RL7. Surveying was conducted between August and October 2013 (NOPSEMA, 2013).

Exploration has been active in the northern Bonaparte Basin since 2005. Gas was discovered in the Calder Graben
at Caldita1 (2005) and Barossa1ST1 (2006), on the margin of the Flamingo High at Firebird1 (2005), and at
Blackwood1ST1 (2008) on the Troubadour Terrace. Exploration success continued with the discovery of oil at Kitan1
(2008) on the Laminaria High (Simon et al, 2010).
Drilling has continued on the Laminaria High with two wells, Karongo1 [Eni (Australia) Pty Ltd] and Kasareta1
(EniAustralia BV), drilled in 2010. On the Sahul Platform, Lore1 (2009) was drilled by Oilex NL, who followed up with
the Lolotoe1ST1 well in 20092010. Exploration continued in the northern Nancar Trough and Sahul Syncline with the
drilling of FuNiu1, JinNiu1 and HongNiu1 by CNOOC in 2009. Three wells were drilled in the Flamingo Syncline in
20092010; Baleia1 and Kurita1 (both Petronas), and Makikit1 (Autoridade Nacional do Petrleo). The most recent
exploration wells to have been drilled in the Malita Graben are Laperouse1 and Durville1 (Total E&P Australia) in 2011.
Since 2002, further extension/appraisal and development drilling of accumulations has continued at Buffalo, Corallina,
Kuda Tasi, Laminaria and Bayu/Undan on the Laminaria and Flamingo highs. Most recently, such activities have focused
on the Kitan accumulation with four wells being drilled since 2008 by Eni Australia Ltd.
Extension and appraisal of other discoveries in the northern Bonaparte Basin have been undertaken with the drilling
of Caldita2 (ConocoPhillips Australia Exploration Pty Ltd) in 2006, Heron2ST1 (MEO Australia Ltd) in 2008, Heron
South1 in December 2012 (Eni Australia) and Evans Shoal North1 by an Eni-led joint venture in October 2013
(MEOAustralia, 2013b). The appraisal well Blackwood2 was spudded on 28 October 2013 and is targeted to confirm the
depth of the gas water contact, the gas quality and the productivity of the reservoir (MEO Australia, 2013c, 2013g).
Exploration activities planned in the northern Bonaparte Basin include:
A rig has been secured for a three well appraisal drilling program in the Caldita-Barossa accumulation by
ConocoPhillips in conjunction with Santos and SK E&S to commence in 201314 (ConocoPhillips, 2013).
Magellan Petroleum propose to drill a well south of Evans Shoal in the Malita Graben (in permit NT/P82) before the
end of 2015 (Magellan Petroleum, 2013).
Eni and MEO are considering another well in the Heron structure, with plans to drill Heron3 as part of the NT/P68
permit farmin agreement (MEO Australia, 2013e).
Detailed design is underway by ConocoPhillips for a Phase3 development drilling program in the Bayu/Undan
accumulation to commence in the second quarter of 2014 (Rigzone, 2013).
Recent seismic acquisition in the Bonaparte Basin includes the Eni Australia Ltd and MEO Australia Bathurst3D seismic
survey covering the Heron, Blackwood and Blackwood East structures in the northern Malita GrabenTroubadour
Terrace area in December 2011January 2012 (MEO Australia, 2012). Fugro Multiclient Services has acquired the
KyranisMC3D seismic survey over a similar region, as well as extending into the southern Malita Graben and onto
the northeastern Londonderry High. Magellan has acquired a 3Dseismic survey over NT/P82 south of Evans Shoal
(Magellan Petroleum, 2013).
The Gold2D seismic survey was completed in the northwestern Petrel Sub-basin (Octanex N.L. 2013). Octanex also
acquired the Ascalon, Tamar and Rissa3D MSS seismic surveys, and the Kingfisher and Hawk2D surveys over the
Petrel, Londonderry High and southern margins of the Sahul Syncline (Octanex N.L., 2013). The Fishburn2D seismic
survey over Santos northwest Petrel Sub-basin permit (WA-459-P) has been completed (Santos, 2013b). The Floyd 3D
seismic (601km2) was acquired early in 2012 over the Breakwater and Marina prospects in the western Petrel Subbasin
(MEO Australia, 2013a), while the Falcon2D survey, west of the Blacktip accumulation, was acquired by Octanex
(Octanex N.L, 2013).
During 2012, Geoscience Australia undertook two major surveys in the Petrel Sub-basin, acquiring 2D seismic (GA336)
and marine (GA335) data. The seismic survey acquired 4091linekm of 2D seismic reflection data, which was processed
to focus on enhancing the stratigraphy in the shallower formations (<1000m). Also, 8000linekm of multibeam swath
bathymetry was acquired during this survey. This work was supported by a marine survey investigating the shallow
geology and seabed characteristics in two key locations that were of geological relevance to the underlying substructure
and basin history of the region. Data collected on the marine survey included further multibeam swath bathymetry
(5300linekm) and sub-bottom profiler data (655linekm), as well as underwater videography at 11 sites, and seabed
sediment and biological samples at 15 sites (Carroll et al, 2012). The pre-competitive data package, including initial data
analysis and post-survey reports, is now available through the Geoscience Australia website (http://www.ga.gov.au/).

The Sandalford3D seismic survey was undertaken in the northwestern Vulcan Sub-basin by PTTEP. In addition, the
recent Northern Margin AustraliaArafura Multiclient2D seismic survey (Petroleum Geo-Services Asia Pacific, 2011) also
extends across the Bonaparte Basin and covers parts of the 2013 and 2014 Release Areas.
In the far western Bonaparte Basin, MEO acquired the Zeppelin2D and3D seismic surveys (500km2) over their
Ashmore Cartier permits in the Vulcan Sub-basin in early 2012 (MEO Australia, 2013a). Finder acquired the Cartier,
Cartier West, and Tiffany3D seismic surveys in the Ashmore Platform/Caswell Sub-basin areas (Finder Exploration,
2013).
The WestraliaSPAN seismic survey by Ion Geoventures was completed in April 2013 across the Northwest Shelf.
Thesurvey consists of 11500linekm of deep crustal seismic across the Exmouth Plateau, Browse and Bonaparte
basins, acquired with the aim of imaging deep tectonostratigraphic features (Ion Geoventures, 2013).
Development status
Currently there are four LNG development projects being planned in the Bonaparte Basin:
The Bonaparte floating LNG development is being undertaken jointly by GDF Suez Bonaparte (operator) and Santos
Offshore Pty Limited and includes the Petrel, Tern and Frigate gas accumulations which have a gross contingent
resource of 2.1Tcf (59.5Bcm) of gas (Santos, 2009). The project is currently in pre-Front End Engineering and
Design (pre-FEED), with the FEED phase expected to commence in the first quarter of 2014. It is anticipated
that the Final Investment Decision (FID) will be made by mid-2015, with first LNG production planned for 2019
(Santos,2013a).
The Greater Sunrise project (Sunrise and Troubadour fields) is operated by Woodside (33.44%) with Sunrise Joint
Venture partners ConocoPhillips (30%), Shell (26.56%) and Osaka Gas (10%). The Greater Sunrise gas fields
straddle an area of exclusive Australian jurisdiction (79.9%) and the JPDA (20.1%) and are to be exploited on a
unitised basis by Australia and Timor-Leste. The fields are estimated to contain 5.13Tcf (145.3Bcm) of gas and
226MMbbl (35.93Gl) of condensate.
PTTEP Australasia (Ashmore Cartier) Pty Ltd, is considering conventional LNG or a floating LNG project to produce
gas from the Cash/Maple and Oliver accumulations, as well as the southern fields including Padthaway, Bilyara,
Tahbilk and Montara. Pre-FEED studies are in progress with FEED studies proposed to commence in 2014. FID is
expected in 2015 with first gas production in 2019 (PTTEP Australasia, 2013).
MEO Australia has pre-FEED development plans to produce LNG and methanol from facilities located on Tassie
Shoal, a shallow water area in exploration permit NT/P68, located in proximity to the Evans Shoal gas accumulation
(MEO Australia, 2012).

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Symposium, Darwin, 1920 June 2003. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 1, 471482

Audacious
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124 Inset A 125
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AUSTRALIA
0 200 km
16
122 124 126 128 130

13-7717-1
Pipelines and field outlines are provided by Encom GPinfo, a Pitney Bowes Software (PBS) Pty Ltd product. Whilst all care is taken in the compilation of the field outlines by PBS, no warranty is provided re the accuracy or completeness of the information, and it is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure, by independent means, that those parts of the
information used by it are correct before any reliance is placed on them.
Figure1 Structural elements of the Bonaparte Basin showing the locations of regional seismic sections and petroleum fields

122 124 126 128 130
TIMOR LESTE
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0 200 km Wyndham
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13-7717-2
Well symbol information is sourced either from "open file" data from titleholders where this is publicly available as at 1 November 2013 or from other public sources. Pipelines and field outlines are provided by Encom GPinfo, a Pitney Bowes Software (PBS) Pty Ltd product. Whilst all care is taken in the compilation of the field outlines by PBS, no warranty is provided re the accuracy
or completeness of the information, and it is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure, by independent means, that those parts of the information used by it are correct before any reliance is placed on them.
Figure2 Petroleum production facilities, petroleum fields and current and proposed pipeline infrastructure in the Bonaparte and Browse basins

Oliver
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'
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' Petroleum exploration well - Drilled 2013
TERRITORY
* AUSTRALIA
0 200 km
16
122 124 126 128 130

13-7717-3
Well symbol information is sourced either from "open file" data from titleholders where this is publicly available as at 1 November 2013 or from other public sources. Pipelines and field outlines are provided by Encom GPinfo, a Pitney Bowes Software (PBS) Pty Ltd product. Whilst all care is taken in the compilation of the field outlines by PBS, no warranty is
provided re the accuracy or completeness of the information, and it is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure, by independent means, that those parts of the information used by it are correct before any reliance is placed on them.
Figure3 Petroleum fields and well locations in the Bonaparte Basin, highlighting wells drilled in 2013

Audacious
Katandra
124 Inset A 125
TIMOR LESTE Jabiru
12
NT
AC11-1 0 25 km
Challis
Delamere
QLD
WA Abadi Cassini
EA Swan
S
OR
SA
INDONESIA
NSW TIM Ashmore
E
EST Graben
TAS
O RL IA Troubadour Terrace
Skua
TIM TRAL
C
r Tro
A&
S Barossa
Tim o AU
WA
Evans Shoal Vulcan
JPDA 10
Caldita Sub-basin
Flamingo
Syncline Evans
Sahul Shoal Caswell
Nancar Trough Inset B Platform South Sub-basin Londonderry
High
13 Crux
ab
Gr
lita
Ma Inset B
126
Darwin Kuda Tasi Kelp
Shelf Corallina Jahal High
Vulcan Sa
Fl
hul Bay u/U Laminaria
nd a n
am
Sub-basin Syn pipe Laminaria
clin Kitan
in
e lin e High
g
NT
Melville Island
o
Buffalo
WA
AN
Sy
CE
nc
NO
lin
IA Flamingo
A&
e
IND Bathurst
WA
Inset A High
Island 12
Kakatua
JP
Ashmore Nancar
DA
Platform BONAPARTE BASIN Trough Elang
Londonderry High
DARWIN 11 Sahul
Syncline
Bayu/Undan
0 25 km
Prometheus/ Petrel
d ) Rubicon
ose Frigate
(p rop
ine Petrel
A& C
pi pel Tern
thy
s Sub-basin Oil field
WA Ich
e line Gas field
Cornea ip pip
Prelude ckt Basin boundary
Bla
m
Sub-basin boundary
or
Blacktip
atf
Be
Torosa Ichthys 14 Gas pipeline
Pl
rk
le
yle
y
Pl
Mo
at
Burnside
fo
mr
Gravity (m/s2)
Caswell 400
Sub-basin Yampi Shelf Kimberly Block
200
0
NORTHERN -200
TERRITORY
-400

AUSTRALIA
0 200 km
16
122 124 126 128 130

13-7717-4
Pipelines and field outlines are provided by Encom GPinfo, a Pitney Bowes Software (PBS) Pty Ltd product. Whilst all care is taken in the compilation of the field outlines by PBS, no warranty is provided re the accuracy or completeness of the information, and it is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure, by independent means, that those parts of the
information used by it are correct before any reliance is placed on them.
Figure4 Residual Bouguer satellite gravity data for the Bonaparte Basin. Data derived from the DNSC08GRA satellite altimetry derived gravity dataset (Andersen et al, 2010)

Age Seismic horizons Seismic horizons Basin Troubadour Terrace/
Period Epoch Stage Laminaria/Flamingo High Flamingo/Sahul Syncline Calder and Malita Graben
(Ma) (AGSO, 2001) (AGSO, 1998) phases Sahul Platform
Holocene
Barracouta Barracouta Barracouta Barracouta
Tarantian
Quaternary
Inversion
Pleistocene Ionian
Shoal Shoal Shoal Shoal

Calabrian
Pliocene Gelasian
lmio Tlmio Formation Formation Formation Formation

Piacenzian
Zanclean
Messinian
Neogene
10 Tortonian
Oliver Oliver Oliver Oliver
Serravallian Formation
Miocene Langhian Formation Formation Formation
Burdigalian bmio
20 Oliver
Aquitanian Cartier Formation/ Oliver Sandstone
Oliver Sandstone Sandstone
Cartier Member
Formation
Chattian Tmio Member Member (Oliver
Formation)
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Oligocene molig
30
Rupelian
Priabonian
Undifferentiated
Bartonian Prion Prion Prion
Formation
Paleogene
40 Formation Formation Formation
Hibernia
Prion/
Eocene Lutetian
Hibernia Hibernia Hibernia
Formation Formation Formation
50
Grebe Sandstone Grebe Sandstone Grebe Sandstone Grebe Sandstone
Ypresian Member Member Member Member
beoc Teoc (Hibernia Formation) (Hibernia Formation) (Hibernia Formation) (Hibernia Formation)
Thanetian
60 Selandian Johnson Johnson Johnson Johnson
Paleocene Formation Formation Formation Formation
Danian
bter Tbase
Thermal subsidence
Maastrichtian Puffin Puffin
70 Turnstone Turnstone
Formation Formation Formation Formation
Klmaas
Campanian
Fenelon Fenelon
80 Formation Formation
Late Kcamp
Santonian Gibson Gibson
Formation Formation Wangarlu
Coniacian Formation
90 Wangarlu
Turonian tur Woolaston Woolaston Formation
Bathurst Island Group

Formation Formation

Cenomanian
100
Cretaceous
Jamieson/ Wangarlu
Wangarlu Formation
Albian Formations
110
Darwin Darwin
Formation Formation
Darwin Darwin
120 Aptian Formation Formation
Early
apt Kapt
Barremian Echuca Echuca

130 Echuca Shoals Echuca
Shoals Shoals Shoals
Hauterivian Formation Formation
Formation Formation
Valanginian val Kval
140 Upper
Sa nds
Sa
Berriasian Frigate
nd ton
bcre Upper Upper

pip e
Frigate Shale Frigate

er
Main extension
Shale Upper Shale

Flamingo Group
Flamingo Group
Flamingo Group
Flamingo Group
Tithonian Jtith Frigate
150 Shale
Late Kimmeridgian Jkim Lower Lower Lower Lower

Frigate Frigate Frigate Frigate
Shale Shale Shale Shale
160 Oxfordian
Elang Elang Elang Elang
Callovian call Jcal Formation Formation Formation Formation
Bathonian
Middle Bajocian
Troughton
Plover
Jurassic
170
Group
Aalenian Formation
Subsidence/mild extension
Troughton Group
Toarcian Plover
Troughton Group
180 Formation
Plover Plover
Formation Formation
Pliensbachian
Early
190
Sinemurian
200 Hettangian bjtt Jbase

Troughton Group
Rhaetian
210 Nome
Formation
Inversion
Malita
Formation
Late Norian
220
Sahul Group
Challis
Triassic
Formation
Cape
230 Londonderry
Carnian Pollard Formation
Formation
mtri Lower Cape
Ladinian
Thermal subsidence
240 Londonderry
Trmid Formation
Middle (Osprey
Osprey Formation
Anisian Formation Equivalent)
Fishburn Formation Fishburn Formation
Olenekian
250 Early Ascalon Formation Ascalon Formation
Induan Pntop Mairmull Formation Mairmull Formation

Kinmore Group
Changhsingian tper Penguin Formation Penguin Formation

Tern Formation Tern Formation
Kinmore Group
Lopingian Dombey Dombey

Wuchiapingian
Formation Formation
260 Cape Hay
Cape Hay
Permian
Capitanian Formation Formation

Pearce
Guadalupian Pearce Formation
Wordian Formation
Torrens
270 Roadian Formation
Fossil Head
Cisuralian Kungurian Formation
13-7717-6
Figure5 Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy and hydrocarbon discoveries of the northern Bonaparte Basin based on the Bonaparte Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy
Chart34 (Kelman et al, 2014). Geologic Time Scale after Gradstein et al (2012). Regional seismic horizons after AGSO (2001) and Kennard et al (1998, 1999)

Age Seismic horizons Seismic horizons Basin
Period Epoch Stage Ashmore Platform Vulcan Sub-basin Londonderry High Petrel Sub-basin
(Ma) (AGSO, 2001) (AGSO, 1998) phases
Holocene Tarantian
Barracouta Barracouta Barracouta
Inversion
Quaternary Pleistocene Ionian
Calabrian
Pliocene Gelasian Shoal Shoal Shoal

lmio Tlmio Formation Formation Formation
Piacenzian
Zanclean
Messinian
Neogene
10 Tortonian
Serravallian Oliver Oliver Oliver
Miocene Langhian Formation Formation Formation
Burdigalian
Undifferentiated Woodbine Group

20 bmio
Aquitanian Oliver Sandstone
Member (Oliver
Oliver
Cartier Formation) Sandstone
Member
Chattian Tmio Formation (Oliver
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Woodbine Group
Formation)
Oligocene
30 molig
Rupelian
Priabonian
Bartonian Prion Prion Prion
Paleogene
40 Formation Formation Formation
Eocene Lutetian Hibernia Hibernia Hibernia

50 Grebe Grebe Grebe
Sandstone Sandstone Sandstone
Ypresian Member Member Member
beoc Teoc (Hibernia (Hibernia (Hibernia
Formation) Formation) Formation)
Thanetian
60 Selandian Johnson Johnson Johnson
Paleocene
Danian bter Tbase
Thermal subsidence
Formation
Maastrichtian
70 Puffin Turnstone
Puffin
Formation Formation
Klmaas
Campanian Fenelon
Fenelon
Late Kcamp Brown
Santonian Gibson Gibson
Gannet Formation
Coniacian Limestone Formation Wangarlu
90 Formation
tur

Turonian Woolaston
Formation Woolaston

Formation
Cenomanian
100
Cretaceous
Upper Upper
Jamieson Jamieson
Albian Jamieson Formation
Formation Formation
110
Lower Lower
Jamieson Jamieson Darwin
120 Aptian Formation Formation Formation
Early
apt Kapt
Echuca
Shoals Echuca
Barremian Echuca
130 Formation Shoals Echuca
Shoals Shoals
Hauterivian Formation Formation Formation
Valanginian val Kval
140
Flamingo Group
Sandpiper
Berriasian Upper Sandstone
bcre Vulcan Sandpiper
Formation Sandstone
Flamingo Group
Main extension
Jtith Upper
Swan Group
Tithonian Frigate
150
Ashmore Volcanics
Shale
Lower Vulcan Fm
Lower
Swan Group
Late Kimmeridgian Jkim Vulcan Lower

Formation Frigate
160 Shale
Oxfordian
Montara Elang
Callovian call Jcal Formation Formation
Bathonian
Middle Bajocian
Jurassic
170
Aalenian
Subsidence/mild extension
Plover Formation
Toarcian
Troughton Group
Troughton Group
180
Ashmore Plover Plover
Volcanics Formation Formation
Pliensbachian
Early
Troughton Group
190
Sinemurian
200 Hettangian bjtt Jbase

Formation
Troughton Group
Malita
Undifferentiated
Rhaetian
210
Nome Malita
Inversion
Formation Formation
Late Norian Benalla Nome

Sahul Group
Sahul Group

Challis
Triassic
Challis Formation
Formation
Undifferentiated
Cape
Sahul Group
230 Londonderry
Formation
Carnian Pollard Pollard
Formation Formation Lower Cape
Londonderry
Formation
mtri (Osprey
Ladinian Osprey Osprey Formation
Trmid equivalent)
Middle
Osprey
Anisian Formation
Fishburn
Formation
Fishburn
Formation
Fishburn
Formation
Thermal subsidence
Ascalon Ascalon Ascalon

Undifferentiated
Olenekian Formation Formation Formation
250 Early Mount Goodwin
Subgroup
Induan Pntop
Mairmull Formation Mairmull Formation Mairmull Formation
Changhsingian tper Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin

Kinmore Group
Kinmore Group
Formation Formation Formation Formation

Kinmore Group
Lopingian Tern Tern Tern Tern

Kinmore Group
Wuchiapingian Formation Formation Formation Formation

260 Dombey Dombey Dombey Dombey
Permian
Formation
Capitanian Cape Hay Cape Hay Cape Hay
Cape Hay Formation Formation Formation
Guadalupian Formation Pearce Pearce Pearce
Wordian Formation Formation Formation
Pearce
270 Torrens Torrens Torrens
Roadian Formation Formation Formation Formation
Fossil Head Fossil Head Fossil Head Fossil Head
Cisuralian Kungurian Formation
13-7717-7
Figure6 Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy and hydrocarbon discoveries of the western and southern Bonaparte Basin based on the Bonaparte Basin Biozonation and
Stratigraphy Chart 34 (Kelman et al, 2014). Geologic Time Scale after Gradstein et al (2012). Regional seismic horizons after AGSO (2001). Vulcan Tertiary Tie (VTT)
seismic horizons after AGSO (1996) and Kennard et al (1998, 1999)

Seismic
Age Basin
Period Epoch Stage horizons Petrel Sub-basin
(Ma) (AGSO, 2001) phases
Ascalon Formation
Tri.
Mt Goodwin
Early Induan
Subgroup
Mairmull Formation
Changhsingian Penguin
tper Formation
Tern Formation
Lopingian
Wuchiapingian Dombey
Formation
Hyland Bay Subgroup

260
Thermal subsidence
Capitanian
Cape Hay
Formation
Guadalupian
Wordian Pearce
Formation
Kinmore Group
270 Torrens
Roadian Formation
Permian
Kungurian
Fossil Head
280 Formation
Artinskian
Cisuralian
Keyling
290 Formation
Ditji
Formation
Sakmarian
Quoin Formation
tcar
Treachery
Formation
Asselian
300
Gzhelian
Kulshill Group
Kasimovian
Kuriyippi
Formation
310
Pennsylvanian Moscovian
lcar
Bashkirian
320 Aquitaine
Formation
Wadeye Group
Arco
Formation
Carboniferous
Serpukhovian
330
Sunbird
Formation
Sandbar
Sandstone
Tanmurra
Weaber Group
mcar Formation
Visean Kingfisher Shale
340 Utting
Mississippian Calcarenite
Yow Creek
Formation
Milligans
Formation
ecar
350
Tournaisian
Langfield Group
equivalent
Bonaparte
Formation
360
Ningbing Group equivalent
Famennian Bonaparte
Formation
370
Late
Devonian
Cockatoo Group
equivalent
Frasnian Bonaparte
Formation
380
Givetian
Middle
390 Eifelian
13-7717-8
Figure7 Palaeozoic stratigraphy and hydrocarbon discoveries of the southern Bonaparte Basin (Petrel Sub-basin) based on the Bonaparte Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy
Chart34 (Kelman et al, 2014). Geologic Time Scale after Gradstein et al (2012). Basin phases specific to the Petrel Sub-basin after Colwell and Kennard (1996)

Darwin
Petrel Sub-basin Shelf
Sandpiper 1 Tern 1 Petrel 1

SW NE
0
Late Miocene
Base Cretaceous Valanginian Aptian Turonian Callovian
Base Jurassic
2 assic
Near Top Permian Mid Tri
4 Near Top Carboniferous

Two-way time (s)
Volcanics
6
Late Carboniferous
8 Mid
Carbonifero
us
Basem
ent
Line 100r/03 13-7717-9
10
0 50 km
Figure8 AGSO seismic line 100r/03 across the Petrel Sub-basin. Interpretation after AGSO (2001). Location of the seismic line is shown in Figure1. Regional seismic
horizons are shown in Figure6 and Figure7

Ashmore Platform Vulcan Sub-basin Londonderry High
Sahul Shoals 1 Octavius 1 Jabiru 1A Challis 1 Osprey 1 Whimbrel 1

NW SE
0
Base Eocene
Base Tertiary Turonian
Late Miocene Aptian
Base Miocene
2
s
Bas Valangin eou
e Ju ian tac n
Base Cre a
Midd rassic vi
le Tr llo
iass Ca
ic
Nea
r To
pP us
Late Carbonifero
4
erm
Two-way time (s)
ian
8
Basement
Line 98r/02 13-7717-10

10
0 50 km
Figure9 AGSO seismic line 98r/02 across the Ashmore Platform, Vulcan Sub-basin and Londonderry High. Interpretation after AGSO (2001). Location of the seismic
line is shown in Figure1. Regional seismic horizons are shown in Figure6 and Figure7

Flamingo Flamingo
Londonderry High Sahul Syncline High Syncline Sahul Platform
Avocet 1A Flamingo 1 Coleraine 1 Troubadour 1

SW NE
0
Late Miocen
e
Mid Oligocene
Base Eocene
Base Cenozoic
Turonian Base Cretaceous
2 Aptian
ian
Valanginian Callov
Near Top Permian
ssic
Int
ra Base J ura
4 Triassic
Two-way time (s)
6
Lat us
ero
e Carb onif
8 Bas
em ent
Line 116/09 13-7717-11

10
0 50 km
Figure10 AGSO seismic line 116/09 across the Sahul Syncline and Sahul Platform. Interpretation after AGSO (2001). Location of the seismic line is shown in Figure1.
Regionalseismic horizons are shown in Figure5 and Figure6

Troubadour Terrace Malita Graben Darwin Shelf
Evans Shoal 1 Evans Shoal South 1 Beluga 1

NW SE
0
Late Miocene Mid Oligocene
Base Eocene
Base Cenozoic Valanginian
2 Turonian
Aptian Cenomanian
Base Jurassic
Near Top Permian ic vian
Intra Triass Callo
Basement
4
Two-way time (s)
Near Top Carboniferous

Late Carboniferous
6 Basement
Line 118/05 13-7717-12

10
0 50 km
Figure11 AGSO seismic line 118/05 across the Sahul Platform (Troubadour Terrace), Malita Graben and Darwin Shelf.
Interpretationafter AGSO (2001). Location of the seismic line shown in Figure1. Regional seismic horizons are shown in
Figure5 and Figure6

Abadi
124 126 128 INDONESIA 130
TIMOR-LESTE Calder
E Sunrise AUSTRALIA
EST Graben
RL
INDONESIA TIM O
AL IA Troubadour Troubadour Terrace
S TR Evans Barossa
SEA AU Sahul Platform
OR Shoal 10
TIM Caldita
Flamingo
JPDA
Laminaria High Kuda Tasi
MONEY
Laminaria Jahal
SHOAL
Nancar Kakatua Malita BASIN
Trough Elang Graben
DO N E S IA
IN Bayu/Undan
L IA
AUS TRA Flamingo
Vulcan Sahul High Darwin Shelf
Sub-basin Syncline
Bay
u/Un
Ashmore dan
Jabiru pipe
NT
Platform line
W
12
A
Challis
Puffin Cassini
BONAPARTE BASIN d )
Ichthys pipline (prop os e DARWIN
Skua
Londonderry High
Petrel
Caswell
Sub-basin Crux
Petrel
Frigate Tern
A& C Sub-basin
WA
Cornea
Blacktip
BROWSE BASIN eline
p pi p 14
Yampi Shelf k ti
ac
Bl
NT
QLD
WA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA NORTHERN
SA TERRITORY
NSW
VIC 0 200 km
TAS
13-7717-13
Well symbol information is sourced either from "open file" data from titleholders where this is publicly available as at 1 November 2013 or from other public sources. Pipelines and field outlines are provided by
Encom GPinfo, a Pitney Bowes Software (PBS) Pty Ltd product. Whilst all care is taken in the compilation of the field outlines by PBS, no warranty is provided re the accuracy or completeness of the
information, and it is the responsibility of the Customer to ensure, by independent means, that those parts of the information used by it are correct before any reliance is placed on them.
Source pods Petroleum system limit
Vulcan-Plover(!) Oil field
Elang-Elang(!) Gas field
Permian-Hyland Bay(?) Basin boundary

Sub-basin boundary
Hyland Bay-Hyland Bay(?)
Gas pipeline
Plover-Plover(.) Gas pipeline (proposed)
Scheduled area boundary
Hyland Bay/Keyling-Hyland Bay(.) (OPGGSA 2006)
Milligans-Kuriyippi/Milligans(!)
Figure12 Petroleum systems of the Bonaparte Basin (modified after Barrett et al, 2004; Earl, 2004)

Regional Geology Bonaparte

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OFFSHORE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

ACREAGE RELEASE | AUSTRALIA 2014

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 1

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 2

Flamingo and Sahul synclines

Malita and Calder graben

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 3

Late Devonian to Mississippian extension formed the northwest-trending Petrel Sub-basin.

Extension in the Pennsylvanian (late Carboniferous) to Cisuralian (early Permian) superimposed a

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 4

Northern Bonaparte Basin

a northeast-trending CarboniferousPermian rift

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 5

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 6

Lower Cretaceous-sourced petroleum system (Westralian3)

Upper Jurassic-sourced petroleum system (Westralian2)

LowerMiddle Jurassic-sourced petroleum system (Westralian1)

Permian-sourced petroleum system (Gondwanan1)

Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian)-sourced petroleum system (Larapintine4)

Upper Devonian-sourced petroleum system (Larapintine3)

Jurassic Elang-Elang(!) Petroleum System (Sahul Syncline and Flamingo High)

Jurassic Plover-Plover(.) Petroleum System (Malita Graben and Sahul Platform)

Jurassic Vulcan-Plover(!) Petroleum System (Vulcan Sub-basin)

Permian Hyland Bay-Hyland Bay(?) Petroleum System (Kelp High)

Permian Hyland Bay/Keyling-Hyland Bay(.) Petroleum System (central Petrel Sub-basin)

Permo-Carboniferous Milligans-Kuriyippi/Milligans(!) Petroleum System (southern Petrel Sub-basin)

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 7

Northern Bonaparte Basin

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 8

Reservoirs and seals

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Northern Bonaparte Basin

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 10

Northern Bonaparte Basin

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 11

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Future activities currently planned in the Petrel Sub-basin include:

Exploration activities planned in the Vulcan Sub-basin include:

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 13

Exploration activities planned in the northern Bonaparte Basin include:

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 14

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 15

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 16

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 17

DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM DIVISION, 2012a[Web page] Petroleum in

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 18

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 19

INPEX, 2012[Web page] The world-class Ichthys Project. http://www.inpex.com.au/projects/ichthys-project.aspx

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 20

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 21

MEC RESOURCES, 2012[Web page] Annual Report 2011.

MEO AUSTRALIA, 2012[Web page] Tassie Shoal Projects.

MEO AUSTRALIA, 2013e[Web page] MEO NT/P68 Farmin Agreement Flowchart.

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 22

OCTANEX N.L., 2013[Web page] Octanex Current Project Summary. http://www.octanex.com.au/projects.html

PTTEP AUSTRALASIA, 2012[Web page]. PTTEP Australasia Project.

PTTEP AUSTRALASIA, 2013[Web page]. PTTEP News. http://www.au.pttep.com/news/2013/june/oil-production-

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 23

SANTOS, 2009[Web page] Investor Presentation, September 2009.

SANTOS, 2013a[Web page] APPEA Investors Briefing 28 May 2013.

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AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 25

Londonderry High DARWIN 11 Sahul

BROWSE BASIN WESTERN

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AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 10

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AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 12

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 13

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 14

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AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 16

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 17

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 18

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 19

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 20

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 21

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 22

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 23

AUSTRALIA 2014 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release 24

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' +' '

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