OFFSHORE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
ACREAGE RELEASE
Australia 2015
Release Areas V15-1, T15-1 and T15-2, Nelson Sub-basin,
Otway Basin, Victoria
Bids close 21 April 2016
Under-explored Mesozoic–Cenozoic basin
Adjacent to the gas producing areas of the inner Otway Basin
Overlies large areas of the frontier Nelson Sub-basin, a main depocentre within the Otway Basin
Sub-basin contains up to 8 km of sediment
Potential presence of petroleum systems proven to be productive in adjacent basin
Potential good quality reservoirs and seals, oil- and gas-prone source rocks and active petroleum
systems
Deep to ultra-deep water depths, 250–3400 m
Close to Thylacine and Geographe Gas Pipeline
Special Notices apply, refer to Guidance Notes
Release Areas V15-1, T15-1 and T15-2 are located on the continental shelf and slope within the Nelson
Sub-basin—a frontier exploration province. The areas lie to the south of an established gas producing
region in the inner Otway Basin that provides gas for the southeastern Australian energy market. (Figure
1). The greater Melbourne region currently represents Australia’s largest domestic gas market and is
supported by a local petroleum refining industry. The Release Areas lie between 20 km and 210 km from
the gas pipeline that services the Thylacine and Geographe gas fields. Water depths range from 250 m to
3400 m within V15-1, 260 m to 2400 m in T15-1 and 520 m to 3300 m in T15-2.
The Nelson Sub-basin contains up to 5 s TWT (~8 km) of Cretaceous sediments that are overlain by a thin
Cenozoic succession (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The basal section, interpreted to comprise the non-marine,
fluvio-lacustrine Lower Cretaceous Crayfish and Eumeralla supersequences (Otway Group), is overlain by
a thick, basinward-thickening Upper Cretaceous succession that comprises prodelta and open marine
equivalents of the Shipwreck and Sherbrook supersequences (equivalent to the Sherbrook Group). In
hydrocarbon producing areas of the Otway Basin, the Waarre and Flaxman formations of the Shipwreck
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
Supersequence, as well as the “Thylacine Sandstone Member” of the Belfast Mudstone, are important
petroleum reservoirs.
Although modelling suggests that source rocks within the Lower Cretaceous succession are overmature
across much of the deepwater basin, the presence of a thick, predominantly marine Upper Cretaceous
succession, and geochemical analyses that suggest input from Upper Cretaceous source rocks in
outboard wells, provide encouragement that active petroleum systems are present in the deepwater
Otway Basin.
Figure 4 shows the location of seismic and well data within the Release Areas. Numerous 2D and 3D
seismic surveys have been acquired. These include the Fugro DS01 and DS02 surveys and the OS02
(Santos), Aragorn (Woodside) and Brandt (Santos) surveys, respectively. The area is also covered by
good quality aeromagnetic data. Release Area V15-1 includes the Armit 1 exploration well drilled by
Santos in 2004.
Petroleum systems elements
Nelson Sub-basin
Sources
Lower Cretaceous distal equivalents of the Otway Group
Upper Cretaceous distal equivalents of the Sherbrook Group
Reservoirs
Upper Cretaceous distal equivalents of the Waarre Formation, Flaxman formations and the
“Thylacine Sandstone Member” at the base of the Belfast Mudstone
Upper Cretaceous distal equivalents of the sandstones of the Paaratte Formation
Seals Regional Seals
Upper Cretaceous Belfast Mudstone
Intra-formational Seals
Upper Cretaceous shales within the distal equivalent of the Flaxman Formation
Upper Cretaceous mudstones within the distal equivalent of the Timboon Sandstone
Traps
Faulted anticlines, tilted fault blocks with cross-fault seal
Infrastructure and markets
The Nelson Sub-basin is a frontier exploration province and lacks existing infrastructure. The Release
Areas, however, lie between 20 and 210 km from the gas pipeline that services the Thylacine and
Geographe gas fields in the adjacent Inner Otway Basin.
Critical risks
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
As this is a frontier area, primary exploration risks relate to the lack of well control and modern, good
quality seismic data. The critical exploration risks are associated with the presence and maturity of source
rocks, the presence of effective seals and fault seal integrity. Fault-seal integrity may be less of a risk in
the Nelson Sub-basin than in other parts of the deepwater Otway Basin, as the area has been less
affected by Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic faulting.
Data sets
Wells Data and Seismic Survey listings for the Nelson Sub-basin are available on the Supporting
Information page.
Geoscience Australia products
Regional geology and seismic
Petroleum geology inventory of Australia's offshore frontier basins. Geoscience Australia Record
by Totterdell et al, 2014.
Geology and hydrocarbon prospectivity of the deepwater Otway and Sorell basins, offshore
southeastern Australia. Geoscience Australia Record by Stacey et al, 2013.
Basement structure and its influence on the pattern and geometry of continental rifting and
breakup along Australia’s southern rift margin. Geoscience Australia Record by Gibson et al, 2012
.
Time-Depth Functions for the Otway Basin. Geoscience Australia Record by Petkovic, 2003.
An Audit of Selected Offshore Petroleum Exploration Wells in the Otway Basin, Southeastern
Australia. Geoscience Australia Record by Smith et al, 2003.
Deep Structure of the Otway Basin, Southeastern Australia, Survey 137 (Phases 1 and 2): Postcruise report. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record by Blevin et al, 1995.
NGMA/PESA Otway Basin Symposium, Melbourne, 20 April 1994: Extended Abstracts. Australian
Geological Survey Organisation Record by Finlayson, 1994.
Otway Basin Seismic Test Survey 1991 : Operational Report. Australian Geological Survey
Organisation Record by Wake-Dyster et al, 1994.
Otway Basin Seismic Survey 1992 : Operational Report. Australian Geological Survey
Organisation Record by Wake-Dyster et al, 1994.
BMR Cruise 67: Otway Basin and west Tasmanian sampling. Bureau of Mineral Resources Report
by Exon et al, 1992.
Offshore Otway Basin Study. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Geographic Dataset by
Williamson,1988.
https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&catno=20829
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
Extended abstracts: Otway Basin Workshop, Canberra, 17 March 1987. Bureau of Mineral
Resources Record, 1987.
Stratigraphy
Otway Basin–Biozonation and Stratigraphy Chart No.34. Geoscience Australia Chart by Mantle,
2009.
New and Revised Palynological Data for the Otway Basin. Geoscience Australia Record by
Monteil et al, 2004.
Otway Basin - Biostratigraphic Dataset. Geoscience Australia Dataset by Buckler, 2001.
Otway Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy Chart No.9. Geoscience Australia Chart by
Chaproniere, 1998.
Petroleum systems and accumulations
The Oils of Eastern Australia. Geoscience Australia Report by Summons et al, 2002.
South-eastern Australia Surface Geochemistry II: Light Hydrocarbon Geochemistry in Bottomwaters of the Gippsland Basin, Eastern Otway Basin, Torquay Sub-basin and the Durroon Subbasin. Vols 1 and 2. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record by Bishop et al, 1992.
Australian Petroleum Accumulations Report. Otway Basin, South Australia, Victoria and
Tasmania. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Report by Miyazaki, 1990.
Preliminary Post-cruise Report: Hydrocarbon Gas Geochemistry in sediments of the offshore
Otway and Gippsland Basins: Project 9131.20. Bureau of Mineral Resources Record by Heggie
and O’Brien, 1988.
Search for these and other Geoscience Australia reports and products at www.ga.gov.au/search
Contact Geoscience Australia’s Sales Centre for more information or to order these reports or products,
phone +61 (0)2 6249 9966, email [email protected]
Key references
BLEVIN, J.E. AND CATHRO, D.L., 2008—Australian Southern Margin Synthesis, Project GA707.
Client report to Geoscience Australia by FrOG Tech Pty
Ltd. https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&catno=68892
BOREHAM, C.J., HOPE, J.M., JACKSON, P., DAVENPORT, R., EARL, K.L., EDWARDS, D.S.,
LOGAN, G.A. AND KRASSAY, A.A., 2004—Gas–oil–source correlations in the Otway Basin,
southern Australia. In: Boult, P.J., Johns, D.R. and Lang, S.C. (eds), Eastern Australasian Basins
Symposium II, Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Special Publication, 603–627.
CLIFF, D.C.B., TYE, S.C. AND TAYLOR, R., 2004—The Thylacine and Geographe gas
discoveries, offshore eastern Otway Basin. The APPEA Journal 44(1), 441–462.
DUDDY, I.R., EROUT, B., GREEN, P.F., CROWHURST, P.V. AND BOULT, P.J., 2003.—Timing
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
constraints on the structural history of the western Otway Basin and implications for hydrocarbon
prospectivity around the Morum High, South Australia. The APPEA Journal, 43(1), 59–83.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF VICTORIA, 1995—The stratigraphy, structure, geophysics and
hydrocarbon potential of the Eastern Otway Basin. Geological Survey of Victoria, Report 103,
241 pp.
GIBSON, G.M., MORSE, M.P., IRELAND, T.R. AND NAYAK, G.K., 2011—Arc-continent collision
and orogenesis in western Tasmanides: Insights from reactivated basement structures and
formation of an ocean-continent transform boundary off western Tasmania. Gondwana Research,
19, 608–627.
GIBSON, G. M., TOTTERDELL, J.M., MORSE, M. P., GONCHAROV, A., MITCHELL, C.H. AND
STACEY, A.R., 2012—Basement structure and its influence on the pattern and geometry of
continental rifting and breakup along Australia’s southern rift margin. Geoscience Australia,
Record, 2012/47.
GRADSTEIN, F.M., OGG, J.G. SCHMITZ, M.D. AND OGG, G.M. (eds), 2012—The Geologic
Time Scale 2012: Volumes 1 & 2. Elsevier BV, 1144 pp.
HALL, M. and KEATLEY, J. 2009—Otway Basin, stratigraphic and tectonic framework.
GeoScience Victoria 3D Victoria Report 2, Department of Primary Industries.
KRASSAY, A.A., CATHRO, D.L. AND RYAN, D.J., 2004—A regional tectonostratigraphic
framework for the Otway Basin. In: Boult, P.J., Johns, D.R. and Lang, S.C. (eds), Eastern
Australasian Basins Symposium II, Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Special
Publication, 97–116.
LUXTON, C.W., HORAN, S.T., PICKAVANCE, D.L. AND DURHAM, M.S., 1995—The La Bella
and Minerva gas discoveries, offshore Otway Basin. The APEA Journal, 35, 405–417.
MANTLE, D.J., BERNECKER, T., KELMAN, A.P. AND PATRIDGE, A.D., 2009—Otway Basin
Biozonation and Stratigraphy, 2009 Chart 34. In: Smith, T.E., Kelman, A.P., Nicoll, R.S., Laurie,
J.R. and Le Poidevin, S.R., 2013. Geoscience Australia's Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy
Chart Series. Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy Chart Series.
O’BRIEN, G.W., BERNECKER, T., THOMAS, J.H., DRISCOLL, J.P. AND RIKUS, L., 2006—An
assessment of the hydrocarbon prospectivity of Areas VIC/O-06(1), VIC/O-06(2), VIC/O-06(3) and
V06-1, eastern onshore and offshore Otway Basin, Victoria, Australia. Victorian Initiative for
Minerals and Petroleum Report 90, Department of Primary Industries.
O’BRIEN, G.W., BOREHAM, C.J., THOMAS, H.J. AND TINGATE, P.R., 2009—Understanding
the critical success factors determining prospectivity—Otway Basin, Victoria. The APPEA Journal,
49(1), 129–170.
PARTRIDGE, A.D., 2001—Revised stratigraphy of the Sherbrook Group, Otway Basin. In: Hill,
K.C. and Bernecker, T. (eds), Eastern Australian Basins Symposium, A Refocused Energy
Perspective for the Future, Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Special Publication,
455–464.
STACEY, A.R., MITCHELL, C.H., STRUCKMEYER, H.I.M. AND TOTTERDELL, J.M.,
2013—Geology and hydrocarbon prospectivity of the deepwater Otway and Sorell basins, offshore
southeastern Australia. Geoscience Australia, Record, 2013/02.
TOTTERDELL, J., HALL, L., HASHIMOTO, T., OWEN, K. AND BRADSHAW, M.,
2014—Petroleum geology inventory of Australia's offshore frontier basins. Geoscience Australia,
Record, 2014/009.
Figures
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
Figure 1
Location map of the 2015 Release Areas within the Nelson Sub-basin of the Otway Basin, showing
exploration wells, petroleum accumulations and the location of the seismic section in Figure 3. Release
Areas shown by outline only are discussed elsewhere.
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
Figure 2
Stratigraphy and hydrocarbon shows of the Otway Basin. Based on the Otway Basin Biozonation and
Stratigraphy Chart 34 (Mantle et al, 2009). Geologic Time Scale after Gradstein et al (2012).
Figure 3
Seismic line ds02/219 across the Nelson Sub-basin of the Otway Basin. Interpretation by Stacey et al
(2013). Location of the seismic line is shown in Figure 1.
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
Figure 4
Seismic and well data coverage in the vicinity of the Release Areas in the Nelson Sub-basin of the Otway
Basin. Release Areas shown by outline only are discussed elsewhere.
DISCLAIMER: This information has been provided as a guide only. Explorers should not rely solely on this information when making commercial decisions.
For more information see - http://petroleum-acreage.gov.au/2015/disclaimer Images courtesy of Woodside Energy Ltd and Geoscience Australia
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