2016 Release Areas

Eastern Exmouth Plateau

Release Area W17-7, offshore Western Australia

Highlights

Bids close on Thursday 22 March 2018

Lies within Australia’s premier offshore petroleum basin
Proximal to Perseus, Goodwyn and North Rankin multi-Tcf gas accumulations
Shallow to moderate water depths, 100–500 m
Triassic fault blocks, stacked reservoirs, variety of structural/stratigraphic trap styles
Large undrilled areas with potential for discovery of new plays
Proximal to producing platforms and gas pipelines
Further guidance available, refer to 2017 Special Notices

One Release Area is offered on the eastern Exmouth Plateau, and is centred approximately 170 km north of Dampier (Figure 1). Release Area W17-7 (20 graticular blocks) extends over the Victoria Syncline from the northern Rankin Platform. It lies wholly within 50 km north and northwest of the Perseus, North Rankin and Goodwyn gas accumulations, in moderately deep water (100–500 m).

The extensive Exmouth Plateau is a deep-water marginal plateau and is the most westerly of the structural elements that constitute the Northern Carnarvon Basin. The plateau is underlain by 10–15 km of flat-lying and tilted, block-faulted Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, deposited during long-lived periods of extension prior to continental breakup in the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous for the northern and combined western and southern margins, respectively. The Triassic fluvio-deltaic Mungaroo Formation has been the primary exploration target for many explorers on the plateau and acts as both source and reservoir. Other reservoirs include the Upper Triassic Brigadier Formation, the Upper Jurassic Jansz Sandstone and sandstone units within the Lower Cretaceous Barrow Group. The Lower Cretaceous Muderong Shale forms an uppermost regional seal. Trap styles present on the Exmouth Plateau include fault dependent closures and drapes associated with Triassic fault blocks, and stratigraphic traps of Upper Jurassic (mostly Oxfordian) and Lower Cretaceous sediments (Figure 3).

The Rankin Platform is a northeast-trending structural high forming the eastern flank of the Exmouth Plateau. It separates the plateau from the Dampier and Barrow sub-basins to its east, and is characterised by major extensional fault systems. The Rankin Trend has been intensively explored and includes the Gorgon, Julimar–Brunello, Iago, Goodwyn, Perseus and North Rankin gas fields (Figure 1). All of these accumulations have been sourced from fluvio-deltaic sediments within the Triassic Mungaroo Formation and mostly marine sediments of Lower–Middle Jurassic formations within the adjacent Barrow and Dampier sub-basins. The Lower Cretaceous Muderong Shale provides a regional top seal. Intraformational claystones within the Berriasian–Valanginian Barrow Group, Forestier Claystone and equivalents, the Toarcian–Callovian Athol and Legendre formations, and the Triassic Mungaroo Formation (Figure 2) have the potential to provide the seals for stacked hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. Two gas pipelines connect the Rankin Platform gas fields with the Karratha Gas Plant (North West Shelf Gas, 2016).

Immediately to the northeast of the Release Area, Cue Energy Resources plans to drill its large ‘Ironbark’ prospect (Cue Energy, 2016), which comprises Mungaroo Formation sands straddling permits WA-409-P and WA-359-P, and lies just over 50 km from the North Rankin Complex. BP has recently farmed into permit WA-409-P with an option to enter WA-359-P for 2017 (Offshore Energy Today, 2016).

Figure 4 shows the data coverage on the eastern Exmouth Plateau, in the vicinity of the Release Area. The well Eastbrook 1 provides the only gas show within the Area, while Zeus 1, Gandara 1 and La Rocca 1 provide additional stratigraphic information to the north. In addition, further outboard wells such as Artemis 1, Banambu 1 and Banambu Deep 1 may provide further valuable information on the stratigraphic and structural setting of the northern flank of the Victoria Syncline. The Area has good 2D seismic coverage, with an average line spacing of less than 5 km. The Area is also covered by large sections of 3D seismic surveys Banambu 3D MSS, Meo NWS 3D MSS, Rosie 3D MSS, Zeus 3D MSS and Rose 3D MSS. Oilex Limited has used the last of these to define several leads (Oilex Ltd, 2010). Multiclient surveys Zeus 3D MSS and Zeebries 3D MSS, acquired by Fugro/CGG (Grahame and Silva-Gonzalez, 2013), will form part of a major reprocessing project (‘Olympus Project’) by Spectrum for a suite of 3D surveys covering the eastern Exmouth Plateau and adjoining Rankin Platform (Spectrum, 2016).

Petroleum systems elements

Eastern Exmouth Plateau

Sources	Upper Jurassic Dingo Claystone Lower–Middle Jurassic marine and deltaic Murat Siltstone, and Athol and Legendre formations Triassic fluvio-deltaic sediments of the Mungaroo Formation (undrilled) Lower Triassic Locker Shale
Reservoirs	Lower Cretaceous transgressive sands in the basal Muderong Shale Lower Cretaceous basin-floor fans and turbidites in the Barrow Group Upper Jurassic upper–lower shoreface Jansz Sandstone Upper Jurassic turbiditic Angel Formation Middle Jurassic deltaic Legendre Formation Lower Jurassic fluvio-deltaic to marginal marine North Rankin Formation Upper Triassic carbonate reefs (unproven) Upper Triassic shallow marine-deltaic Brigadier Formation Middle–Upper Triassic fluvio-deltaic to marginal marine Mungaroo Formation
Seals	Regional seal Lower Cretaceous marine claystones of the Muderong Shale Intraformational seals Lower Cretaceous distal marine claystones of the Barrow Group (Forestier Claystone equivalents) Upper Jurassic condensed marls and claystones of the Dingo Claystone Triassic fluvio-deltaic claystones of the Mungaroo Formation
Traps	Lower Cretaceous basin-floor fan sands Callovian unconformity subcrops sealed by Dingo Claystone Upper Jurassic shoreface sands Upper Triassic pinnacle reefs (unproven) Tilted fault blocks of Triassic Mungaroo Formation sands and associated drapes

Infrastructure and markets

Release Area W17-7 is proximal to the multi-Tcf gas fields of the Rankin Platform, oil and gas fields in the Beagle and Dampier sub-basins, and to established LNG infrastructure, such as the major North Rankin Complex (Woodside Petroleum Ltd, 2013). This complex is serviced by two subsea pipelines transporting gas to onshore processing facilities at the Karratha gas plant (North West Shelf Gas, 2016).

Critical risks

Charge is not considered to be an exploration risk on the Rankin Platform and in surrounding depocentres. Instead, trap integrity, and reservoir distribution and quality constitute the primary exploration risks. Reservoir quality is generally greater in the shallower parts of the Triassic reservoirs. For Upper Jurassic and younger deep-water, basin-floor fan sand and turbidite plays, the distribution of reservoir quality sandstones within finer grained deposits can be problematic.

The full areal extent of the petroleum systems present to the north of the Rankin Platform on the Exmouth Plateau has yet to be determined. For example, the Locker Shale is unknown, the Mungaroo Formation is expected to be present, but with localised source rocks, while the Dingo Claystone may be thin to absent. Release Area W17-7 is proximal to the gas charged Rankin Platform and overlies the Victoria Syncline source kitchen. However, no gas discoveries have yet been made in the wider central-eastern to northeastern Exmouth Plateau, and a lack of charge may be a risk for these areas, with charge relying on either a local source or deep faults open to migration. Given that most fields in the basin are fault-related, trap fault charge, fault breach and cross-fault seals are, therefore, major considerations.

Continued exploration success on the Exmouth Plateau will most likely be dependent on the delineation of competent traps that have access to charge from the gas-prone Mungaroo Formation. Seismic and well data indicate that traps tested by several wells drilled on the northern Exmouth Plateau have been breached. Trap breach is a significant exploration risk on this part of the plateau and is a possible explanation for the occurrence of hydrocarbon-bearing structures that are not filled to spill point (Longley et al, 2002). Structurally controlled targets are dependent on the complexities of fault linkages between multiple phases of deformation, such as over the Gorgon Platform area in the southern part of the Rankin Platform (Yang and Elders, 2016), and its implications for secondary migration pathways. Biodegradation is also a risk in some areas, with hydrocarbon isotopic studies indicating the presence of primary biogenic dry gas along with biodegradation of wetter gas components (Crostella and Boreham, 2000).

Well control

Gandara 1 (1979)

Gandara 1 was drilled by Hudbay Oil (Australia) Limited to test Triassic Mungaroo Formation sandstones in a horst block along the ‘Brigadier Trend’ [Hudbay Oil (Australia) Ltd, 1979]. The well was drilled in 305 m water depth and reached TD at 4361 mRT. No significant hydrocarbons were found and the well was plugged and abandoned. Very good reservoir porosities as high as 22% were recorded for sands in the upper part of the Mungaroo Formation.

Banambu 1 (1998)

Banambu 1 was drilled by Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd to establish the presence of hydrocarbons in the North Rankin Formation within a horst block on the ‘Brigadier Trend’, with the underlying Brigadier and Mungaroo formations as secondary objectives (Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd, 1998a). The well was drilled in 295 m water depth and reached TD at 4001 mRT. No hydrocarbons were encountered, which was attributed to either lack of a fault seal, or lack of charge into the structure, and the well was plugged and abandoned. Vitrinite reflectance data suggests that the sediments are immature to early mature.

Eastbrook 1 (1998)

Eastbrook 1 was drilled by Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd to test the Lower Jurassic North Rankin Formation in a stratigraphic subcrop trap below the Callovian ‘Main Unconformity’ (Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd, 1998b). The well was drilled in 168 m water depth and reached TD at 3476 mRT. The well encountered some residual hydrocarbons in two thin sand beds of the target formation, and was plugged and abandoned. Although thin, these sandstone beds showed good reservoir characteristics of up to 26.9% porosity and 214 mD permeability. Lack of mobile hydrocarbons was attributed to the lack of reservoir quality sandstones and poor sealing capacity of both the underlying Brigadier Formation base seal and the overlying Forestier Claystone top seal.

Zeus 1 (2009)

Zeus 1 was drilled by MEO Australia Ltd to target a complex structural–stratigraphic trap of deltaic to shoreface sandstones in the Middle Jurassic Legendre Formation, lying in the Victoria Syncline between the Rankin and Brigadier trends to the south and north, respectively (MEO Australia Ltd, 2010). The well was drilled in 213 m water depth and reached TD at 3642 mRT. The target formation was associated with seismic bright spots, which were interpreted as direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHIs), and was supported by seismic amplitude-vs-offset (AVO) anomalies. A secondary objective was the basal part of the overlying Forestier Formation (Forestier Claystone), which was also associated with a seismic bright spot. Subsequent appraisal of the well found (unpredicted) Eliasson and Calypso formations sandstones overlying the target Legendre Formation. Significant gas peaks were found in these unpredicted sands, and the well was plugged and abandoned. Failure was attributed to the possibility of underlying intraformational seals directing Triassic source gas further away and updip onto the flanks of the syncline.

Artemis 1 (2010)

Artemis 1 was drilled by MEO Australia Limited over a complex structural-stratigraphic trap primarily targeting, interpreted deltaic to shoreface sandstones of the Jurassic Calypso and Legendre formations (MEO Australia Ltd, 2012). A secondary target was channel facies in the overlying Withnell Formation. The ‘Artemis Prospect’ trap elements were considered analogous to those of the Perseus gas field to its east. The Jurassic target sandstones were associated with high seismic amplitudes and AVO anomalies, interpreted as direct hydrocarbon indicators. The well was drilled in 427 m water depth and reached TD at 3500 mRT. The well encountered no significant hydrocarbons and was plugged and abandoned. The lack of hydrocarbons was attributed to the lack of local well calibration to seismic, which played a large role in erroneously giving indications of gas-filled sands.

La Rocca 1 (2011)

La Rocca 1 was drilled by Apache Energy to test fluvial sandstone units, identified on the Rose 3D seismic survey, within an Upper Triassic channel-belt complex of the Mungaroo Formation (Apache Energy, 2012). The well was drilled in 401 m water depth and reached TD at 4864 mRT. No significant hydrocarbons were detected and the well was plugged and abandoned. However, fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) analysis indicated a zone of the Legendre Formation that had ‘possible indications of proximal liquid petroleum charge’. Failure was attributed to poor charge, or lack of a migration pathway.

NOPIMS data

Data relating to the Release Area can be accessed through the National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System (NOPIMS), an online data discovery and delivery system for all Australian offshore petroleum wells and seismic surveys, at www.ga.gov.au/nopims.

Marine and Environmental information

Release Area W17-7 characteristics

Release area W17-7 is located on the continental slope, and includes terraces in the south eastern edge of the area (Harris et al, 2005) Water depths are approximately 140−440 m. The area is 141 km northwest of the nearest coast where the Murujuga (also known as the Burrup Peninsula) is located.
Seabed sediment has been sampled in adjacent dip-aligned transects 26 km south and 100 km east of the Release Area. These indicate that the Release Area is likely dominated by poorly sorted gravel, sand and aragonite carbonate mud (James et al, 2004; Baker et al, 2008). Bed sediment samples comprise large, in situ calcareous tubes, biofragments, ooids, peloids and pelagic mud. These samples comprise two layers: a lower calcareous tube–skeletal gravel and sand, overlain by 10 cm of pelagic sand or mud (James et al, 2004).
There is no detailed information for the shallow (<100 m) subsurface geology.
Potential hazards include tropical cyclones.

Commonwealth marine reserves

Release Area W17-7 is located 37 km north of the Montebello Commonwealth Marine Reserve and 125 km northwest of Dampier Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

Key ecological features

The ancient coastline, at the 125 m depth contour, a key ecological feature is adjacent to, and to the south of the Release Area. Key ecological features near the area include the continental slope demersal fish communities 10 km to the west and the Glomar Shoals 60 km to the southeast. (www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/ncva/ncva.jsf).

Biologically important areas

Release Area W17-7 overlaps, or is close to, the following biologically important areas (www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/ncva/ncva.jsf):

Overlaps with the Pygmy Blue Whale migration corridor along the shelf edge at depths of 500 -1000 m.
Lies to the north of Flatback Turtle internesting area in summer.
Intersects with the Whale Shark foraging area and northern migration along the 200 m isobath.

The Atlas of Living Australia (www.ala.org.au) and the North West Atlas (www.northwestatlas.org) provide further information and visualisations on animals and plants recorded from the release area, including Threatened or Listed Species.

Heritage

No shipwrecks are listed in the area.

References and Information Resources

National Conservation Values Atlas www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/ncva/ncva.jsf.

Atlas of Living Australia www.ala.org.au.

Montebello Commonwealth Marine Reserve www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/north-west/montebello.

Dampier Commonwealth Marine Reserve www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/north-west/dampier.

Commonwealth Fisheries www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/.

North West Atlas www.northwestatlas.org.

Western Australian Fisheries www.fish.wa.gov.au/Fishing-and-Aquaculture/Commercial-Fishing/.

Shipwrecks www.environment.gov.au/heritage/historic-shipwrecks/australian-national-shipwreck-database.

Geoscience Australia products

Regional geology and seismic

Seismic Transects of Australia’s Frontier Continental Margins. Geoscience Australia Record 2006/04, by Alcock et al, 2006.
Geological Framework of the Outer Exmouth Plateau and Adjacent Ocean Basins. Geoscience Australia Record 2004/13, by Stagg et al, 2004.
Interpreted Horizons and Faults for Seismic Survey 128. Outer Carnarvon, Roebuck and Browse basins. Dataset by Kennard et al, 2003.
Interpreted Horizons and Faults for Seismic Survey 110. Carnarvon Basin. Dataset by Kennard et al, 2003.
Interpreted Horizons and Faults for Seismic Survey 101. Carnarvon Basin. Dataset by Kennard et al, 2003.
Interpreted Horizons and Faults for Seismic Survey 95. Carnarvon and Roebuck basins. Dataset by Kennard et al, 2003.
Line Drawings of AGSO-Geoscience Australia’s Regional Seismic Profiles, Offshore Northern and Northwestern Australia, Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record 2001/36 by Colwell and Kennard 2001.

Stratigraphy

Northern Carnarvon Basin Biozonation and Stratigraphy, 2013, Chart 36. Chart by Kelman et al, 2013.

Petroleum systems and accumulations

The Oils of Western Australia II. Report by Edwards and Zumberge, 2005.
Source Rock Time Slice Maps: Offshore Northwest Australia, 2004. Dataset by West et al, 2004.
Characterisation of Natural Gases from West Australian Basins. AGSO and Geotechnical Services Non-Exclusive Study, 2000.
Australian Petroleum Systems. Exmouth Plateau & Outer Rankin Platform Module. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record 1995/80, by Spencer et al 1995.
Australian Petroleum Accumulations Report, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Report by Felton et al, 1993.

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: phone +61 (0)2 6249 9966, email sales@ga.gov.au.

References

ADAMSON, K.R., LANG, S.G., MARSHALL, N.G., SEGGIE, R.J., ADAMSON, N.J. AND BANN, K.L., 2013—Understanding the Late Triassic Mungaroo and Brigadier deltas of the Northern Carnarvon Basin, North West Shelf, Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 29pp.

ALEXANDER, R., KAGI, R.I., ROWLAND, S.J., SHEPPARD, P.N. AND CHIRILA, T.V., 1984—The effects of thermal maturity on distributions of dimethylnaphthalenes and trimethylnaphthalenes in some ancient sediments and petroleum. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 49, 385–395.

APACHE ENERGY, 2012—La Rocca-1, WA-388-P, Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data. Apache Energy (unpublished).

BACKHOUSE, J., 2006—Triassic biostratigraphic study of the greater Exmouth Plateau, synthesis report. Geoscience Australia Petroleum Data Repository Destructive Analysis Report 1297 (unpublished).

BAKER, C., POTTER, A., TRAN, M. AND HEAP, A.D., 2008—Sedimentology and geomorphology of the northwest marine region: a spatial analysis. Geoscience Australia Record, 2008/07, 220pp.

BARBER, P., 1988—The Exmouth Plateau deep water frontier: a case history. In: Purcell, P.G. and Purcell R.R. (eds), The North West Shelf, Australia. Proceedings of the North West Shelf Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 173–187.

BARBER, P., 2013—Oil exploration potential in the Greater Northern Australian – New Guinea Super Gas Province. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 32pp.

BRADSHAW, J., SAYERS, J., BRADSHAW, M., KNEALE, R., FORD, C., SPENCER, L. AND LISK M., 1998—Palaeogeography and its impact on the petroleum systems of the North West Shelf, Australia. In: Purcell, P.G. and R.R. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 2: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 1998, 95–121.

CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, 2006—Wheatstone-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data. Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (unpublished).

COLWELL, J. B. AND VON STACKELBERG, U., 1981—Sedimentological studies of Cainozoic sediments from the Exmouth and Wallaby Plateaus, off northwest Australia. BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics, 6, 43–50.

CROSTELLA, A. AND BOREHAM, C.J., 2000—Origin, distribution and migration patterns of gas in the Northern Carnarvon Basin. PESA Journal, 28, 7–19.

CUE ENERGY, 2016—[Web page] Carnarvon Basin. http://www.cuenrg.com.au/irm/content/carnarvon-basin.aspx?RID=300&RedirectCount=1 (last accessed 30 December 2016).

EDWARDS, D., BOREHAM, C.J., HOPE, J., PRESTON, J., LEPOIDEVIN, S., BUCKLER, T. AND HONG, Z., 2006—Molecular and isotopic composition of gas accumulations from the Exmouth Plateau and Exmouth Sub-basin, Carnarvon Basin. The APPEA Journal, 46(1), 669.

GONCHAROV, A., DEIGHTON, I., DUFFY, L., MCLAREN, S., TISCHER, M. AND HEINE, C., 2006—Basement and crustal controls on hydrocarbon maturation on the Exmouth Plateau, North West Australian Margin. Poster presentation at AAPG 2006 International Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, November 5–8.

GRADSTEIN, F.M., OGG, J.G. SCHMITZ, M.D. AND OGG, G.M. (EDITORS), 2012—The Geologic Time Scale 2012; Volumes 1 and 2. Elsevier BV, 1144pp.

GRAHAME, J. AND SILVA-GONZALEZ, P., 2013—Zeus and Zeebries: Significant Exploration Insights. GEOExPro, 10(2), 36–40. Also available at https://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2013/08/zeus-and-zeebries-significant-exploration-insights (last accessed 30 December 2016).

GRAIN, S.L., PEACE, W.M., HOOPER, E.C.D., MCCARTAIN, E., MASSARA, P.J., MARSHALL, N.G. AND LANG, S.C., 2013—Beyond the deltas: Late Triassic isolated carbonate build-ups on the Exmouth Plateau, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 19pp.

HARRIS, P., HEAP, A., PASSLOW, V., SBAFFI, L. FELLOWS, M., PORTER-SMITH, R., BUCHANAN, C. AND DANIELL, J., 2005—Geomorphic Features of the Continental Margin of Australia. Geoscience Australia Record, 2003/30, 142pp.

HEFTI, J., DEWING, S., JENKINS, C., ARNOLD, A. AND KORN, B.E., 2006—Improvements in seismic imaging, Io–Jansz gas field, North West Shelf, Australia. The APPEA Journal, 46(1), 135–160.

HUDBAY OIL (AUSTRALIA) LTD, 1979—Gandara No.1, WA-93-P, Completion Report. Hudbay Oil (Australia) Ltd (unpublished).

JABLONSKI, D., PRESTON, J., WESTLAKE, S. AND GUMLEY, C.M., 2013—Unlocking the origin of hydrocarbons in the central part of the Rankin Trend, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 31pp.

JAMES, A.T. AND BURNS, B.J., 1984—Microbial alteration of subsurface natural gas accumulations. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 68(8), 957–960.

JAMES, N.P., BONE, Y., KYSER, T.K., DIX, G.R. AND COLLINS, L.B., 2004—The importance of changing oceanography in controlling late Quaternary carbonate sedimentation on a high-energy, tropical, oceanic ramp: north-western Australia. Sedimentology, 51, 1179–1205.

JENKINS, C.C., MAUGHAN, D.M., ACTON, J.H., DUCKETT, A., KORN, B.E. AND TEAKLE, R.P., 2003—The Jansz gas field, Carnarvon Basin, Australia. The APPEA Journal, 43(1), 303–324.

KELMAN, A.P., NICOLL R.S., KENNARD, J.M., MORY, A.J., MANTLE, D.J., LE POIDEVIN, S., BERNARDEL, G., ROLLET, N. AND EDWARDS, D., 2013—Northern Carnarvon Basin, Biozonation and Stratigraphy, Chart 36, Geoscience Australia.

KORN, B.E., TEAKLE, R.P., MAUGHAN, D.M. AND SIFFLEET, P.B., 2003—The Geryon, Orthrus, Maenad and Urania gas fields, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. The APPEA Journal, 43(1), 285–301.

KROH, F. AND WILLIAMSON, P.E., 2006—Preliminary AVO results from the Exmouth Plateau NW Australia. Preview, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysics, 122, 33–35.

LONGLEY, I.M., BUESSENSCHUETT, C., CLYDSDALE, L., CUBITT, C.J., DAVIS, R.C., JOHNSON, M.K., MARSHALL, N.M., MURRAY, A.P., SOMERVILLE, R., SPRY, T.B. AND THOMPSON, N.B., 2002—The North West Shelf of Australia – a Woodside perspective. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 3: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2002, 27–88.

MAFTEI, A., KING, E.J. AND FLORES, M.C., 2013—The Gorgon Field: an overview. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 23pp.

MARSHALL, N.G. AND LANG, S.C., 2013—A new sequence stratigraphic framework for the North West Shelf, Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 32pp.

MCCORMACK, K.D. AND MCCLAY, K., 2013—Structural architecture of the Gorgon Platform, North West Shelf, Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 24pp.

MEO AUSTRALIA LTD, 2010—Zeus-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Report, WA-361-P. MEO Australia Ltd (unpublished).

MEO AUSTRALIA LTD, 2012—Artemis-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data, WA-360-P. MEO Australia Ltd (unpublished).

MOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCING AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, 2001—Jansz-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data. Mobil Exploration and Producing Australia Pty Ltd (unpublished).

NEWMAN, S., 1994—Clues to the structural history of the Rankin Trend, from 3D seismic data. In: Purcell, P.G. and Purcell, R.R., (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 1: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 1994, 497–507.

NORTH WEST SHELF GAS, 2016—[Web page] North West Shelf Gas Operations. http://www.nwsg.com.au/projects/operations (last accessed 30 December 2016).

OFFSHORE ENERGY TODAY, 2016—[Web page] BP farms into pair of permits off Australia. http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/bp-farms-into-pair-of-permits-off-australia/ (last accessed 30 December 2016).

OILEX LTD, 2010—[Web page] Oilex completes 3D seismic interpretation on WA-388-P. http://www.oilex.com.au/docs/default-source/announcements/100624-wa388p-seismic-announcement.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (last accessed 30 December 2016).

PAYENBERG, T.H.D., HOWE, H., MARSH, T., SIXSMITH, P., KOWALIK, W.S., POWELL, A., RATCLIFFE, K., LASKY, V., ALLGOEWER, A., HOWE, R.W., MONTGOMERY, P., VONK, A. AND CROFT, M., 2013—An integrated regional Triassic stratigraphic framework for the Carnarvon Basin, NWS, Australia. In: Keep, M. and Moss, S.J. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 4: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2013, 24pp.

REK, A., KLEFFMANN, S. AND KHAN, S., 2003—Petroleum prospectivity of the northern Exmouth Plateau. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, PESA News, 62, 48–51.

SIBLEY, D., HERKENHOFF, F., CRIDDLE, D. AND MCLERIE, M., 1999—Reducing resource uncertainty using seismic amplitude analysis on the southern Rankin Trend, northwest Australia. The APPEA Journal, 39(1), 128–147.

SMALLWOOD, J.R., BANFIELD, J., COX, P., GRIFFIN, D., KUSUMANEGARA, Y., OWEN, P.B., PRESCOTTE, E., SANTONI, S. AND SMITH, J.G., 2010—Extending the Exmouth Plateau post-Callovian fairway: WA-390-P Phase I exploration. The APPEA Journal, 50, Extended Abstract.

SMITH, T.E., OGG, J., KELMAN, A., ABBOTT, S. AND BERNECKER, T., 2015—Towards common stratigraphic frameworks for Australia’s offshore hydrocarbon provinces. The APPEA Journal, 55(1), 105–111.

SPECTRUM, 2016—[Web page] NW Australia: Extensive new 3D Broadband project to extend viable play fairways into under-explored areas. http://www.spectrumgeo.com/press-release/nw-australia-extensive-new-3d-broadband-project-to-extend-viable-play-fairways-into-under-explored-areas (last accessed 30 December 2016).

SPENCER, L., SAYERS, J., BRADSHAW, J., BRADSHAW, M., FOSTER, C., MURRAY, A., EDWARDS, D., ZUCCARO, G., BUCHANAN, C. AND APPS, H., 1995—Australian Petroleum Systems Exmouth Plateau & Outer Rankin Platform Module. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record, 1995/80, 207pp.

STAGG, H.M.J. AND COLWELL, J.B., 1994—The structural foundations of the Northern Carnarvon Basin. In: Purcell, P.G. and Purcell, R.R. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 1: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 1994, 349–372.

STEIN, A., 1994—Rankin Platform, Western Australia: structural development and exploration potential. In: Purcell, P.G. and R.R. (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 1: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 1994, 507–523.

TAO, C., BAI, G., LIU, J., DENG, C., LU, X., LIU, H. AND WANG, D., 2013—Mesozoic lithofacies, palaeogeography and petroleum prospectivity in North Carnarvon Basin, Australia. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2(1), 81–92.

WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD, 2000—Titania-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data, WA-269-P, Carnarvon Basin. Woodside Energy Ltd (unpublished).

WOODSIDE OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PTY LTD, 1998a—Banambu-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data. Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd (unpublished).

WOODSIDE OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PTY LTD, 1998b—Eastbrook-1 Well Completion Report, Interpretive Data. Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd (unpublished).

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD, 2012—Banambu Deep-1 Initial Well Completion Report (unpublished).

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD, 2013—[Web page] North Rankin Complex Operations. Consultation Fact Sheet. http://www.woodside.com.au/Working-Sustainably/Consultation%20Activities/North%20Rankin%20Complex%20Operations,%20Carnavon%20Basin,%20north-west%20WA.pdf (last accessed 30 December 2016).

YANG, X.-M. AND ELDERS, C., 2016—The Mesozoic structural evolution of the Gorgon Platform, North Carnarvon Basin, Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 63(6), 755–770.