WA releases four exploration areas for competitive bidding

The Western Australian government has released four exploration areas onshore and in state waters for competitive bidding. Two areas are in the Carnarvon basin and two in the North Perth basin.

Area L20-1 covers onshore and offshore state waters in the northern Carnarvon basin around Onslow and contains more than 50 previous wells, mostly drilled onshore.

Four wells have been drilled offshore, including the Cowle-1 wildcat that flowed oil at rates up to 1,600 b/d from reservoir sands in the Flacourt formation.

The area also contains extensive 2D seismic data available to applicants.

Area L20-2 is onshore in the southern Carnarvon basin, inland from Exmouth. It is said to be a shale play with good potential gas-prone source rocks.

It has been covered by numerous seismic surveys, but contains only three previous wells. One, drilled by ExxonMobil in 1985, targeted the Moogooloo sandstone but was abandoned for lack of seal.

Area L20-3, onshore North Perth basin surrounding the town of Eneabba, contains only one previous well—a dry hole drilled in 2013 targeting the Cadda formation and the Cattamarra coals.

Area L20-4 is onshore in the North Perth basin near Moora and Dongara oil field. It contains three previous wells—Cypress Hill-1 (1988) and Yallalie-1 (1991) northwest of Moora, and Dandaragan-1 that targeted an extension of Dongara field.

The permit is prospective for both oil and gas.

Prospective applicants must provide detailed work program commitments and have until Oct. 19 to lodge bids.