The Hydrocarbon Potential of the Weaber Gasfield (RL1) and Exploration Permit - EP386 Bonaparte Basin, North Western Australia

Abstract

The Weaber Gasfield is located in Retention Lease RL-1 in the Northern Territory, and the Bonaparte-2, WaggonCreek-1 and Vienta-1 gas discoveries are located in Exploration Permit EP-346 in Western Australia. These tenements are situated in the onshore Bonaparte about 400 kms southwest of Darwin, and about 50 kms north and northeast of the town of Kununurra. The sealed, all weather Great Northern Highway runs through the southern part of the EP-386 permit.

Exploration permit EP-386 was renewed on 11th July, 1998 for a further five years and covers an area of 7,240 sq km. The permit entered Year Five on 11th July, 2003 and an Application for Renewal was lodged 8th April, 2004. Retention Lease RL-1 was renewed on 4th June, 2001 for a further five years and covers an area of 165 sq km. These tenements are owned 100% by Kimberley Energy Group Pty Ltd.

There are three main plays in RL-1 and EP-386:

i. marine sandstones in the Milligans Formation sealed intra-formationally and sourced by the underlying Tournaisian marine shales within the Langfield Group;

ii. marine sandstones and limestones of the Langfield Group, sealed intra-formationally or by the marine shales of the Milligans Formation, and sourced by intra-formational marine shales within the Langfield Group; and

iii. reefal and vuggy/fractured limestones of the Upper Devonian Ningbing Group, sealed by the marine shales at the base of the Langfield Group and sourced by intraformational marine shales within the Ningbing Group.