Research partnership hopes to unlock Victoria basin potential

CSIRO and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (VicDPI) have formed a three-year research partnership that hopes to "delve deep into Victoria's basins to unearth new oil and gas reserves."

May 14th, 2009

Offshore staff

CLAYTON SOUTH, Australia -- CSIRO and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (VicDPI) have formed a three-year research partnership that hopes to "delve deep into Victoria's basins to unearth new oil and gas reserves." According to the companies, the research will help energy companies more effectively explore for new oil and gas reserves and reduce exploration risk.

CSIRO will provide research expertise and laboratory facilities to evaluate all aspects of petroleum systems, from source rock to reservoir. This includes modeling basin histories, including the generation, migration, and trapping of oil and gas.

The project is expected to be completed in 2011. Information will be released to the public through the VicDPI website as the research program progresses.

"This will improve the characterization of Victoria's sedimentary basins and the mechanisms that drive the petroleum systems, which could contribute to an increase in resource estimates, attracting industry to invest into the state," says Dr. James Underschultz, CSIRO project leader.

05/14/2009

More in Regional Reports

The Andaman II PSC is a 7,400-sq km (2,857-sq mi) block over the North Sumatra basin in the Malacca Strait, offshore Indonesia.

KrisEnergy to exit Andaman II PSC

KrisEnergy Ltd. has accepted a binding letter of offer by an unnamed major international oil and gas company to sell its 30% non-operated working interest in the Andaman II production-sharing contract in the Malacca Strait, offshore Indonesia.

Location of the BM-S-54 concession in the presalt Santos basin offshore Brazil.

Ecopetrol joins Gato do Mato discovery offshore Brazil

Ecopetrol Óleo e Gás do Brasil Ltda has entered into an agreement with Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda. to acquire 30% interest in two areas corresponding to the BM-S-54 concession agreement and the Sul de Gato do Mato shared production agreement.

Uruguay open round offshore blocks.

Uruguay open round presents unique offshore frontier opportunity

Uruguay is a reliable and stable country with above-ground risks minimized, which counterbalances the high exploratory risk.

Prospects mapped in Lebanon share the same trends as those discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Lebanon offering more offshore blocks as majors prepare to start drilling

Lebanon has opened more offshore blocks to exploration under the country’s second licensing round.

The Stena Forth, having drilled the Joe discovery well offshore Guyana, was due to transfer across the Atlantic for a new campaign offshore Ghana.

Global E&P

How the Pioneering Spirit might remove and transport the redundant Gyda platform jacket.

Offshore Europe

Talos Energy has secured a two-year extension to block 7 in the Sureste basin offshore Mexico.

Gulf of Mexico

Ghasha ultra-sour gas concession offshore Abu Dhabi.

Lukoil joins Ghasha gas project offshore Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi government and the ADNOC have awarded PJSC Lukoil Oil Co. a 5% stake in the offshore Ghasha ultra-sour gas concession.

Block C-M-541 in the Campos basin is in a water depth of about 3,000 m (9,842 ft).

Majors detail offshore Brazil block awards

Brazil’s 16th bid round concluded with the award of 12 of the 36 offshore blocks offered, according to the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels.

Blocks POT-M-857, POT-M-863, and POT-M-865 in the Potiguar basin offshore northeastern Brazil.

Murphy to join Wintershall Dea in three blocks offshore Brazil

Wintershall Dea has agreed to farm down a 30% participating interest in three blocks in the Potiguar basin offshore Brazil to Murphy Brasil Exploração e Produção de Petróleo e Gás Ltda.

Equinor awarded permit offshore Western Australia

Equinor has secured a new exploration permit in the Northern Carnarvon basin offshore Western Australia.

Greater Buchan Area in the UK central North Sea.

Equinor declines North Sea Buchan area farm-in offer

Rockflow Resources has issued its report for operator Jersey Oil & Gas on resources in the Greater Buchan Area in the UK central North Sea.

License P2366 in the UK central North Sea.

Hibiscus planning North Sea Crown-Marigold tieback

Anasuria Hibiscus UK has conditionally agreed to acquire license P2366 in the UK central North Sea from United Oil & Gas and Swift Exploration for up to $5 million.

The FSO Gagak Rimang at the Banyu Urip oil field on the Cepu block offshore Indonesia.

ExxonMobil re-assessing Far East goals

ExxonMobil may look to sell further upstream interests in the Asia/Pacific region to help reach its global divestment target of $15 billion of assets by 2021.