Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 125-140, 1988

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE UPPER JURASSIC/LOWER CRETACEOUS OF THE AUSTRALIAN NW SHELF

R.A. Baird* and R.P. Philp**

*Orogenic Studies Laboratory, Department of Geological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0796, USA.

**The University of Oklahoma, School of Geology and Geophysics Energy Center Building, 100 E. Boyd St., Norman, OK 73019, USA.

Abstract

Source-rock richness, timing of hydrocarbon generation, and thicknesses of potential source shales of the Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous section of the Australian NW Shelf have been ex-amined in order to make predictions as to the hydrocarbon potential of the several basins in that region. The result is a rating of four areas potentially productive of liquid hydrocarbons: the Browse Basin, the Malita Graben/NW Bonaparte Gulf Basin, the Rowley Sub-basin, and the Vulcan Sub-basin/Sahul Syncline, respectively.