PESA ACT/NSW May Technical Lunch

Structure and burial history of the South Nicholson region

The South Nicholson Region (SNR), spanning the Northern Territory and Queensland, has long been underexplored, resulting in substantial gaps in our understanding of its geological past. This study aims to bridge these knowledge gaps by analyzing newly obtained data to reveal the region’s burial history and hydrocarbon potential. Our research presents a detailed sequence of geological events that have defined SNR, utilizing insights from the newly drilled NDI Carrara1 well and the recent 17GA-SN1 seismic line. We have identified three main source rock intervals within the basin: one in the Paleozoic and two in the Proterozoic. We developed various scenarios to examine hydrocarbon migration within the basin. Our findings indicate that the Proterozoic hydrocarbons are overmature, whereas the Paleozoic hydrocarbons are still immature.