Dr Bruce Ainsworth has wrapped up his successful tour of the PESA State Branches presenting his work honouring the humble clinoform, kindly sponsored by Santos. Read on to hear more from the different branches visited.
PESA
Elixir Energy Announce Taroom Trough Results
Elixir Energy this month announced success at their Lorelle-3 pilot, interpreting 148m of total net pay across the primary, secondary and tertiary Permian reservoir targets, with associated elevated mudgas readings. The Lorelle-3 pilot was drilled in ATP2056 within Queensland’s Taroom Trough. Elixir Energy hold a 50% interest in ATP 2056 and are operator of the Lorelle 3 appraisal well. Santos hold the remaining 50% interest in the permit and will be operator of the permit thereafter.
Elixir Energy interpret the primary target, the Tinowon Dunk sandstone, to be 56m thick with 28m net pay interpreted, supported by elevated mud gas readings and fluorescence in cuttings.
Northern Territory Acreage Release
The Northern Territory of Australia have announced a petroleum exploration acreage release covering approximately 4000km2 with submissions due by Friday 31st July 2026.
The area, EPNT26-1, includes 46 full and 4-part blocks within the defined boundaries of the Beetaloo Sub-basin, within the greater McArthur Basin. The Northern Territory Geological Survey assesses the area as highly prospective for petroleum, with the Beetaloo Sub-basin representing one of Australia’s most significant onshore gas provinces.
PESA Exploration Activities Summary February 2026
An offshore exploration drilling program by ConocoPhillips / 3D Energi & Korea National Oil Corporation (VIC/P79) using the Transocean Equinox rig that began late 2025 has carried into early 2026.
Essington-1 (Nov 2025) discovered 58.5m of gas-condensate net pay in the Waarre A and 31.5m in the Waarre C.
Charlemont-1 was spudded on 10 December 2025. Gas shows were intersected in the Waarre A and Waarre C sands.
The Transocean Equinox rig was then utilised by Amplitude Energy to Drill Elanora-1 (Offshore Otway Basin, VIC/L24). No gas was present in the primary target interval (Waarre A reservoir).
A subsequent sidetrack tested the nearby Isabella prospect and encountered a gross 10.7m of gas bearing Waarre C.
Cooper-Eromanga Basin: New Exploration Areas Awarded
On January 29, the Queensland Government announced the appointment of Santos QNT Pty Ltd and Drillsearch Energy Pty Ltd (a 100% subsidiary of Beach Energy) as preferred tenderers for three new gas exploration areas in the Cooper-Eromanga Basins, aimed at boosting supply, reducing energy prices, and supporting regional jobs.
Both Santos and Drillsearch (Beach) have a strong track record of exploration and delivery in the Cooper-Eromanga Basins. Santos holds a dominant and long-standing tenure position in the basin operating the South Australian Cooper Basin Joint Venture (SACBJV) with partners Beach Energy.
SA/NT Branch 2025 Christmas Luncheon
Around 40 SA/NT members enjoyed a convivial luncheon to celebrate Christmas and the end of 2025.
The meeting kicked off with the SA/NT Branch AGM, at which Paul Strong was voted in as the next Branch President and Sharon Tiainen as Vice-President. This was followed by a brief review of industry activity through the year by Rhodri Johns.
The guest speaker was Dave Grybowski, whose 35 years in petroleum geology have given him ample opportunity to ponder where things might have gone wrong.
The 2025 PESA SA/NT core workshop, a fresh look at South Australia’s eastern Warburton Basin, Daralingie Shelf Area
Author | Chris Cubitt: Geological Survey of South Australia
Chris Cubitt of the Geological Survey South Australia (GSSA), hosted the 2026 PESA SA/NT core workshop at the SA Drill Core Library on Friday November 21st, 2025, (Fig. 1). This year’s event was well attended by industry, government and academia focussing on the eastern Warburton Basin (Daralingie Shelf area) with the aim to produce a quick look GDE map and form an opinion on the basin’s prospectivity.
PESA QLD: Combined Oil and Gas Christmas Party 2025
The Queensland oil and gas industry came together in early December to celebrate the year’s achievements at the Combined Oil and Gas Christmas Party 2025 – an annual event hosted by the societies ASEG, PESA, SPE, QEC and QUPEX.
Held at Blackbird Bar, Dining & Events, attendees gathered in a riverside setting to reflect on the year, reconnect with colleagues and strengthen ties across the Queensland oil and gas community. The strong turnout and positive atmosphere marked a confident close to the year as the sector looks forward to a successful 2026.
Guests enjoyed an evening of celebration against the stunning Brisbane River backdrop.
2026 PESA-QLD Scholarship Applications Close Friday Feb 27
Calling all students at Queensland Tertiary Institutions - if you are studying for an energy geosciences industry-related honours or Master of Science project applications are now open for the 2026 PESA Qld Scholarship.
The scholarship consists of the award of $2,500 to the successful recipient as part of PESA-QLD’s commitment to promote and encourage subsurface energy geoscience research and education at Queensland Tertiary Institutions.
The selection criteria are based on academic achievement and project relevance to the energy geosciences industry.
New GSWA publications on plays of the Canning and Perth Basins
These two GSWA Records provide a valuable resource, especially for potential new explorers, on the Canning and Perth Basins. The publications provide an introduction to the basins, their exploration targets and drilling results. Unforeseen new play commercial discoveries (Ungani oil in the Canning Basin and Waitsia gas in the Perth Basin) are testimony to undiscovered hydrocarbon potential in these basins.
These GSWA Records are based on historical petroleum exploration targets, covering formation by formation and including drilling results. Information was summarised from company well completion reports and relevant literature.
These new publications are found on the DMPE e-bookshop, linked to below.
Record 2025/9
A Summary of Geological Play Types for Energy Commodities in the Perth Basin, within Western Australian Jurisdiction
RH Bruce
Published August 2025
Record 2025/16