Changes

The Beetaloo Sub-basin is a concealed, composite depocenter and a component of a group of Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic sedimentary basins collectively described as the Greater McArthur Basin, an intra-cratonic basin developed on crystalline basement rocks of the North Australian Craton (Fig. 1). Sedimentary infill is interpreted to be as thick as 9000 m mostly constituted of siliciclastic sedimentary and minor volcanic rocks of the Palaeoproterozoic Tawallah and McArthur groups, and the Mesoproterozoic Nathan and Roper groups (Fig. 2).  

The Beetaloo Sub-basin is a concealed, composite depocenter and a component of a group of Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic sedimentary basins collectively described as the Greater McArthur Basin, an intra-cratonic basin developed on crystalline basement rocks of the North Australian Craton (Fig. 1). Sedimentary infill is interpreted to be as thick as 9000 m mostly constituted of siliciclastic sedimentary and minor volcanic rocks of the Palaeoproterozoic Tawallah and McArthur groups, and the Mesoproterozoic Nathan and Roper groups (Fig. 2).  

The limits of the Beetaloo Sub-basin have been recently updated and formalized by the Northern Territory Geological Survey and have been constrained using lithostratigraphic data from 26 wells tied to stratigraphic interpretations of 96 seismic surveys. Accordingly, the sub‑basin boundary is currently defined using the top of the Kyalla Formation (Roper Group), constrained by a cut-off depth of 400 m below surface<ref>Williams, B., 2019, Definition of the Beetaloo Sub basin: Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record 2019 01</ref>. It is important to note that the current geophysical definition does not correspond to the extent of sediments of interest for hydrocarbon exploration and hydrocarbon plays have been identified beyond the extents of the geophysically defined boundary (e.g. Bruce et al. 2021).

The limits of the Beetaloo Sub-basin have been recently updated and formalized by the Northern Territory Geological Survey and have been constrained using lithostratigraphic data from 26 wells tied to stratigraphic interpretations of 96 seismic surveys. Accordingly, the sub‑basin boundary is currently defined using the top of the Kyalla Formation (Roper Group), constrained by a cut-off depth of 400 m below surface<ref>Williams, B., 2019, Definition of the Beetaloo Sub basin: Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record 2019 01</ref>. It is important to note that the current geophysical definition does not correspond to the extent of sediments of interest for hydrocarbon exploration and hydrocarbon plays have been identified beyond the extents of the geophysically defined boundary<ref>Bruce, A., and D. Garrad, 2021, Unlocking the eastern extension of the Beetaloo Sub-basin middle Velkerri shales: Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) Proceedings, Alice Springs, Northern Territory 20-21 April 2021, p. 37.</ref>.

The sub‑basin is of considerable economic interest as a potential host for unconventional and conventional petroleum resources, particularly in the uppermost Roper Group where stacked play opportunities include liquids rich shale, dry gas shale and hybrid/ tight gas plays (Côté et al. 2018; Altmann et al., 2020). Prospective units for gas and liquids resources have been identified in the organic rich [[mudstones]] of the Kyalla Formation and Velkerri Formation of the Mesoproterozoic Roper Group and the latter is the most technically mature resource play in the Beetaloo.

The sub‑basin is of considerable economic interest as a potential host for unconventional and conventional petroleum resources, particularly in the uppermost Roper Group where stacked play opportunities include liquids rich shale, dry gas shale and hybrid/ tight gas plays (Côté et al. 2018; Altmann et al., 2020). Prospective units for gas and liquids resources have been identified in the organic rich [[mudstones]] of the Kyalla Formation and Velkerri Formation of the Mesoproterozoic Roper Group and the latter is the most technically mature resource play in the Beetaloo.

* Altmann, C., Richards, B., Côté, A., Bein, C., Baruch-Jurado, E. and Jenkinson, L., 2020. The Hayfield Sandstone Play: the characterisation of a Mesoproterozoic sourced, Proterozoic sandstone reservoired, tight oil and gas play in the Beetaloo Sub-basin. The APPEA Journal, 60(1), pp.242-266.

* Altmann, C., Richards, B., Côté, A., Bein, C., Baruch-Jurado, E. and Jenkinson, L., 2020. The Hayfield Sandstone Play: the characterisation of a Mesoproterozoic sourced, Proterozoic sandstone reservoired, tight oil and gas play in the Beetaloo Sub-basin. The APPEA Journal, 60(1), pp.242-266.

* Bodorkos, S., Crowley, J.L., Claoué-Long, J.C., Anderson, J.R. and Magee Jr, C.W., 2020. Precise U–Pb baddeleyite dating of the Derim Derim Dolerite, McArthur Basin, Northern Territory: old and new SHRIMP and ID-TIMS constraints. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, pp.1-15.

* Bodorkos, S., Crowley, J.L., Claoué-Long, J.C., Anderson, J.R. and Magee Jr, C.W., 2020. Precise U–Pb baddeleyite dating of the Derim Derim Dolerite, McArthur Basin, Northern Territory: old and new SHRIMP and ID-TIMS constraints. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, pp.1-15.

 

* Close, D., Côté, A., Baruch, E., Altmann, C., Mohinudeen, F., Richards, B., Ilett, R., Evans, R. and Stonier, S., 2017. Exploring the Beetaloo: will Australia’s first viable shale play be sourced by billion year old gas?. The APPEA Journal, 57(2), pp.716-721.

* Close, D., Côté, A., Baruch, E., Altmann, C., Mohinudeen, F., Richards, B., Ilett, R., Evans, R. and Stonier, S., 2017. Exploring the Beetaloo: will Australia’s first viable shale play be sourced by billion year old gas?. The APPEA Journal, 57(2), pp.716-721.

* Côté, A., Richards, B., Altmann, C., Baruch, E. and Close, D., 2018. Australia’s premier shale basin: five plays, 1 000 000 000 years in the making. The APPEA Journal, 58(2), pp.799-804.

* Côté, A., Richards, B., Altmann, C., Baruch, E. and Close, D., 2018. Australia’s premier shale basin: five plays, 1 000 000 000 years in the making. The APPEA Journal, 58(2), pp.799-804.