REPORT GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM 57 EXPLORATION OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PERTH BASIN GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA by A. Crostella and J. Backhouse GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA REPORT 57 GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PERTH BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA by A. Crostella and J. Backhouse Perth 2000 MINISTER FOR MINES The Hon. Norman Moore, MLC DIRECTOR GENERAL L. C. Ranford DIRECTOR, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA David Blight Copy editor: L. Day REFERENCE The recommended reference for this publication is: CROSTELLA, A., and BACKHOUSE, J., 2000, Geology and petroleum exploration of the central and southern Perth Basin, Western Australia: Western Australia Geological Survey, Report 57, 85p. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-publication entry Crostella, A. (Angelo), 1929– Geology and petroleum exploration of the central and southern Perth Basin, Western Australia Bibliography. ISBN 0 7309 6671 2 1. Mines and mineral resources — Western Australia — Perth Basin 2. Petroleum — Geology — Western Australia — Perth Basin 3. Petroleum — Prospecting — Western Australia — Perth Basin 4. Perth Basin (W.A.) I. Backhouse, John, 1946– II. Geological Survey of Western Australia. III. Title. (Series: Report (Geological Survey of Western Australia); 57). 553.2809941 ISSN 0508–4741 Printed by Quality Press, Perth, Western Australia Copies available from: Information Centre Department of Minerals and Energy 100 Plain Street EAST PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6004 Telephone: (08) 9222 3459 Facsimile: (08) 9222 3444 www.dme.wa.gov.au Cover photograph: Hydraulic fracture stimulation (‘fraccing’) at Whicher Range 4. Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Hydrocarbon exploration activities .......................................................................................................................... 4 Regional framework .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Beermullah Trough ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Mandurah Terrace .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Vlaming Sub-basin ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Vasse Shelf ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Bunbury Trough ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Permian ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Mosswood Formation ............................................................................................................................... 11 Sue Group ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Woodynook Sandstone ..................................................................................................................... 13 Rosabrook Coal Measures ................................................................................................................ 13 Ashbrook Sandstone .......................................................................................................................... 13 Redgate Coal Measures ..................................................................................................................... 14 Willespie Formation .......................................................................................................................... 14 Triassic ............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Sabina Sandstone ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Lesueur Sandstone .................................................................................................................................... 15 Jurassic ............................................................................................................................................................. 16 Eneabba Formation ................................................................................................................................... 16 Cattamarra Coal Measures ....................................................................................................................... 17 Cadda Formation ...................................................................................................................................... 17 Yarragadee Formation .............................................................................................................................. 18 Cretaceous ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 Parmelia Group ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Otorowiri Formation ......................................................................................................................... 19 Jervoise Sandstone ............................................................................................................................ 19 Carnac Formation .............................................................................................................................. 20 Charlotte Sandstone ........................................................................................................................... 21 Bunbury Basalt ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Warnbro Group ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Gage Sandstone ................................................................................................................................. 21 South Perth Shale .............................................................................................................................. 22 Leederville Formation ....................................................................................................................... 22 Coolyena Group ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Structural features ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Basin evolution ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 Post-mortems of hydrocarbon exploration wells ................................................................................................... 29 Alexandra Bridge 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 30 Araucaria 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 Badaminna 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Barragoon 1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Blackwood 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 33 Bouvard 1 ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Bullsbrook 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 Canebreak 1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 Challenger 1 ....................................................................................................................................................