Origin Energy of Australia has submitted a report to the Northern Territory government indicating the existence of a material shale gas resource within the onshore Beetaloo Basin.
The submission follows the completion of extended production testing at the Amungee NW-1H exploration well in the Basin.
In addition, Origin also undertook a resource study based on the on Amungee NW-1H well results and other key wells in the Beetaloo Basin including regional seismic data.
Origin CEO Integrated Gas, David Baldwin , said in a statement that the Beetaloo Basin “is the Territory’s most prospective onshore basin for unconventional gas and our test results further confirm the region’s outstanding shale gas potential.”
“Further exploration and appraisal activity will be required to progress our understanding of the play and mature the contingent resources to reserves,” Baldwin said.
Origin has a 35% operating interest in Beetaloo while joint venture partners Sasol and Falcon Oil and Gas hold 35% and 30% interests, respectively.
In September last year, the Northern Territory government implemented a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of unconventional gas reservoirs. The moratorium will remain in place until the Government has considered the outcomes of a comprehensive independent scientific inquiry into the social and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracture stimulation.
The moratorium will remain in place until the government has considered the outcomes of a comprehensive independent scientific inquiry into the social and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracture stimulation.