Warrego firms up exploration plans for STP-EPA-0127, Western Australia’s largest onshore exploration permit application Analysis of sub-surface data suggests extensive Permian Waitsia/West Erregulla analogues (“Waitsia” sequence and equivalent) potentially present in the acreage Work program and budget submitted to WA government for review Strong level of farm-in interest from international and domestic parties

Warrego Energy as Operator provides an update on exploration activity in STP-EPA-0127, onshore northern Perth Basin, WA.

Located in the Coolcalalaya sub-basin, linking the northern Perth Basin with the Carnarvon Basin, STPEPA-0127 covers 2.2 million acres and is the largest onshore Perth Basin exploration permit application. The permit application area straddles a relatively unexplored major rift basin with recognised structural and stratigraphical characteristics of the Northern Perth Basin and the Southern Carnarvon Basin.

Warrego has submitted a six-year conventional work program and budget to the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) for review and Native Title negotiations are at an advanced stage.

Multiple West Erregulla-sized prospects and leads with potential for gas and liquid hydrocarbons have been identified and a GIS project database is nearing completion.

Farm-in inquiries have been received from a range of international and domestic potential partners, reflecting the substantial and exciting exploration potential within the large permit area. Data room access has been provided to three interested parties on a confidential basis with further requests pending. Based on the high level of interest to date, Warrego is considering bringing forward the farm-in process.

Warrego’s CEO Australia, David Biggs, said:
“With offshore exploration and development becoming increasingly expensive, the excellent onshore prospectivity within STP-EPA-0127 has attracted the attention of a number of international and domestic parties. So far, we have provided three parties with confidential access to data from the permit and anticipate further inquiries.

“The potential for multiple West-Erregulla sized structures with gas or liquid hydrocarbons, and the sheer size of the permit area, makes STP-EPA-0127 a prime candidate for sustained exploration.

“We have recently submitted a six-year work program and budget to DMIRS for consideration, and discussions with Traditional Owners are making good progress. We are aiming to finalise Native Title negotiations in the first half of calendar year 2022 prior to applying to have STP-EPA-0127 converted to an exploration permit.”

STP-EPA-0127 is bisected by the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) which may be of significant benefit to any future gas discoveries and commercial development.

STP-EPA-0127 Geological Overview

Extensive analysis of available sub-surface data suggests that extensive Permian (“Waitsia” sequence and equivalent) sediments may extend over 900 km from the Merlinleigh Sub-basin to the North Perth Basin with an Early Permian sequence that extends across the eastern portion of STP-EPA-0127.

Surface geology and potential field modelling point to a deep, asymmetric structured basin with excellent exploration potential:

• The Coolcalalaya sub-basin shares geological history with the Perth and Carnarvon basins;
• It is a recognised deep, ancient basin with identified gravity structures;
• Source rocks may be present in deep kitchens, as well as possible reservoirs; and
• Potential plays are evaluated to be present in conventional tilted fault blocks, involving PermoCarboniferous and older sandstone and carbonate reservoirs along the western margin of the sub-basin

The Coolcalalaya sub-basin features geological sequences that have produced conventional oil and gas from several fields in the Perth basin. The main exploration targets identified in STP-EPA-0127 areconventional (Waitsia/West Erregulla potential analogues) Permian sands and conventional PermoCarboniferous reservoirs in tilted fault blocks.

KeyFacts Energy: Warrego Energy Australia country profile