2023 Greenhouse Gas Storage Release Areas

The 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage (GHG) Acreage Release comprises 10 areas located across seven sedimentary basins in Commonwealth waters including the Bonaparte, Browse, Northern Carnarvon, Perth, Otway, Bass and Gippsland basins. The areas are open for work program bidding until 28 November 2023. Companies awarded a permit must meet a range of requirements before starting any offshore exploration activities in Australian Commonwealth waters. We have partnered with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to provide geological information to support this release. Please refer to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for more information about the release areas, including maps, shapefiles, bidding instructions and the offshore GHG acreage release process.

• 83 graticular blocks
• Water depths 70–370 m
• Good well control, extensive 2D and some 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: onshore industrial region
• Storage target: Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones including the Legendre Formation

GHG23-4 – Barrow Sub-basin

• 21 full and 14 part graticular blocks
• Water depths 20–120 m
• Good well control, extensive 2D and 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: field developments in the basin
• Storage target: Barrow Group saline aquifers and depleted field (Woollybutt)

Key studies:

• Gibson-Poole et al. 2004. Geological storage in the Barrow Sub-basin.

GHG23-5 – Barrow and Exmouth sub-basins

• 103 full and 5 part graticular blocks
• Water depths 60 – 1100 m
• Good well control, extensive 2D and 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: field developments in the basin and onshore industrial sources
• Storage targets: Depleted fields (i.e. Griffin and Chinook) and saline aquifers in the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous interval.

Key studies:

• Exmouth Sub-Basin Regional Study and Petroleum Systems Model.

Read more on the Northern Carnarvon Basin Regional Geology

Perth Basin

GHG23-6 – Abrolhos Sub-basin

• 89 full and 19 part graticular blocks
• Water depths 10–1200 m
• Reasonable well control, extensive 2D and some 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: onshore industrial activity including the potential Mid West Clean Energy project
• Storage targets: structural traps and saline aquifers, mostly in the Permian section

Key studies:

• Jones et al. 2011. New exploration opportunities in the offshore northern Perth Basin.
• Jorgensen et al. 2011. Offshore Northern Perth Basin Well Folio.
• Langhi et al. 2012. Geomechanical modelling of trap integrity in the northern offshore Perth Basin.
• Rollet et al. 2013. New exploration opportunities in the offshore Houtman and Abrolhos sub-basins, northern Perth Basin.

Read more on the Perth Basin Regional Geology

Otway Basin

GHG23-7 and GHG23-8 – Shipwreck Trough

GHG23-7

• 13 full and 9 part graticular blocks
• Water depths 40–90 m
• Excellent well control and 3D seismic coverage

GHG23-8

• 45 graticular blocks
• Water depths 100–1100 m
• Excellent well control and 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: gas field developments in the basin, and industrial sources at Geelong and Portland
• Storage targets: Cretaceous sandstones, primarily the Flaxman and Warre formations.

Key studies:

• Gibson-Poole et al. 2008. Review of geological storage opportunities for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Victoria.
• Geoscience Australia’s Deepwater Otway Basin Project

Read more on the Otway Basin Regional Geology

Bass Basin

GHG23-9 – Cape Wickham Sub-basin

• 152 graticular blocks
• Water depths 50–80 m
• Good well control, extensive 2D and some 3D seismic
• Potential CO₂ sources: Field developments in the basin and industrial centres in south-eastern Victoria
• Storage targets: Depleted fields and dry structures, Eastern View Formation (Upper Cretaceous to Eocene)

Key studies:

• Arian et al. 2011. Carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage potential of the Bass Basin.
• Arian et al. 2008. Porosity trends and reservoir quality in the Bass Basin.
• Blevin et al. 2003. Petroleum Geology of the Bass Basin.

Read more on the Bass Basin Regional Geology

Gippsland Basin

GHG23-10 – Central Deep

• 51 graticular blocks
• Water depths 30 – 90 m
• Excellent well control and 3D seismic coverage
• Potential CO₂ sources: field developments in the basin and onshore industrial sources
• Storage targets: primarily depleted fields reservoired in the upper Latrobe Group (Upper Cretaceous to Eocene) and possible deeper seated saline aquifers

Key studies:

• Langford, R.P. (Editor). 2016. Carbon dioxide storage potential of the Gippsland Basin
• Gibson-Poole et al. 2008. Site characterisation of a basin-scale CO2 geological storage system: Gippsland Basin, southeast Australia.
• Goldie Divko et al. 2009. Geological carbon storage in the Gippsland Basin, Australia: Containment potential.
• Blevin et al. 2013. Survey GDPI10 Interpretation Project, Southern Flank, Gippsland Basin.

Read more on the Gippsland Basin Regional Geology

Further information

• Search the interactive National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System (NOPIMS) database for well and survey information
• View the 2023 release areas interactively through the Geoscience Australia Portal that hosts a range of geoscientific data
• Learn more about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) via our webpage, that includes links to research into the potential for the geological storage of greenhouse gases in Australia
• Explore our regional geological overviews for Acreage Release basins

Past releases

The 2021 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage (GHG) Acreage Release comprised 5 areas located across three sedimentary basins in Commonwealth waters offshore of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Bidding for the 2021 GHG Acreage Release closed on 10 March 2022, all areas were subsequently awarded as greenhouse gas storage assessment permits.