Abstract
Exploration and development drilling activity in Australia continued at a rate in 1979 comparable with that of 1978. The more active states were Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. There were 49 exploratory and 55 development wells drilled in 1979. Significant geologic discoveries included a Triassic oil discovery at Thomby Creek 1, Queensland; an onshore Cretaceous gas discovery at Paaratte 1, Otway basin, Victoria; an excellent oil flow (450 b/d) from Jurassic Mooga Formation at North Dullingari 1, Cooper basin, South Australia; and the drilling of 7 very deep-water wildcats in the previously untested Exmouth Plateau, offshore from northwest Western Australia. Natural gas production again increased in 1979 by 14.3% relative to 1978, to 9,476,493,000 cu m. Oil production in 1979 increased by only 83,885 bbl to 153,952,015 bbl relative to 1978 or about 421,786 b/d, nearly the same as in 1978.
