Petroleum Search Subsidy Act publications

Page last updated:11 July 2023

The search for oil in Australia in the 1950s was hampered by a lack of detailed knowledge of the nation's sedimentary basins. The Petroleum Search Subsidy Act of 1957 and later amendments helped to improve this situation by offering financial incentives to companies drilling in regions with petroleum potential. The BMR vetted applications, supervised operations, received drill cores, samples and logs and published the results in these series of open reports.

Not all intended report in this series were published, hence the missing numbers in this list.

NumberTitle
Kaufana no.1 bore, Papua of Papuan Apinaipi Petroleum Co. Pty Ltd
Woomera no.1 bore, South Australia of Clarence River Basin Oil Exploration Co. N.L.
Karumba AAO No 8 Bore, Northern Queensland Of Associated Australian Oilfields NL
HBR No 1 Bore Wreck Island, Queensland Of Humber Barrier Reef Oils Pty Ltd
Samphire Marsh no.1 well, Western Australia of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Puri no.1 well, Papua of Australasian Petroleum Company Pty Ltd
Meda no.1 well, Western Australia of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Frome Rocks no.1 and no. 2 wells, Western Australia of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Innamincka no.1 well, South Australia of Delhi-Frome-Santos
D.F.S. No. 1 Betoota, Queensland Of Delhi-Frome-Santos
Drilling operations in the Sydney basin, New South Wales, 1958-1962, of Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited, Farm out Drillers No Liability and Exoil (N.S.W.) Pty Limited
Thangoo no.1 and no. 1A wells, Western Australia of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Queensland American the Overflow no. 1, Queensland of Queensland American Oil Company
Barlee no.1 well completion report of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Port Campbell no.1 and no. 2 wells, Victoria of Frome-Broken Hill Company Proprietary Limited
Quilpie-Thargomindah-Charleville seismic survey, Queensland, 1959-1960 by Phillips Petroleum Company And Sunray Mid-Continent Oil Company
Cooroorah Anticline Gravity Survey, Central Queensland, 1959 by Associated Freney Oil Fields NL
Puri seismic survey, Papua, 1959 by Australasian Petroleum Company Proprietary Limited
AAO Pickanjinnie No 1, Queensland Of Associated Australian Oilfields NL
Conorada Ooroonoo no.1, Queensland of Conorada Petroleum Corporation
Eumamurrin (North Roma) Seismic Survey, Queensland, 1959-1960 by Associated Australian Oilfields NL
Wira Anticline Gravity Survey, Papua, 1959 by The Papuan Apinaipi Petroleum Company Limited
Grey Range seismic survey, Queensland, 1959 / by L.H. Smart Oil Exploration Company Limited
North Winton gravity survey, Queensland, 1959 by Magellan Petroleum Corporation
Tambo-Augathella Aeromagnetic And Gravity Surveys, Queensland, 1959-1960 by Magellan Petroleum Corporation
Muttaburra seismic survey, Queensland, 1959 by Artesian Basin Oil Company Proprietary Limited
Arcadia Anticline Seismic Survey Queensland, 1959 by Associated Australian Oilfields NL
South Roma Seismic Survey, Queensland, 1959 By Associated Australian Oilfields NL
East Roma Seismic Survey, Queensland, 1959-1960 by Associated Australian Oilfields NL
Blue Hills-Logue seismic survey, Western Australia, 1959-1960 by West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Boulia Area Gravity Survey, Queensland, 1959 by The Papuan Apinaipi Petroleum Company Limited
Barlee Gravity Survey, Western Australia, 1959 by West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Longreach-Silsoe Seismic Survey, Queensland 1960 by Cree Oil Of Canada Limited
Reconnaissance Geology of the Surat Basin Queensland and New South Wales Union Oil Development Corporation
Phillips-Sunray Buckabie no. 1, Queensland of Phillips Petroleum Company and Sunray Mid-Continent Oil Company
ODNL Penola No 1 Well, South Australia of Oil Development NL
U-K-A. Cabawin no.1, Queensland of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
U-K-A. Cabawin East no.1, Queensland of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
U-K-A. Moonie no.1, Queensland of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
Summary of Data and Results Surat Basin, Queensland: AAO Winnathoola No. 1; AAO Kooringa No. 1; AAD Pleasant Hills No. 1 of Associated Australian Oilfields NL
Bonaparte Gulf gravity survey Western Australia, 1959 by Gulf Oil Syndicate
Summary of Data and Results Canning Basin, Western Australia Babrongan No. 1 Well, Langoora No. 1 Well, Hawkstone Peak No. 1 Well, of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of Data and Results Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia Exmouth Gulf Marine Seismic Survey, Whaleback Seismic Survey of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia : Wandagee Ridge seismic survey, Salt Marsh seismic survey of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
A A O Combarngo No 1, Queensland Of Associated Australian Oilfields NL
Summary of Data and Results Drilling Operations in the Murray Basin New South Wales and South Australia 1961-1962 of Australian Oil And Gas Corporation Limited, Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company N.L. and Australian Oil Corporation
Summary of data and results Surat Basin, Queensland : U-K-A. Wandoan no.1, U-K-A. Burunga no.1 of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
Summary of data and results, Perth Basin, Western Australia : Eneabba no.1, Hill River stratigraphic wells, Woolmulla no.1, of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results, Perth Basin, Western Australia: Jurien no.1, Abbarwardoo no.1, Eganu no.1, of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Exmouth Gulf marine seismic survey, Western Australia, 1961 of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results Surat Basin, Queensland : U-K-A. Middle Creek no. 1, U-K-A. Southwood no. 1 of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
Summary of data and results Surat Basin, Queensland P-S-Q.A. Durabilla No. 1, P-S-Q.A. Kogan No. 1, P-S-Q.A. Kogan South No. 1 of Phillips Petroleum Company, Sunray DX Oil Company and Queensland American Oil Company
U-K-A. Wandoan no. 1, Queensland of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
Bass Strait and Encounter Bay Aeromagnetic Survey, 1960-1961 by Haematite Explorations Proprietary Limited
Summary of data and results Surat Basin, Queensland : U-K-A. Flinton no. 1, U-K-A. Coomrith no. 1, U-K-A. Wunger no. 1 of Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited
Summary of data and results Otway Basin, Victoria Flaxmans no.1 well of Frome-Broken Hill Company Proprietary Limited
Dalhousie gravity survey : South Australia, 1963 by French Petroleum Company (Australia) Pty Limited
Summary of data and results Otway Basin, South Australia Mount Salt no.1 well of Oil Development No Liability
Summary of data and results Otway basin, South Australia Geltwood Beach no.1 well of Beach Petroleum No Liability
Planet Warrinilla North no. 1 well Queensland, of Planet Exploration Company Pty Ltd
Summary of data and results, Great Artesian Basin, Queensland and South Australia : Alton downs gravity survey, Birdsville - Lake Frome gravity survey of Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd
Summary of data and results Carnarvon basin, Western Australia: Wandagee no.1 well; Marrilla no.1 well; Minderoo no.1 well, of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results, Great Artesian Basin, Queensland and South Australia: Innaminika - Betoota aeromagnetic survey, Oodnadatta aeromagnetic survey of Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd
Summary of Data and Results Bowen Basin, Queensland AFO Inderi No 1 Well, AFO Rolleston No 1 Well of Associated Freney Oil Fields NL
Summary of data and results Gippsland Basin, Victoria: Wellington Park no.1 well of Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company NL
South Canning Basin aeromagnetic survey: Western Australia, 1962-1963 by West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa no. 1 well, South Australia of Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd and Santos Limited
Summary of data and results, Great Artesian Basin, South Australia : Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa no. 2 and no. 3 wells of Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd and Santos Limited
Summary of data and results Bonaparte Gulf Basin, Western Australia: Bonaparte no.1 and no. 2 wells of Alliance Oil Development Australia No Liability
Esso Gippsland Shelf no. 1 well Victoria Esso Exploration Australia, Inc.
Summary of data and results Gippsland Basin, Victoria southwest Bairnsdale no.1 well, Duck Bay no. 1 well of Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company NL and Arco Limited
Summary of data and results, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory : Ooraminna no. 1 well, Pal Valley no. 1 well of Exoil (N.T.) Pty. Ltd. and Magellan Petroleum (N.T.) Pty. Ltd.
Summary of data and results, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory : Alice no. 1 well, Mt. Charlotte no. 1 well of Exoil (N.T.) Pty. Ltd. and Transoil (N.T.) Pty. Ltd.
Summary of data and results Canning Basin, Western Australia : Sahara no.1 well of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results, Perth Basin, Western Australia : Sue no.1 well of West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited
Summary of data and results, Bass Basin, Tasmania : Esso Bass no.1 and no. 2 wells of Esso Exploration and Production Australia Inc. (formerly Esso Exploration Australia Inc.)
Permit no. 39 Papua marine seismic survey, 1966 by Phillips Australian Oil Company, Sunray DX Oil Company, Canadian Superior Oil (Aust.) Pty Ltd and Anacapa Corporation
Summary of data and results Otway Basin, Victoria : Pecten no.1-1A; Nerita no.1 of Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited