2023 Greenhouse Gas Storage Release Areas
Page last updated:19 September 2023
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 for more information about the release areas, including maps, shapefiles, bidding instructions and the .
Overview maps showing the 2023 offshore greenhouse gas storage acreage release areas.
Bonaparte Basin
GHG23-1 – Vulcan Sub-basin
Release area GHG23-1 located in the Vulcan Sub-basin, Bonaparte Basin
- 18 graticular blocks
- Water depths 70–120 m
- Good well control, extensive 2D and 3D seismic coverage
- Potential CO2 sources: Darwin processing facilities; Bonaparte Basin field developments
- Storage targets: depleted fields (i.e. the Triassic hosted Challis and Cassini oil fields) and possible saline aquifers if suitable
Read more on the Bonaparte Basin Regional Geology
Browse Basin
GHG23-2 – Barcoo and Caswell sub-basins
Release area GHG23-2 located in the Barcoo and Caswell sub-basins, Browse Basin
- 115 graticular blocks
- Water depths 40–270 m
- Good well control, extensive 2D and some 3D seismic coverage
- Potential CO2 sources: future field developments
- Storage targets: Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous saline aquifers and features such as the Carbine ponded turbidite complex and the long-migration dissolution trap on the Leveque Shelf (Chirinos et al. 2008)
Key studies:
- Browse Basin CO2 storage study conducted by Geoscience Australia.
- Chirinos et al. 2008. Site Characterisation Analysis for Potential CO2 Storage in the Browse Basin, North West Shelf, Australia. CO2CRC Publication RPT08-1014.
- Detailed studies of the CO2 storage potential of targets in the release area by the CO2CRC (2005–2008).
Read more on the Browse Basin Regional Geology
Northern Carnarvon Basin
GHG23-3 – Beagle Sub-basin
Release area GHG23-3 located in the Beagle Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon Basin
- 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
Release area GHG23-4 located in the Barrow Sub-basin, Northern Carnarvon 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. .
GHG23-5 – Barrow and Exmouth sub-basins
Release area GHG23-5 located in the Barrow and Exmouth sub-basins, Northern Carnarvon Basin
- 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:
Read more on the Northern Carnarvon Basin Regional Geology
Perth Basin
GHG23-6 – Abrolhos Sub-basin
Release area GHG23-6 located in the Abrolhos Sub-basin, Perth 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. .
- Jorgensen et al. 2011. .
- Langhi et al. 2012. .
- Rollet et al. 2013.
Read more on the Perth Basin Regional Geology
Otway Basin
GHG23-7 and GHG23-8 – Shipwreck Trough
Release areas GHG23-7 and GHG23-8 located in the Shipwreck Trough, Otway Basin
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. .
- Geoscience Australia’s Deepwater Otway Basin Project
Read more on the Otway Basin Regional Geology
Bass Basin
GHG23-9 – Cape Wickham Sub-basin
Release area GHG23-9 located in the Cape Wickham Sub-basin, Bass 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. .
- Arian et al. 2008. .
- Blevin et al. 2003. .
Read more on the Bass Basin Regional Geology
Gippsland Basin
GHG23-10 – Central Deep
Release area GHG23-10 located in the Central Deep, Gippsland Basin
- 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.
- Gibson-Poole et al. 2008. .
- Goldie Divko et al. 2009. .
- Blevin et al. 2013. .
Read more on the Gippsland Basin Regional Geology
Further information
- Search the interactive for well and survey information
- View the 2023 release areas interactively through the 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 (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.