East Coast Basin

Key facts

Where

A region of about 120,000 sq km extending for 600 km onshore and offshore along the east coast of the North Island from East Cape to Marlborough in the South Island.

Geology

Complex geological history, influenced since the Early Miocene by the subduction margin between the Australia and Pacific plates which forms the eastern boundary of the region. Up to 10 km of mid-Cretaceous to Quaternary basin fill.

Wells drilled

About 38 exploration wells since 1955, two of them offshore.

Discoveries

Onshore gas finds in northern Hawke’s Bay in 1998 at Kauhauroa-1 and in 1999 at Tuhara-1 continue to be appraised.

Prospects

Numerous oil and gas seeps present throughout the region. About 70% of wells drilled had shows, with significant shows in the two offshore wells. More than 140 structural closures larger than 20 sq km have been mapped offshore in the Cenozoic sedimentary section.

Potential source rocks

Cretaceous rocks of mixed terrestrial/marine origin and Paleocene black shales.

Potential reservoir rocks

Sandstones of various ages and porosities averaging 10-15% including Miocene turbidite sandstone fans and shallow-marine Neogene limestones. Both are proven reservoirs in the Wairoa area.

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