The Southern Amadeus Basin is a large and underexplored region characterised by northwest trending structures in the northern area, and a central area dominated by an east-west central structural ridge. The southern area has a variety of structural styles including basement involved structural highs, compressional folds and salt-cored thrusted anticlines. The proven Larapintine petroleum system in the Northern Amadeus is not present southwards, however, source rocks are also recorded deeper in the stratigraphic succession including in the Cambrian Tempe Formation and Chandler Salt.  The Neoproterozoic Pertatataka, Aralka, Finke Beds and Bitter Springs formations also show oil and gas source characteristics, in particular in the basal Gillen Member which provides the source for the Heavitree/basement play.

EP 125

In 2014, the joint venture operated by Santos drilled the exploration well Mt Kitty 1 to test a large basement structure with closure up to approximately 200 km². The target Heavitree Formation reservoir was absent, but hydrocarbon and helium gas flows were recorded from fractured igneous basement, opening a new play type. This permit contains a variety of structural styles, and additional opportunities have been identified from potential field data and the extensive 2013 and 2016/2018 seismic data.

It is planned to re-enter the Mt Kitty well through the Jacko Bore lateral well, targeting commercial flows of helium