Project Range

Tenement Information

Tenement Area
(km²)		 Location Operator CTP Consolidation Entity Other JV Participants
Registered
Interest
(%)		 Beneficial
Interest
(%)		 Participant
Name		 Beneficial
Interest
(%)
ATP 2031 77 Surat Basin QLD Central 50 50 Incitec 50

Central’s wholly-owned subsidiary Central Petroleum Eastern Pty Ltd was awarded ATP2031 in August 2018 for a term of 12 years.

Joint Venture

Incitec Pivot Queensland Gas Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Incitec Pivot Limited) gained a 50% interest in the tenement by funding an exploration programme through 2019.

Description & Geology

The Range Gas Project covers an area of 77km² and contains 270 PJ of 2C contingent gas resources (135 PJ net to Central) surrounded by major coal seam gas (CSG) developments and pipeline infrastructure.

Exploration results from four wells drilled in 2019 confirmed 30m of average net coal thickness and permeability in line with, or better than expectations, indicating that this is a highly prospective CSG block:

    • deep enough for gas content
    • shallow enough for permeability
    • three target production zones
    • enhanced by a structural nose (folds) evident through the block

The 270 PJ of 2C contingent gas resources are the highest sub-class of contingent resources – “Development Pending”. Central has a high confidence of converting these 2C resources to 2P reserves as remaining requirements all relate to traditional FID activities:

    • development plans
    • gas supply agreements
    • access to infrastructure
    • commitment to develop

 

In addition, there are a number of favourable commercial and technical factors supporting a successful outcome:

    • adjacent to established CSG fields
    • CSG development and operations are well-understood in this area
    • access to nearby pipeline infrastructure
    • suitable for lower-cost, unfracked vertical wells

Appraisal & Development Status

A three well appraisal pilot drilled in April 2021 encountered an average of 25m of net coal, compared to 32.9m average intersected by previous exploration wells. Two additional step-out wells were drilled in early CY2022 and confirmed thicker coals (average 29m) at circa 2km from the pilot. An extended production test of the two new wells is currently underway to gather data for development planning.

Gas production from the Range Gas Project is reserved for domestic use.