Before 1953, although large oil companies had explored in Australia, little effective testing for petroleum was completed despite traces of hydrocarbons detected in the search for water.
Since that date, when systematic exploration started, the widespread occurrence of hydrocarbons has been established although Australia had been discounted as a region for exploration.
Over the past thirteen years exploration has continually enhanced the potential in Australia. Several commercial oilfields have been discovered and large reserves of natural gas have been indicated.
The continental shelf areas at present appear to have the higher potential but the search is in the very early stage.
Avant 1953, quoique d'importantes compagnies pétrolières eussent prospecté l'Australie, il s'était peu effectué de sondages efficaces malgré des traces d'hydrocarbure révélées au cours de recherches d'eau.
Depuis cette époque, date de l'initiation d'une exploration systématique, il se vérifie que les hydrocarbures se rencontrent un peu partout dans cette Australie qu'on avait fini par déconsidérer en tant que terrain de recherches pétrolières.
Ces treize dernières années, les explorations révèlent toujours plus grandes les ressources potentielles du continent. Plusieurs gisements pétrolifères d'un rendement commercial ont été découverts, ainsi que des indications d'importantes réserves de gaz naturel.
A l'heure actuelle, ce sont les régions de la plateforme continentale qui paraissent offrir le plus grand potentiel, mais ici les recherches n'en sont encore qu'à leurs débuts.
The start of the serious search for petroleum in Australia, which has recently proved successful, goes back to 1953 when a discovery well was drilled in the northwest of Western Australia at Rough Range No. 1.
Previous efforts had been somewhat spasmodic and largely as the result of the accidental discoveries of hydrocarbons during drilling for water. By modern standards these explorations were crude and without scientific support in the selection of well sites except from surface information. Many of the wells themselves were lacking in adequate engineering and in review it is apparent that much of this effort had little hope of success unless it led to a chance discovery.
During the 1930s and again after World War II in the late 1940s more serious and scientifically sound programmes were mounted firstly by an Australian organization and subsequently by major oil companies. The information gathered during these explorations contributed to the discoveries made in various areas later and their value cannot be discounted but it now appears by ERIC A. RUDD Professor of Economic Geology, The University of Adelaide, Australia that the limited efforts were spread over areas that were too large and the critical level of investigation was not reache
