Session 24. Oral Presentation for: De-risking exploration in the underexplored offshore Papuan Basin, Papua New Guinea

Presented on 21 May 2026: Session 24 The offshore Papuan Basin is underexplored, yet strong indications of active petroleum systems have been identified and de-risked by a robust geotechnical database consisting of 2D and 3D seismic, geochemistry and airborne gravity. Whilst Miocene carbonates have been the main focus of exploration, Pliocene clastic turbidite plays have also been proven but remain understudied. The newly formed Papua New Guinea National Petroleum Authority is planning competitive tender acreage releases over the Gulf of Papua commencing later in 2026. The Authority has reserved vacant blocks within the Gulf of Papua extending from the offshore shallow shelf area known as the Fly River Delta to deep waters within the Moresby Trough, Eastern and Papuan Plateaus and Coral Sea. Multiclient seismic datasets generated by exploration companies active in the area, including Searcher and its partners, together with Searcher’s updated prospectivity interpretations give applicants a potential head start on their work program bids. A regional Bottom Simulating Reflector is utilised as a proxy for geothermal gradient, indicating spatial temperature variations including heat sinks around the carbonate platforms and blankets around the Aure Fold and Thrust Belt. This allows multiple source units to be in oil and gas generative windows across the basin, supported by observable pockmarks, direct hydrocarbon indicators and geochemical data. Amplitude vs offset analysis utilising reliable, modern seismic has identified and evaluated an array of structural and stratigraphic leads from Plio-Pleistocene to Mesozoic along proven and untested trends. To access the Oral Presentation click ‘Supplementary data’ below. To read the full paper click here