‘Big Red’ country, encapsulated in Australia’s first National Landscape - Australia’s Red Centre is now being recognised as a major draw for global travellers seeking outstanding geotourism experiences in the country.

Through researching the carbonate deposits in her country’s back yard, a geotechnical engineer is pioneering industry advances on the seafloor.

The 2014 Phoenix South-1 well drilled offshore Western Australia has confirmed at least four discrete oil columns in the Triassic Lower Keraudren Formation. The discovery of exceptionally good quality light oil with a high API gravity and favourable mobility represents one of the most significant developments in the region in recent times. The discovery, made whilst searching for the extension of discovered gas, represents a new oil province for Australia.

Perched on the edge of a subduction zone, Papua New Guinea bears little resemblance to most of the world’s petroleum terranes. But the small Pacific nation is suddenly on the radar of the global petroleum industry and major players are racing to secure a position.

Although recently retired, Reg Nelson is still aiming for more in petroleum, minerals and public life.

With an estimated remaining undiscovered potential of 4.6 Bbo and 225 Tcfg, there is still much to explore for in the North West Shelf of Australia.

Apache announced on 18 August that its shallow water Phoenix South-1 exploration well in permit WA-435-P, 180 km north of Port Hedland, had intersected at least four discrete oil columns ranging in thickness between 26m and 46m. It made a preliminary estimate of 300 MMbo in place.

In just eleven years, DownUnder GeoSolutions (DUG) has grown from a few people working in a shed in a Perth garden, to a company employing 200 people with seven offices based all around the world. Dr. Matthew Lamont, who founded DUG in 2003 with Dr. Troy Thompson, explains why he decided to start his own geosciences company.

Scale and ambition are accurate words to describe new oil exploration underway in the Great Australian Bight, but they do not quite do it justice.

The new field of dynamic topography is changing our understanding of the sedimentary record.

Australia has a surprising new heavyweight in oil production – the western flank of the Cooper-Eromanga Basin.

Shaping a Nation: A Geology of Australia. Geoscience Australia, 2012, Richard Blewitt, Chief Editor, 571 pages

High-quality 3D data could provide new exploration opportunities in this highly prospective part of the Northern Carnarvon Basin, where underexplored areas exist within close proximity to producing fields.

A newly published guide outlines the opportunities and risks involved in exploiting unconventional reserves in South Australia.