Clarence-Moreton

Commentary

Exploration in the Clarence-Moreton remains limited, and the basin's coal-seam gas potential faces local opposition. Federal approvals have become more supportive, but gas-market intervention and safeguard-mechanism costs remain barriers. Outlook: Neutral.

Updated

October 1, 2026

Location

Description

The Late Triassic to Late Jurassic CMB is situated onshore and offshore southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. The CMB and its precursors developed on a basement cut by major long-lived, dextral strike-slip faults (West Ipswich, Coraki and Coast Range Faults). Movement produced crustal transtension which was followed in the latest Triassic to Late Jurassic by a period of thermal relaxation and subsidence which formed the Basin.

Summary

Most accumulations are reservoired in Early Jurassic sands, with occasional gas occurrences in the Middle and Late Jurassic, but all are sourced from the Permian nonmarine sediments. Proven plays comprise mostly low amplitude anticlinal closures occasionally associated with thrust faulting and drapes over basement highs. Because the Basin is largely flat-lying and sedimentation widespread and relatively uniform, other types of traps are unlikely to be important.