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Union-Kern-A.O.G. Cabawin No. 1 spudded on 6th October, 1960, was drilled as a structural test of the petroleum potential of sediments underlying a major unconformity within the Surat Basin. The age and nature of the section below the unconformity was questionable prior to drilling the well, but it was presumed to be partly Triassic and partly Permian in age and related to the sedimentation of the Bowen Geosyncline. The drilling of the well confirmed this prognosis. In addition to providing stratigraphic information related to the petroleum potential of the Bowen Group, the well also provided information of regional significance on the Mesozoic rocks of the Great Artesian Group. Under a thin veneer of Tertiary rocks the drill penetrated the Roma, Blythesdale, Walloon and Bundamba Formations of the Great Artesian Group, and the Cabawin, Kianga, and Back Creek Formations of the Bowen Group, before bottoming in volcanic rocks of (?)Permo-Carboniferous age at a depth of 12,035 feet. The drilling of the well confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons in the Surat Basin. During the drilling operation a blowout occurred at a depth of 9938 feet, surfacing free gas and condensate. The blowout was caused by formation pressures, in excess of the mud weight, within an eight-foot sand body of the Permian Kianga Formation. In addition significant gas shows and a flow of salt water were encountered in weathered andesite of the Cracow Formation. Minor gas shows were recorded in the Permian Back Creek Formation, and in the Lower Triassic Cabawin Formation, and Significant shows of hydrocarbons were also present in porous and permeable sandstones of the lower member of the Triassic-Jurassic Bundamba Formation. The number of occurrences of oil and gas showings indicated that only a sustained testing programme through casing would properly evaluate the potential of these hydrocarbons. After reaching total depth, 5 1/2" casing was cemented at 12,033 feet, and there followed a series of production tests of all significant shOWings of oil and gas encountered during the drilling operation. Results were negative with the exception of the one zone in the Permian Kianga Formation. This zone proved to be the only producing horizon. After 22 days of continuous production, this zone was producing 62 barrels per day of 490 API gravity crude through 22/64" choke, with casing and tubing well-head pressures at 550 p.s.i. and 300 p.s.i. respectively, and 534 Mcf/D of gas. A total of 1761 barrels of crude oil and 13,744 Mcf of gas were produced during the testing period. Pressure and temperature surveys were conducted, and the well was shut in and suspended on 17th June, 1961, retained in a condition for production at any future time.

Union-Kern-A.O.G. Cabawin East No. 1 was drilled by Union Oil Development Corporation, Kern County Land Company, and Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Limited in the Surat Basin, Queensland, 4.8 miles on a bearing 0800 from Cabawin No. 1 Well. The test was undertaken to investigate the possibility that the sub-commercial oil-bearing sand in Cabawin No. 1 might have a thicker development towards the east. The well was spudded in on 18th July, 1961, and penetrated a veneer of Tertiary; the Roma, Blythesdale, Walloon and Bundamba Formations of the Great Artesian Group; and the Cabawin, Kianga, and Back Creek Formations of the Bowen Group. Minor gas shows were encountered in coaly strata in the Blythesdale and Walloon Formations. Several small methane gas shows were indicated in sandstones of the Blythesdale, Walloon, and Bundamba Formations. Some very small gas showings were obtained through the Cabawin, Kianga and Back Creek Formations. Scattered oil fluorescence was noted from 6370 feet to total depth at 12,091 feet, but there were no important shows. The well indicated that the producing Kianga sand of Cabawin No. 1 was too silty in the Cabawin East location to be a reservoir. Cabawin East No. 1 was abandoned on 17th October, 1961.

Babrongan No. 1 Well was located on the southern edge of the Jurgurra Terrace, 97 miles east-south-east of Broome, Western Australia, and approximately 11 miles south of Frome Rocks No. 2. The well was drilled by Oil Drilling and Exploration (W.A.) Pty Limited for West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited, to a total depth of 6395 feet. Drilling commenced on 29th May, 1962, and was completed on 10th July, 1962. A full programme of logging, testing, and coring was undertaken. The well penetrated 20 feet of Quaternary surface sand and clay, 230 feet of undifferentiated Mesozoic sandstone and siltstone, and 6135 feet of Palaeozoic sandstone, siltstone, shale and minor carbonate. The Palaeozoic formations or units encountered were the Poole Sandstone and Grant Formation of Permian age and the Luluigui Formation, Clanmeyer Siltstone,and an un-named unit of the Upper Devonian. At 2340 feet the well intersected a fault and/or unconformity. If a fault is present it is believed to have a throw of approximately 3000 feet. With the exception of approximately 145 feet, the Luluigui Formation has been removed. Correlation with Frome Rocks No. 2 Well shows that an additional 2572 feet of Clanmeyer type sediments are present in Babrongan No. 1. The un-named unit of the Upper Devonian has been equated to the Virgin Hills Formation. This is the first time that this formation has been suspected of being present on the Jurgurra Terrace. The presence of these sediments is considered important to further exploration in the area as the Virgin Hills Formation is associated with reef development on the north rim of the Canning Basin and may also indicate the presence of reefs on the Jurgurra Terrace. Two minor shows of hydrocarbons were noted in the well. Neither was considered to be of commercial value and no drill stem tests were run. The well was abandoned at 6395 feet because of mechanical difficulties. The stratigraphic drilling operation at Babrongan No. 1was subsidized under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1961, from surface to total depth.