Petroleum supersystems in the greater McArthur Basin, Northern Territory, Australia: prospectivity of the world’s oldest stacked systems with emphasis on the McArthur Supersystem

This study assesses the prospectivity of world’s oldest known stacked petroleum systems from Proterozoic greater McArthur Basin (Northern Territory, Australia), which has immense potential to host both conventional natural gas and oil, in addition shale-gas accumulations. The Mesoproterozoic succession Beetaloo Sub-basin surrounding region hosts Territory’s premier play is at an advanced stage exploration for shale hydrocarbon plays. However, there also older sedimentary packages, with flows shows reported underlying Paleoproterozoic successions. At continent-scale, four regional supersystems are identified described order provide a platform consistent nomenclature package group level; ascending stratigraphic order; these Redbank supersystems, Paleoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic Lawn Supersystem, Supersystem. newly named defined, Supersystem renamed former Urapungan Eight possible plays six documented within incorporates Glyde Package successions Birrindudu Basin. Petroleum concepts this supersystem assist assessing resources. A better understanding critical targeting areas geoscience data acquisition facilitate reduction search space; it enables more rigorous assessment unconventional resources local (play) scales.