Tectonic geography of the world's oldest petroleum play, the McArthur Basin, is among 11 ground-breaking
research projects now possible across the country after the Turnbull Government announced an additional
$4.9 million of funding today.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston said the Turnbull Government had
committed $490,000 through the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects scheme to the new study
at Adelaide University led by Professor Alan Collins.
“Adelaide University’s project aims to develop a 4D tectonic geography framework to support the effective
exploration of the McArthur Basin,” Assistant Minister Ruston said.
“The techniques developed through the research will de-risk the exploration for petroleum in this basin, and
will establish precedents applicable in opening up Proterozoic petroleum elsewhere in Australia and
internationally.
“The research funding program is also designed to encourage collaboration between universities and
businesses where such ventures may otherwise not be facilitated,” Assistant Minister Ruston said.
“The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Northern Territory Geological Survey, Origin Energy
and Santos Ltd will be working alongside the Adelaide University as partner organisations throughout the
study.
“Adelaide will become home to ground-breaking research.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Linkage Project funding program is a major
change in the way research is funded in Australia and a key initiative of the National Innovation and
Science Agenda.
“When researchers and businesses come to the Government with strong proposals that will clearly deliver
real benefits for industry and Australians, we want to be able to green light them as quickly as possible,”
Minister Birmingham said.
Assistant Minister media contact: Bernadette Abraham, 0472 867 599
Adelaide University media contact: David Ellis, 0412 623 056
ARC media contact: 0412 623 056 or [email protected]
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