Queensland, Australia
KUTh has identified Queensland as a target for exploration and project development due particularly to its high level of mining activity and promising geothermal resource potential. The company is an active explorer in Queensland, maintaining a portfolio of prospective licence areas and applications.
Our Tenements
Jackin Creek- EPG7
Geothermal exploration permit EPG 7 is located at Jackin Creek near Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula and was granted for a four-year term in January 2010.
Geologically, the tenement area hosts a hot artesian/sub-artesian water system in sedimentary aquifers that overlie older granitic basement. Temperature gradients in the sediments are known from existing petroleum drilling and are up ~50°C/km. Heat flow values estimated by KUTh from these petroleum data are significant, in excess of 100 mWm-2.
Jackin Creek lies adjacent to Reserved Area 315 (RA315), a known bauxite deposit. Bauxite is also mined at Weipa a short way to the north of the licence area.
Steam rises from hot artesian water in a borehole near Weipa in 1958
National Archives of Australia: A1200, L26746
New Project Identification
Identification and early stage investigation of potential new project areas in Queensland remains ongoing. As always, our key consideration is not only the targeting of a potentially high quality and large geothermal resource, but also the location of demand in both on- and off-grid applications.
Epsilon: EPG 91 (Application)
KUTh continues to await the outcome of the tender application for geothermal exploration licence EPG 91 at Epsilon in far southwest Queensland. Application for this area, which is expected to host a hot rock EGS play within granite, was submitted in February 2010. Extrapolation of temperature data from existing petroleum wells, many of which reached total depth in granite, infer that temperatures of >200°C may be present at depths around 5 km.
There is considerable geothermal development taking place in the Cooper Basin and the decision to apply for this tenement is a strategic positioning of the company to take advantage of its skills base and any developments that should eventuate in this region.