Raukumara Basin

Basin Summary

The geology of the basin is known mainly through analogies with adjacent areas. It is believed to contain a thick, little deformed, entirely marine, passive margin sequence of mid-Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks, deeply buried following allochthon emplacement and clastic deposition in the Neogene. It may be one of the few areas where the Waipawa Formation has been buried deeply enough to reach maturity.

• Raukumara Basin Fact File [699 kB PDF]
• Raukamara Basin Map [266 kB JPEG]
   

Key facts

Location An offshore basin of around 36,000 sq km situated off the north-east coast of the North Island. Geology Structurally simple synform. Older basin-fill is marine Cretaceous to Paleogene passive margin sequence. West-tapering wedge of East Coast Allochthon emplaced in Early Miocene. Thick post-Early Miocene sediments deposited in a convergent fore-arc setting.

Wells

No wells in this basin.

Hydrocarbons

Direct hydrocarbon indicators identified in seismic surveys. Oil and gas seeps  common in the contiguous East Coast Basin.

Prospects

Very thick sedimentary sequence, unexplored.

Source rocks

Cretaceous and Paleocene marine shales.

Reservoir rocks

Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene transgressive and turbidite sandstones; fractured Late Cretaceous to Paleocene shales.

Port facilities

Tauranga
www.port-tauranga.co.nz

Auckland
www.poal.co.nz

• New Zealand Infrastructure and Port Facilities [1.25 MB PDF]
   

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