Reinga/Northland Basin

Basin Summary

The Reinga Basin (including its Northland sector) is a large, little-explored basin in many respects similar to the better known Taranaki Basin. Points of difference are greater evidence of compression in the Eocene and Early Miocene, the presence of an allochthon close to the eastern margin, and some evidence of higher heat flow. About 40% of the basin is likely to be underlain by sediments deep enough to be expelling petroleum. The basin includes the region previously called the Northland Basin, which is essentially a sub-basin of the combined region.

• Reinga/Northland Basin Fact File [1.22 MB PDF]
• Reinga/Northland Basin Map [383 kB JPEG]

Key facts

Location A mainly offshore basin of about 170,00 sq km along the west coast of the northern North Island. Geology Jurassic marine beds and coal measures may be earliest basin-fill. Intraplate rift basin, transgression and on-lap from Early Cretaceous to Paleogene; Early Miocene back-arc subsidence, overthrusting and volcanism. Contiguous with Taranaki Basin. Up to 8,000 m of basin-fill.

Wells

Four relevant wells: Waimamaku-1 and -2 onshore 1969-72; Waka Nui-1 offshore 1999; Karewa-1 drilled offshore 2003 at boundary with Taranaki Basin.

Hydrocarbons

Gas shows in Waimamaku-2; small gas discovery at Karewa-1. Two gas seeps onshore. Satellite imagery shows three clusters of unassigned slicks offshore.

Prospects

Strong geological similarities with the Taranaki Basin but virtually unexplored. Includes a range of fault block highs and potential stratigraphic traps.

Source rocks

Jurassic to Eocene coal measures; Cretaceous to early Cenozoic marine mudstones including Waipawa Formation.

Reservoir rocks

Late Cretaceous terrestrial, paralic and nearshore sandstones; Eocene turbidites; Miocene volcaniclastics and turbidites.

Downstream infrastructure

Oil refinery and port at Marsden Point, Whangarei, with connections to the North Island gas pipeline network and a liquids pipeline to Auckland.

Port facilities

Marsden Point
www.northport.co.nz

Auckland
www.poal.co.nz

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

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