Last month a South Australian government technical forum and associated workshops delved into some early findings of the pioneering seismic, magnetotellurics, airborne magnetics and radiometrics, along with biochemical surveying work that was undertaken last year.

While the work is ultimately based on uncovering a new mineral province with very little previously known about the bedrock beneath the famous Nullarbor plain, the potential for hydrocarbons is not forgotten.

Geological Survey of South Australia director and chief SA government geologist Dr Steve Hill told Energy News that so far the highlights for this region were based on the occurrence of deep crustal mineralisation systems.

However, he said there were plans afoot for a shallow reinterpretation that would be "more relevant to oil and gas".

Data from the deep crustal seismic survey of the processed Gawler Craton section will be available for public download in July this year with the remaining section expected later in the year.

The Eucla Basin and Western Gawler Craton region, while recognised as one of the "last truly underexplored greenfield terrains" by the South Australian government, is considered prospective for gold and base metal mineralisation.