This application covers an area of approximately 8,200 km² encompassing the Batten Trough in the NT. The Batten Trough is a Proterozoic depocenter filled with carbonates and shaly deposits of the McArthur and Nathan Groups. Mineral exploration drill holes have encountered a number of live oil and gas shows within the McArthur Group. The most prominent being a gas blow out in drillhole Glyde River 9 (GR-9) drilled in 1979.

The upper McArthur Group contains two excellent oil prone black shale horizons, the Braney Creek Formation which has a TOC up to 10.4% and the Caranbirini Member of the Lynott Formation. Both formations are favourable for oil generation. Carbonates within the McArthur Group are the major reservoirs in the Batten Trough.

Using satellite imagery and surface geological maps four targets have been identified. Three of these targets are anticlines and the fourth hole is a re-entry of GD-9 to test if the gas previously encountered is potentially commercial.