[2] During the late Jurassic, a rift complex forms between the Australian Plate/Tasman Fold Belt, and the Antarctic Plate.

[1][6] This extension forms the central depression, which is an integral part of the petroleum system, and is the location of nearly all of the oil/gas fields in the Gippsland Basin.

From the Eocene to the middle Miocene, a compressional tectonic period begins, and forms a series of anticlines, as well as nearly all of the structural features present today.

[1] The lithology is predominantly nonmarine greywackes, and mudstones, with minor layers of sandstone, conglomerate, coals, and volcanoclastics.

[1] This is known due to burial of 8 km or more in the offshore portion of the basin, which places the group in the overmature range.

Though this would typically make a good source rock, it is believed that oxidation of organic matter inhibited the generation of hydrocarbons.

[1] These rock types are representative of alluvial, shoreline, and shallow shelf marine depositional environments.

[1] Throughout the area, the surrounding sandstones display a high amount of dolomite cement present, which drastically decreases porosity (it can make up to 30% of the total rock volume).

[1] The small amount of research done on this phenomenon has pointed to hydrocarbon emplacement as the reason for dissolution.

[1][8] The hydrocarbon formation is due to the high heat flow, and subsidence that occurred in the late Cretaceous through the early Paleocene.

[1] The shales of the Latrobe Group display Total Organic Carbon (TOC) values of 1-3% wt.

[1] The traps in this oil field, are mainly late Eocene to middle Miocene in age.

[1] The traps were formed due to a small compressional event associated with the opening of the Tasman Sea.