Cabawin Oil Field

In late 1959, the Union Oil Development Corporation began an exploratory programme in the Surat Basin of Queensland.

The drilling of an initial test site (Cabawin No. 1) at the Cabawin Oil Field, near the corner of Bullock Head Road and the Leichhardt Highway, resulted in the discovery of a sub-commercial oil zone at a depth of 9930 feet.

It was hoped that the second test site (Cabawin East No. 1) would favourably evaluate the thesis that the oil bearing sandstone encountered at the first well might thicken as it moved eastward, however Cabawin East No. 1 was dry, and in October 1961 the well was abandoned.

A third test site was conducted at Moonie No. 1 and proved fruitful. Production at the Moonie Oil Field began in March 1964.

The Cabawin Oil Field no longer has any oil producing infrastructure, but continues to be managed by Bridgeport Energy Limited, which claim the the site contains 'undeveloped gas and liquids resources'.