During the period January 1946-December 1985 under review, the following petroleum exploration work was carried out over the Arrowie Block: 6 gravity, 2 aeromagnetic and 10 seismic surveys (total seismic coverage 2781 line km), plus 4 wells, all dry. This work has served to delineate the current inventory of 3 prospects, 3 strong leads and approximately 10 weak leads. The sequence drilled so far is deemed mature for oil generation and contains adequate source and reservoir rocks. The 1983 failure of Moorowie 1, the one valid test of the Cambrian principal reservoir within a sealed 4-way dip-closed anticline, is still poorly understood, but is thought to be due to insufficient quality of nearby source beds, or else an ill-timed structural development relative to that of petroleum migration. The Block partners recognise that the complex stratigraphy and structuring of the Arrowie Basin has produced a wide variety of stratigraphic and structural targets. However, the Block is currently seriously under-explored, necessitating the present strategic evaluation of structural targets and major stratigraphic pinchout plays, with a lower emphasis being placed upon finding exotic stratigraphic traps (diagenetic, etc.) in the short-medium term (1-3 years). The authors suggest that exploration should address plays located along the western margin of the Block which have the closest access to the best-developed source beds in the Adelaide Geosyncline. Structures should also be sought in the Moorowie Syncline where the presence of thick Parara Limestone (the best quality source rock) is inferred from seismic. Exploration for Mesozoic targets should be directed towards the north of the Block, where the Jurassic rocks are best developed although possibly lacking source potential, or immature. Mathematical probability analysis of available geological play parameters indicates that to be at least 50% confident of finding the Block's unrisked mean recoverable potential oil reserves of 2.9 MMSTB, a total of 14 wildcats will be required, in addition to 1500 + 865 km of new regional/detailed seismic. With this programme, and based on current thinking re. drilling and seismic success likelihoods, the risked mean recoverable oil reserve per well is 0.038 MMSTB.