The huge shale potential of South ­Australia’s Cooper Basin has captured the attention of international players, with North American firms including ExxonMobil scouring the region for an opportunity to get a foothold in the state, according to industry sources in Houston.

Talk among industry insiders at an energy conference last week in the US oil capital centred on the major potential of the Cooper. The interest is prompting international energy ­companies to stalk smaller local players as a potential entry point.