The WestraliaSPAN 2D regional program extends across all basins of Australia’s North West Shelf (... more The WestraliaSPAN 2D regional program extends across all basins of Australia’s North West Shelf (Carnarvon/Roebuck/Browse/Bonaparte basins) and Arafura regions. The survey is designed with long offset and record length (18 sec) acquisition parameters to image the important deep crustal and sub crustal architecture and depositional systems across this complex margin. The regional program provides unique, state-of-the-art depth imaging of deep-basement rift structures of the Westralian Superbasin, as well as the lower crust and Moho. The survey has multiple transects which cross the transition from continental to oceanic crust, that provide insight into the distribution of volcanics and a possible hyper-extended rift margin. An integrated geological and geophysical interpretation encompasses available well, seismic and potential field data. Gravity models were developed to aid in depth conversion and the structural interpretation of the deep crust and Moho. A comprehensive model of ba...
A regional tectono-stratigraphic framework has been developed for the Cretaceous and Tertiary sec... more A regional tectono-stratigraphic framework has been developed for the Cretaceous and Tertiary section in the Northern Carnarvon Basin. This framework places traditional observations in a new context and provides a predictive tool for determining the temporal occurrence and spatial distribution of the lithofacies play elements, that iss reservoir, source and seal.Two new, potential petroleum systems have been identified within the Barremian Muderong Shale and Albian Gearle Siltstone. These potential source rocks could be mature or maturing along a trend that parallels the Alpha Arch and Rankin Platform, and within the Exinouth Sub-basin.A favourable combination of reservoir and seal can be predicted for the early regressive part of the Creta- ceous-Tertiary basin phase (Campanian-Palaeocene). Lowstand and transgressive (within incised valleys) reservoirs are more likely to be isolated and encased in sealing shales, similar to lowstand reservoir facies deposited during the transgressi...
The continental margins of Australia provide an excellent natural laboratory for investigations o... more The continental margins of Australia provide an excellent natural laboratory for investigations of continental extension and break-up, with examples of failed rifts, multi-phase extensional systems, and volcanic and non-volcanic margins. The thick sedimentary cover across large parts, however, has hindered understanding of the deep crustal and lithospheric structure due to poor imaging. ION Geophysical has acquired deep, long offset seismic data across Australia’s North West Shelf, as well as the Bight Basin on Australia’s southern margin. These programs provide unique imaging of the deep basement structures and the complete overlying sedimentary section, and across all of the terrains from continental crust to oceanic crust. The authors’ interpretation of these data will be discussed in the context of existing models for continental extension and break-up and the resulting implications for the petroleum system: Models of hyper-extension and possible mantle exhumation will be discus...
Record-high oil prices along with on-going development of infrastructure, increasing domestic dem... more Record-high oil prices along with on-going development of infrastructure, increasing domestic demand and international LNG sales continued to drive significant investment in exploration in onshore and offshore Australia during 2007. These trends are reflected nationally by strong uptake of acreage and continued high levels of drilling activity and seismic acquisition. Overall, drilling and discovery trends were similar to 2006 which showed significant exploration activity focussed on proven hydrocarbon basins (Carnarvon, Browse, Perth and Cooper basins). Most petroleum discoveries made in 2007 were located within 10 to 15 km of existing fields. In terms of number of exploration wells, the offshore Carnarvon continued to dominate with over 20 new field wildcats drilled. Discoveries include a major deep-water gas find for BHP-Billiton at Thebe-1 on the outer Exmouth Plateau, Apache’s gas finds at Brunello–1, Julimar–1 and Julimar East–1, oil for Santos at Fletcher–1 and gas at Lady No...
Petroleum Systems of Divergent Continental Margin Basins: 25th Annual, 2005
... tralia and Antarctica (Willcox and Stagg, 1990; Bradshaw et al., 2003). ... 6). These fluvial... more ... tralia and Antarctica (Willcox and Stagg, 1990; Bradshaw et al., 2003). ... 6). These fluvial sandstones are sealed by either intra-for-mational shales or a thick shale unit (Laira Formation equivalent) that developed toward the end of the Cray-fish Supersequence. ...
The Early Permian to Middle Triassic Bowen and Gunnedah Basins in eastern Australia developed in ... more The Early Permian to Middle Triassic Bowen and Gunnedah Basins in eastern Australia developed in response to a series of interplate and intraplate tectonic events that occurred to the east of the basin system. The initial event was extensional and stretched the continental crust to form part of the major Early Permian East Australian Rift System that occurred at least
Seismic sequence analysis has been combined with a kinematic and flexural model for the deformati... more Seismic sequence analysis has been combined with a kinematic and flexural model for the deformation of the lithosphere to define the history, distribution and magnitude of inversion within the Dampier Sub-basin, northwest Australia, during the Cretaceous and Tertiary. Inversion tends to be focused along the trend of pre-existing border fault systems and/or internal to the basin across the roll-over anticlines of collapsed hangingwall blocks. The spatial distribution of inversion varied with different faults involved in the inversion process at different times. Whereas Cretaceous inversion concentrated along major boundary faults of the northeast-southwest oriented Rankin, Madeleine, and Rosemary-Legendre trends, the locus of Miocene inversion was located adjacent to the northwest limits of the Rosemary-Legendre Trend. Total shortening of the lithosphere during the Santonian and Tertiary was modelled to be w2.6 and 0.16 km, respectively, with northeast-southwest trends being preferentially reactivated. The amplitudes of inversion structures range from w1000 m over the eastern Rankin Trend to hundreds of metres for inversion structures comprising the Rosemary-Legendre Trend. Although responsible for the development of relatively subtle features, inversion has critically controlled the major structures for trapping hydrocarbons within the Dampier Sub-basin.
The WestraliaSPAN 2D regional program extends across all basins of Australia’s North West Shelf (... more The WestraliaSPAN 2D regional program extends across all basins of Australia’s North West Shelf (Carnarvon/Roebuck/Browse/Bonaparte basins) and Arafura regions. The survey is designed with long offset and record length (18 sec) acquisition parameters to image the important deep crustal and sub crustal architecture and depositional systems across this complex margin. The regional program provides unique, state-of-the-art depth imaging of deep-basement rift structures of the Westralian Superbasin, as well as the lower crust and Moho. The survey has multiple transects which cross the transition from continental to oceanic crust, that provide insight into the distribution of volcanics and a possible hyper-extended rift margin. An integrated geological and geophysical interpretation encompasses available well, seismic and potential field data. Gravity models were developed to aid in depth conversion and the structural interpretation of the deep crust and Moho. A comprehensive model of ba...
A regional tectono-stratigraphic framework has been developed for the Cretaceous and Tertiary sec... more A regional tectono-stratigraphic framework has been developed for the Cretaceous and Tertiary section in the Northern Carnarvon Basin. This framework places traditional observations in a new context and provides a predictive tool for determining the temporal occurrence and spatial distribution of the lithofacies play elements, that iss reservoir, source and seal.Two new, potential petroleum systems have been identified within the Barremian Muderong Shale and Albian Gearle Siltstone. These potential source rocks could be mature or maturing along a trend that parallels the Alpha Arch and Rankin Platform, and within the Exinouth Sub-basin.A favourable combination of reservoir and seal can be predicted for the early regressive part of the Creta- ceous-Tertiary basin phase (Campanian-Palaeocene). Lowstand and transgressive (within incised valleys) reservoirs are more likely to be isolated and encased in sealing shales, similar to lowstand reservoir facies deposited during the transgressi...
The continental margins of Australia provide an excellent natural laboratory for investigations o... more The continental margins of Australia provide an excellent natural laboratory for investigations of continental extension and break-up, with examples of failed rifts, multi-phase extensional systems, and volcanic and non-volcanic margins. The thick sedimentary cover across large parts, however, has hindered understanding of the deep crustal and lithospheric structure due to poor imaging. ION Geophysical has acquired deep, long offset seismic data across Australia’s North West Shelf, as well as the Bight Basin on Australia’s southern margin. These programs provide unique imaging of the deep basement structures and the complete overlying sedimentary section, and across all of the terrains from continental crust to oceanic crust. The authors’ interpretation of these data will be discussed in the context of existing models for continental extension and break-up and the resulting implications for the petroleum system: Models of hyper-extension and possible mantle exhumation will be discus...
Record-high oil prices along with on-going development of infrastructure, increasing domestic dem... more Record-high oil prices along with on-going development of infrastructure, increasing domestic demand and international LNG sales continued to drive significant investment in exploration in onshore and offshore Australia during 2007. These trends are reflected nationally by strong uptake of acreage and continued high levels of drilling activity and seismic acquisition. Overall, drilling and discovery trends were similar to 2006 which showed significant exploration activity focussed on proven hydrocarbon basins (Carnarvon, Browse, Perth and Cooper basins). Most petroleum discoveries made in 2007 were located within 10 to 15 km of existing fields. In terms of number of exploration wells, the offshore Carnarvon continued to dominate with over 20 new field wildcats drilled. Discoveries include a major deep-water gas find for BHP-Billiton at Thebe-1 on the outer Exmouth Plateau, Apache’s gas finds at Brunello–1, Julimar–1 and Julimar East–1, oil for Santos at Fletcher–1 and gas at Lady No...
Petroleum Systems of Divergent Continental Margin Basins: 25th Annual, 2005
... tralia and Antarctica (Willcox and Stagg, 1990; Bradshaw et al., 2003). ... 6). These fluvial... more ... tralia and Antarctica (Willcox and Stagg, 1990; Bradshaw et al., 2003). ... 6). These fluvial sandstones are sealed by either intra-for-mational shales or a thick shale unit (Laira Formation equivalent) that developed toward the end of the Cray-fish Supersequence. ...
The Early Permian to Middle Triassic Bowen and Gunnedah Basins in eastern Australia developed in ... more The Early Permian to Middle Triassic Bowen and Gunnedah Basins in eastern Australia developed in response to a series of interplate and intraplate tectonic events that occurred to the east of the basin system. The initial event was extensional and stretched the continental crust to form part of the major Early Permian East Australian Rift System that occurred at least
Seismic sequence analysis has been combined with a kinematic and flexural model for the deformati... more Seismic sequence analysis has been combined with a kinematic and flexural model for the deformation of the lithosphere to define the history, distribution and magnitude of inversion within the Dampier Sub-basin, northwest Australia, during the Cretaceous and Tertiary. Inversion tends to be focused along the trend of pre-existing border fault systems and/or internal to the basin across the roll-over anticlines of collapsed hangingwall blocks. The spatial distribution of inversion varied with different faults involved in the inversion process at different times. Whereas Cretaceous inversion concentrated along major boundary faults of the northeast-southwest oriented Rankin, Madeleine, and Rosemary-Legendre trends, the locus of Miocene inversion was located adjacent to the northwest limits of the Rosemary-Legendre Trend. Total shortening of the lithosphere during the Santonian and Tertiary was modelled to be w2.6 and 0.16 km, respectively, with northeast-southwest trends being preferentially reactivated. The amplitudes of inversion structures range from w1000 m over the eastern Rankin Trend to hundreds of metres for inversion structures comprising the Rosemary-Legendre Trend. Although responsible for the development of relatively subtle features, inversion has critically controlled the major structures for trapping hydrocarbons within the Dampier Sub-basin.
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