Shale gas prospectivity in South Australia*
A. Hill A , S. Menpes A , G. Backé B , H. Khair B and A. Siasitorbaty BA PIRSA.
B University of Adelaide.
The APPEA Journal 51(2) 718-718 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ10098
Published: 2011
Abstract
Potential shale gas bearing basins in SA are primarily dominated by thermogenic play types and span the Neoproterozoic to Cretaceous. Whilst companies have only recently commenced exploring for shale gas in the Permian Cooper Basin, strong gas shows have been routinely observed and recorded since exploration commenced in the basin in 1959. The regionally extensive Roseneath and Murteree shales represent the primary exploration focus and reach maximum thicknesses of 103 m and 86 m respectively with TOC values up to 9%. These shales are in the gas window in large parts of the basin, particularly in the Patchawarra and Nappamerri troughs.
Outside the Cooper Basin, thick shale sequences in the Crayfish Subgroup of the Otway Basin, in particular the Upper and Lower Sawpit shales and to a lesser extent the Laira Formation, have good shale gas potential in the deeper portions of the basin. TOC averages up to 3% are recorded in these shales in the Penola Trough; maturities in the range of 1.3–1.5% have been modelled. Thick Permian marine shales of the Arckaringa Basin have excellent source rock characteristics, with TOC’s ranging 4.1–7.4% and averaging 5.2% over an interval exceeding 150 m in the Phillipson Trough; however, these Type II source rocks are not sufficiently mature for gas generation anywhere in the Arckaringa Basin. Shale gas has the potential to rival CSM in eastern Australia; its potential is now being explored in SA.
Tony Hill is principal geologist with the Petroleum and Geothermal Group of the SA Department of Primary Industries and Resources. He has 30 years of experience in petroleum system analysis and has also worked in the fields of hydrogeology and geothermal energy since graduating with a BSc (applied geology) from the RMIT in 1980. Member: PESA (SA). |
Sandra Menpes joined PIRSA’s Petroleum and Geothermal Group as a principal petroleum geoscientist in March 2010. Prior to joining PIRSA, Sandra was exploration asset manager for Trident Energy Ltd (2009), and principal exploration geologist for Essential Petroleum Limited (2002–8) after starting her career with Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (1989–98). Sandra has wide-petroleum exploration experience in proven and frontier Australian basins, and has explored for coal deposits in the Bowen and Gunnedah basins. She enjoys research, in particular basin history analysis through the integration of geological and geophysical data. Sandy holds a BSc in petroleum geology and physics (NCPGG, now ASP) (Hons) from Adelaide University and has a graduate diploma in applied finance and investment (SIA, now FINSIA). |
Guillaume Backé is a structural geologist with an expertise in seismic interpretation, three-dimensional geomodelling and geomechanical modelling. He joined the Australian School of Petroleum in May 2009, following a two-year Post Doctoral research position at the Centre for Mineral Exploration Under Cover (CMXUC) of the University of Adelaide. He obtained a Master of Geophysics at the University of Toulouse III in France in June 2002, and completed a PhD at the University of Pau et des Pays de l’Adour in December 2006 with a dissertation on the tectonic evolution of the Venezuelan Andes (Venezuela), the Southern Central Andes and the Neuquén basin (Argentina). His main research focus is in the integration of geophysics and geology for the construction of accurate and validated three-dimensional models of the earth’s sub-surface, in particular for petroleum, geothermal or geological storage of carbon dioxide applications. |
Hani Abul Khair received his BSc (Earth and environmental sciences), his MSc (sedimentology) and his PhD (petroleum geosciences) at the University of Jordan, Jordania. He worked as petroleum geoscientist with Target exploration UK, before taking a postdoctoral position at the University of Jordan. In 2010, he joined the Australian School of Petroleum as a research associate focused on a shale gas project funded by Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA). His expertise encompasses sedimentary geology, sequence stratigraphy, seismic interpretation, petrophysics, geomechanics and basin analysis. Member: PESA (SA), AAPG. |
Arezoo Siasitorbaty is undertaking an MSc in petroleum geoscience at the Australian School of Petroleum, Adelaide University, focusing on shale gas potential of the Otway Basin. She received her MSc in geology (biostratigraphy) from the University of Shahid Beheshti (Iran) in 2003. She joined Iranian National Oil and Gas Company in 2003 and worked as an exploration geologist for three years. Her research interests include sedimentology and stratigraphy of shallow marine sediments. Member: AAPG, PESA, GSA. |
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