Integrated 3D basin and petroleum systems modelling of the Great Australian Bight
E. Frery A C , M. Ducros B , L. Langhi A , J. Strand A and A. Ross AA CSIRO Energy, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.
B IFPEN, 1-4 Avenue du Bois Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison, France.
C Corresponding author. Email: emanuelle.frery@csiro.au
The APPEA Journal 57(2) 733-737 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16133
Accepted: 20 March 2017 Published: 29 May 2017
Abstract
3D stratigraphic, structural, thermal and migration modelling has become an essential part of petroleum systems analysis for passive margins, especially if complex 3D facies patterns and extensive volcanic activity are observed. A better understanding of such underexplored offshore areas requires a refined 3D basin modelling approach, with the implementation of realistically sized volcanic intrusions, source rocks and reservoir intervals.
In this study, an integrated modelling workflow based on a Great Australian Bight case study has been applied. The 244 800-km2 3D model integrates well data, marine surveys, 3D stratigraphic forward modelling and 3D basin modelling to better predict the effects of 3D facies variations and heat flow anomalies on the determination of the source rock-enriched intervals, the source rock maturity history and the hydrocarbon migration pathways. Plausible sedimentary sequences have been estimated using a stratigraphic forward model constrained by the limited available well data, seismic interpretation and published tectonic basin history. We also took into account other datasets to produce a thermal history model, such as the location of known volcanic intrusion, volcanic seamounts, bottom hole temperature and surface heat flow measurements.
Such basin modelling integrates multiple datatypes acquired in the same basin and provides an ideal platform for testing hypotheses on source rock richness or kinetics, as well as on hydrocarbon migration timing and pathways evolution. The model is flexible, can be easily refined around specific zones of interest and can be updated as new datasets, such as new seismic interpretations and data from new sampling campaigns and wells, are acquired.
Keywords: 3D geological restoration, heat flow, hydrocarbon generation, maturity history, migration pathways, source rock.
Emanuelle Frery is a structural geologist with experience in both geology and geophysics disciplines across the oil and gas industry and academia. Emanuelle is currently a geologist with CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering. Emanuelle has particular expertise in the area of modern and paleofluid circulation along faults, from fieldwork to laboratory analyses and to numerical modelling. Her PhD thesis focused on the spatiotemporal evolution of fault transfer properties under the circulation of HC, water, salt and CO2. Emanuelle has worked on stable isotopes analysis, radiogenic dating, petrography and structural geology, and is now working on petroleum systems analysis at the basin scale. She joined CSIRO in 2013 working on structural geology, geological modelling, trap integrity analysis and basin modelling. |
Mathieu Ducros is a senior exploration geologist with 10 years of experience in research and consultancy for petroleum exploration. He obtained a M.Sc. degree from the École des Mines de Saint-Etienne in 2007. He started his career in the exploration software department of Beicip-Franlab before joining the Basin Modeling research team in IFP Énergies nouvelles in 2010. Since then he works on improving petroleum systems modeling and stratigraphic modeling tools for better assessment of exploration risks. |
Laurent Langhi is Team Leader with CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering; he has 10 years experience in petroleum geology and exploration geophysics. After a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in geology and geophysics awarded in his native Switzerland, Laurent worked as a researcher at the University of Western Australia and as an exploration geologist/geophysicist in the oil & gas industry in Perth. In 2006 he joined CSIRO as a senior researcher focusing on trap integrity prediction, assessment/visualisation of fluids migration and geological and geomechanical modelling. He also works in the fields of seismic attributes analysis and quantitative seismic for conventional hydrocarbon and CCS. |
Julian Strand is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Petroleum/Earth Science and Resource Engineering, primarily working on structural geology and issues related to incorporating structural geology into reservoir and basin models. Based in Perth since 2005, is a member of the AAPG and EAGE. Was part of the Fault Analysis Group for nine years at the University of Liverpool and latterly UCD in Ireland. He attended the University of Liverpool and Imperial College, London. |
Dr Andrew Ross is a research scientist based at CSIRO. He leads research projects focused on marine geology, the development of new hydrocarbon sensor devices and baseline and oil spill monitoring. Dr Ross and his team have been involved in seeps surveys both in Australian basins and in the Gulf of Mexico. More recently Dr Ross has commenced a series of research projects to characterise the geology of the Great Australian Bight. Dr Ross joined CSIRO in 2004 and has qualifications in marine biology, oceanography and petroleum geoscience. |
References
Espurt, N., Callot, J. P., Totterdell, J., Struckmeyer, H., and Vially, R. (2009). Interactions between continental breakup dynamics and large-scale delta system evolution: insights from the Cretaceous Ceduna delta system, Bight Basin, southern Australian margin. Tectonics 28, TC6002.| Interactions between continental breakup dynamics and large-scale delta system evolution: insights from the Cretaceous Ceduna delta system, Bight Basin, southern Australian margin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heike, I., and Struckmeyer, M. (2009). Ceduna 3D PS Model, September 2009. Geocat No. 69485, Geoscience Australia.
Salmon, M., Kennett, B., Stern, T., and Aitken, A. (2013). The Moho in Australia and New Zealand. Tectonophysics 609, 288–298.
| The Moho in Australia and New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schofield, A., Totterdell, J., and Australia, G. (2008). ‘Distribution, Timing and Origin of Magmatism in the Bight and Eucla Basins.’ (Geoscience Australia.)
Totterdell, J. M., and Bradshaw, B. E. (2004). The structural framework and tectonic evolution of the Bight Basin. In ‘Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium II’. pp. 41–61. (Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia: Adelaide.)
Totterdell, J. M., Struckmeyer, H. I. M., Boreham, C. J., Mitchell, C. H., Monteil, E., and Bradshaw, B. E. (2008). Mid–Late Cretaceous organic-rich rocks from the eastern Bight Basin: implications for prospectivity. In ‘Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium III. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, Special Publication. pp. 137–158.
Walter, T. R. (2007). Deepwater and frontier exploration in Australia: historical perspectives, present environment and likely future trends. The APPEA Journal 47, 15–38.
