New insights into the stratigraphy and basin evolution of the Houtman Sub-basin, offshore North Perth Basin, from a detailed sequence stratigraphic study*
D. Robertson A , A. Jones A and D. Mantle AGeoscience Australia.
The APPEA Journal 51(2) 745-745 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ10125
Published: 2011
Abstract
A detailed sequence stratigraphic study has been undertaken on the three wells in the Houtman Sub-basin: Gun Island-1, Houtman-1 and Charon-1.
The study focused on the early–late Jurassic Cattamarra Coal Measures, Cadda Formation and Yarragadee Formation succession. Wireline log character, cuttings, sidewall core and conventional core lithologies and palynological data were used to identify facies and paleoenvironments. Palynology for all wells has been reviewed, including new data collected by Geoscience Australia for Gun Island-1.
Facies stacking patterns were used to define systems tracts and subsequently ten third-order depositional sequences. At the second-order (supersequence) level, the Cattamarra Coal Measures recorded a transgression culminating in maximum flooding in the Cadda Formation, followed by highstand aggradation and regression in the Yarragadee Formation. The third-order sequences characterised in this study overprint this supersequence and control the local distribution of facies.
The relative dominance of a facies may be either enhanced or diminished depending upon its position in the larger second-order supersequence—for example: a number of transgressive systems tracts in the dominantly non-marine Yarragadee Formation and Cattamarra Coal Measures record multiple, dinocyst-bearing, minor marine incursions into the Houtman Sub-basin. These marine incursions are not evident in the Yarragadee Formation in Charon-1, indicating a lack of accommodation space or proximal sediment input in the north during the mid-late Jurassic.
The combined influence of these third-order and second-order sequences on facies distribution has significant implications for the distribution of potential reservoirs and seals in the Houtman Sub-basin and for regional palaeogeographic reconstructions of the Perth Basin.
Danielle Robertson is a research scientist in Geoscience Australia’s Petroleum Prospectivity and Promotions Group. She is involved in research into the geology and petroleum prospectivity of Australia’s southwest margin, particularly the north Perth Basin. She was a graduate at Geoscience Australia in 2008, and in 2009 was part of the Mentelle Basin team. Danielle graduated from the University of Waikato (New Zealand) with a BSc (2005) and an MSc (Hons) (2008). Member: PESA, GSNZ. |
Andrew Jones joined Geoscience Australia in 2001 after obtaining a PhD in sedimentology from UQ. In 2003 he joined the Petroleum and Marine Division as a member of a multidisciplinary team studying natural hydrocarbon seepage. He is now a senior geoscientist in the Petroleum Prospectivity Group, specialising in regional basin analysis in frontier and producing regions. Andrew is presently leading a petroleum prospectivity analysis of the offshore northern Perth Basin. |
Daniel Mantle is a research scientist in Geoscience Australia’s Petroleum and Marine Division. He holds a BSc (Hons) in geology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (2001) and received a PhD on the Middle—Late Jurassic palynology of the Bonaparte Basin from UQ (2006). He worked for a year in the coal industry in Mongolia before returning to Australia in 2008 to commence work as the in-house palynologist at GA, and to lead their timescales and VCEMP sub-project. Member: PESA, GSA, AASP. |
References
Kennard, J.M., Allan, G.P, and Kirk, R.B. (1999). Sequence stratigraphy: a review of fundamental concepts and their application to petroleum exploration and development in Australia. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 17, 77–104.Mory, A.J., and Iasky, R.P., 1996—Stratigraphy and structure of the onshore northern Perth Basin. GSWA. Report 46, 781–9.
Norvick, M.S., 2004—Tectonic and stratigraphic history of the Perth Basin. Geoscience Australia, Record 2004/16, 30p.
