Northern Houtman Sub-basin prospectivity—preliminary results
Irina Borissova A , Chris Southby A , George Bernardel A , Jennifer Totterdell A , Robbie Morris A and Ryan Owens AGeoscience Australia.
The APPEA Journal 56(2) 577-577 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ15083
Published: 2016
Abstract
In 2014–15 Geoscience Australia acquired 3,300 km of deep 2D seismic data over the northern part of the Houtman Sub-basin (Perth Basin). Prior to this survey, this area had a very sparse coverage of 2D seismic data with 50–70 km line spacing in the north and an industry grid with 20 km line spacing in the south.
Initial interpretation of the available data has shown that the structural style, major sequences, and potential source rocks in this area are similar to those in the southern Houtman and Abrolhos sub-basins. The major difference between these depocentres, however, is in the volume and distribution of volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks. The northern part of the Houtman Sub-basin is adjacent to the Wallaby Plateau Large Igneous Province (LIP). The Wallaby Plateau and the Wallaby Saddle, which borders the western flank of the Houtman Sub-basin, had active volcanism from the Valanginian to at least the end of the Barremian. Volcanic successions significantly reduce the quality of seismic imaging at depth, making it difficult to ascertain the underlying thickness, geometry and structure of the sedimentary basin. The new 2D seismic dataset across the northern Houtman Sub-basin provides an opportunity for improved mapping of the structure and stratigraphy of the pre-breakup succession, assessment of petroleum prospectivity, and examination of the role of volcanism in the thermal history of this frontier basin.
Irina Borissova is a senior geoscientist in Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division, Energy Systems Branch. She graduated from Moscow State University and in 1985 gained a PhD from the Russian Academy of Sciences in marine geology and tectonics. Since joining Geoscience Australia in 1993 she has contributed to a number of projects, particularly to geological studies of frontier areas, including the Kerguelen and Naturaliste Plateaus and the Mentelle Basin. Irina has been working on petroleum prospectivity assessments of the southwest margin sedimentary basins since 2004. Presently she is section leader for Energy Frontiers and is leading the northern Houtman Sub-basin prospectivity study. Member: PESA. |
Chris Southby is a geoscientist in Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division, Energy Systems Branch. He completed his Honours at Australian National University in 2004, on palaeo-climate geochemistry of corals from Papua New Guinea. Since joining Geoscience Australia in 2005 he has contributed to a number of projects under the National CO2 Infrastructure Plan including the CO2 Storage Potential of the Vlaming Sub-basin. Chris is now contributing to seismic structural and stratigraphic interpretation of the Houtman Sub-basin. Member: PESA. |
George Bernardel is a geoscientist in Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division, Energy Systems Branch. He graduated from Sydney University in 1986 with Honours in geophysics. Since joining Geoscience Australia in 1995 he has been involved in marine seismic acquisition, and has contributed to a number of projects—particularly geological studies of frontier areas, including the Lord Howe Rise, Great Australian Bight and Perth Basin. George has been working on petroleum prospectivity assessments of the west Australian margin sedimentary basins since 2005. |
Jennie Totterdell is a principal geologist in the energy systems branch within Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division. Jennie is a graduate of the Australian National University. During her career at Geoscience Australia, Jennie has worked on a range of regional, thematic and basin studies. In the last 15 years, her work has focused on offshore frontier basins, notably the Bight Basin, and has included the production of a petroleum geology inventory for all Australian offshore frontier areas. Jennie’s main areas of interest are the structural and stratigraphic evolution and petroleum potential of basins on Australia’s continental margins. Member: PESA. |
Robbie Morris is a geoscientist in Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division, Energy Systems Branch. He completed a BSc in geology in 2002, and is presently undertaking a MSc at the Australian National University. He joined Geoscience Australia in 2005, working predominantly on the monitoring and evaluation of geological hazards and risks. He has produced well folios since 2012 for the Petrel Sub-basin and Georgina Basin and is presently contributing to the northern Houtman Sub-basin prospectivity study. Member: PESA. |
Ryan Owens is a junior geoscientist in Geoscience Australia’s Resources Division, Energy Systems Branch. He graduated from the Australian National University (ANU) in 2007 with a BSc in geology (Hons). Subsequently he worked in mineral exploration before undertaking a PhD in paleoceanography at the Research School of Earth Sciences, ANU. Ryan joined the northern Houtman Sub-basin prospectivity study in 2015 after completing the Geoscience Australia graduate program. Member: PESA. |
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