A re-evaluation of the Lower to Middle Triassic on the Candace Terrace, Northern Carnarvon Basin
Roisin McGee A C , Jeff Goodall A B and Stephen Molyneux AA Carnarvon Petroleum, Level 2, 76 Kings Park Road, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.
B MGPalaeo, Unit 1/5 Arvida Street, Malaga, Perth, WA 6090, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: rmcgee@cvn.com.au
The APPEA Journal 57(1) 263-276 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16003
Accepted: 28 February 2017 Published: 29 May 2017
Abstract
The Lower to Middle Triassic mixed carbonate–clastic system in the Northern Carnarvon Basin is poorly understood relative to the stratigraphically younger Jurassic play systems. Few well penetrations and a lack of quality seismic data have deterred exploration of this interval for many years. In recent times, the Lower to Middle Triassic source potential has been comprehensively de-risked within the Roebuck Basin, with subsequent implications across the entire North West Shelf of Australia, opening up the possibility of an entirely new regional play fairway. This paper focuses on the Candace Terrace, on the southern flank of the Carnarvon Basin, where seismic observations and interpretations of Lower to Middle Triassic submarine canyon systems have been made. The stratigraphic elements of this play interval can now be more clearly observed with the aid of 3D seismic data. Amplitude extractions show the internal geometries of these highly erosive systems are sinuous, compensating flows. The aims of this paper are to postulate the stratigraphy of the Lower to Middle Triassic on the Candace Terrace, highlight the tectonic cause of the canyon systems and discuss the prospectivity of the observed turbidite features.
Roisin McGee graduated from Imperial College London in 2009 with an MSc in Petroleum Geosciences, after completing her BSc in Geophysical Sciences at the University of Leeds. She began her career at Gaffney, Cline & Associates in the UK as a Junior Geoscientist, where she gained diverse experience during her involvement in various consulting projects from around the globe including Oman and the north sea. She then moved on to Statoil in Bergen, Norway, where she expanded her skill set as a Development Geophysicist for the Oseberg Production Technology Group. She joined Carnarvon Petroleum in 2013 and currently a Senior Geophysicist, where she continues to gain invaluable experience in New Ventures and Exploration in the basins of the North West Shelf. |
Following graduation from University College London and 10 years working on North Sea and West African projects, Jeff Goodall decided to migrate to Australia to work for Santos, Adelaide. Roles in Santos included working in the stratigraphy group and later as an exploration geologist, working primarily on the North West Shelf and Indonesian assets. After 14 years at Santos, Jeff shifted into a stratigraphic and geological consultancy role and was involved in the building of the Morgan-Goodall Palaeo laboratory and consulting business in Perth. He took on a diverse range of regional geological projects and drilling campaigns on both the North West Shelf and in Indonesia with Husky, AWE and CNNOC. In 2013, consulting work for Carnarvon Petroleum led to a full-time role as Cheif Geologist, working on a variety of North West Shelf projects and helping develop ideas on inboard Triassic exploration. |
Stephen Molyneux comes from a farming background in Lancashire, UK and first became interested in rocks by looking at the glacial erratics in his father’s fields. After completing O and A levels in geology and a Geology Degree at Imperial College London (1985–1988), Stephen began his working career at Enterprise Oil in London (1989–1994). Since then, he has completed a MSc in Sedimentology at Birkbeck College London, and an Imperial PhD in seismic interpretation of oil bearing sandstone intrusions of the North Sea (2000). He worked for a short stint (1999–2000) for PanCanadian on the UK Buzzard discovery before moving to Calgary to work for PanCanadian as the company’s deepwater specialist (2000–2004). He was involved in projects such as the Buzzard discovery and offshore Brazil/Africa/GOM exploration, including a discovery in GOM at Tahiti, Brazil in the Peregrino discovery and Sergipe basins – all stratigraphic traps. As Chief Geologist with Oilexco Calgary for 4 years (2004–2009), he worked in the North Sea, where the company drilled 50+ offshore wells and found more then 100 million barrels of oil recoverable. After Oilexco was bought by Premier, Stephen held roles with Premier North Sea (Lead Explorer North Sea 2009–2010) and Origin Energy Brisbane (International New Ventures Manager 2010–2012). Presently, he is based in Perth, Australia with Carnarvon Petroleum as the Exploration Manager and would really like to find some more oil and gas. |
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