Stratigraphic framework and structural architecture of the Upper Cretaceous in the deep-water Otway Basin – implications for frontier hydrocarbon prospectivity

Chris Nicholson joined Geoscience Australia in 2004. He is a Structural Geologist and Basin Analysist in the Basin Systems Branch of GA’s Mineral, Energy and Groundwater Division where he works on regional prospectivity studies of Australia’s offshore basins. His current focus is the Otway Basin and prior to that he was Director of the North West Margins Energy Systems team investigating the prospectivity of the Triassic interval across the central NWS. He has previously led and been involved in similar hydrocarbon prospectivity studies and CO₂ storage assessments in the Browse Basin and other frontier offshore basins, including the northern Perth, Mentelle and Bight basins and the Vlaming and Bremer Sub-basins. Chris graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the Australian National University in 2000. He is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX).

Steve Abbott joined the Energy Systems Branch at Geoscience Australia in 2013 where he works as a Basin Analyst on regional tectonic and stratigraphic studies of Australia’s offshore basins. Past roles include mineral exploration (mainly sedimentary uranium in central Australia), teaching and research (Southern Cross University, James Cook University, University of Tasmania), and regional mapping (Northern Territory Geological Survey). He earned his qualifications in sedimentary geology from Flinders (Hons 1987) and James Cook universities (PhD 1994). Steve is past president of PESA ACT.

George Bernardel is a Geoscientist in the Offshore Energy Systems Branch in the Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division of Geoscience Australia. He gained his BSc (Honours) in Geophysics from the University of Sydney in 1986 and joined Geoscience Australia in 1995. His current role is the seismic mapping of Cretaceous–Cenozoic sequences and structure across the offshore Otway Basin.

Merrie-Ellen Gunning has over 20 years of experience in the Oil and Gas industry where she has performed a diverse range of roles from strategic planning, business development and operations management, to technical roles specialising in geophysics and exploration. Added to this is 5 years of experience in the Aluminium industry across the value chain from extraction, mining bauxite and nepheline, through refining Alumina to smelting. In addition to her extensive knowledge of industry in Australia, her experience has included postings to Indonesia, Norway, the US, Russia and Singapore, and overseeing operations across the world. She has an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology. Merrie-Ellen joined Geoscience Australia in August 2015 and has worked on a wide range of prospectivity and CO₂ storage projects, leading the Energy Systems Branch throughout 2017 and is currently Director of Offshore Energy Systems.