Building a carbon storage portfolio for the Barrow and Dampier sub-basins – a national resource
David Barlass A * , Kiran Ferguson A , Leo Leon B , Nigel Seymour A , Paul Phythian C , Adam Vonk C and Merrie-Ellen Gunning DA
B
C
D
David Barlass is a Geoscientist with SLB based in Perth. David holds a Geology BSc from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Structural Geology with Geophysics from the University of Leeds. David is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Kiran Ferguson is a Multiclient Project Manager for SLB based in Perth, Australia. As a Geophysicist Kiran worked on onshore and offshore imaging projects, developing extensive experience from a wide range of projects in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. |
Leo Leon is a Technical Team Leader for the seismic reservoir characterisation group with SLB based in Houston. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in geophysics. He is a member of SEG. |
Nigel Seymour is a Geophysicist working for SLB in Perth. He graduated from the University of Liverpool with a bachelor’s degree in geophysics, he is a member of PESA, SEG and EAGE. |
Paul Phythian is a Geophysicist in the G&G Services Team of Chevron Australia’s Applied Reservoir Management group in Perth, Western Australia. Paul completed his Bachelor of Applied Science degree with Honours in Geophysics from the University of Queensland in 1994 and is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG), Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Adam Vonk is a Geologist in the Exploration Team of Chevron Australia’s Portfolio Development Group in Perth, Western Australia. Adam has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science (Tech) with Honours in Earth Sciences from The University of Waikato (New Zealand). Adam is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Merrie-Ellen Gunning is the Director of Offshore Energy Systems at Geoscience Australia. She has an MBA and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology, having studied at Melbourne Business School, the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and RMIT University. |
Abstract
The Australian government has recently legislated a 43% emissions reduction target for 2030 to drive net zero ambitions for 2050. The government plans for carbon capture and storage (CCS) to play a significant role in achieving this through greenhouse gas storage licence rounds. Rapid screening of Australia’s carbon storage opportunities is necessary to position future acreage release and ultimately identify and mature carbon storage sites. An industry collaboration between Geoscience Australia and SLB has conducted a basin-scale carbon storage assessment project for the Barrow and Dampier sub-basins. The project has built and modernised a subsurface database fit for CCS screening. The dataset was used as the foundation to create a carbon storage opportunity portfolio and storage resource assessment for the area. The project has three major streams: (1) CCS-focussed reprocessing, depth imaging and merging of 29 legacy seismic surveys covering 26,150 km2 – focussed on detailed image resolution for containment analysis. (2) A basin-wide audit of 1620 wells and databasing of available log data, 129 wells were carried through for petrophysical and rock physics analysis relevant to CCS. (3) A portfolio of carbon storage opportunities and associated capacity assessment for the Barrow–Dampier including saline aquifers and depleted fields ranked on storage capacity, reservoir and seal properties and integrity. The results of this study will be released via the National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System as a public resource to expedite CCS implementation for the region.
Keywords: Barrow Sub-basin, carbon storage, CCS, Dampier Sub-basin, depleted fields, North West Shelf, Northern Carnarvon Basin, saline aquifers, seismic reprocessing.
David Barlass is a Geoscientist with SLB based in Perth. David holds a Geology BSc from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Structural Geology with Geophysics from the University of Leeds. David is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Kiran Ferguson is a Multiclient Project Manager for SLB based in Perth, Australia. As a Geophysicist Kiran worked on onshore and offshore imaging projects, developing extensive experience from a wide range of projects in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. |
Leo Leon is a Technical Team Leader for the seismic reservoir characterisation group with SLB based in Houston. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in geophysics. He is a member of SEG. |
Nigel Seymour is a Geophysicist working for SLB in Perth. He graduated from the University of Liverpool with a bachelor’s degree in geophysics, he is a member of PESA, SEG and EAGE. |
Paul Phythian is a Geophysicist in the G&G Services Team of Chevron Australia’s Applied Reservoir Management group in Perth, Western Australia. Paul completed his Bachelor of Applied Science degree with Honours in Geophysics from the University of Queensland in 1994 and is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG), Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Adam Vonk is a Geologist in the Exploration Team of Chevron Australia’s Portfolio Development Group in Perth, Western Australia. Adam has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science (Tech) with Honours in Earth Sciences from The University of Waikato (New Zealand). Adam is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE). |
Merrie-Ellen Gunning is the Director of Offshore Energy Systems at Geoscience Australia. She has an MBA and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology, having studied at Melbourne Business School, the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and RMIT University. |
