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Concurrent 1. Presentation for: A regional chronostratigraphic framework for play-based resource assessments in the Eromanga Basin

Barry E. Bradshaw A *
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A Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

* Correspondence to: barry.bradshaw@ga.gov.au

The APPEA Journal 62 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21300
Published: 3 June 2022

Abstract

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 1

Geoscience Australia is undertaking a series of basin-scale assessments to identify the ‘yet-to-find’ resource potential for hydrocarbons, as well as for groundwater resources and carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities in central Australia under the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program. A play-based exploration approach is being used to systematically evaluate the key risk elements for each resource type through the analysis of drilling results and spatial data to map ‘sweet spots’ for exploration. These assessments aim to reduce the risks and uncertainties for explorers by providing spatially enabled assessments of energy resources and CCS potential. The work will also improve the understanding of existing groundwater resources which may be impacted by future energy resource developments or provide feedstock for future green hydrogen projects. A key requirement for undertaking such play-based resource assessments is to apply a common regional chronostratigraphic framework across all the resource types that link different geological unit nomenclatures through defining the assessed reservoir and seal intervals and their associated sequence stratigraphic surfaces (sequence boundaries, transgressive surfaces and maximum flooding surfaces). A Mesozoic chronostratigraphic framework has been developed for the Eromanga Basin, which defines nine regional play intervals that host the known hydrocarbon and groundwater resources, or represent potential CCS targets. The Mesozoic play framework is now being applied to undertake play-based low-carbon energy resource assessments in the western Eromanga Basin, with initial work focussing on the interpretation and correlation of the nine play intervals in wells for post-drill analysis.

To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Keywords: carbon capture and storage, chronostratigraphy, conventional hydrocarbons, groundwater, low-carbon energy resources, play mapping, regional play intervals, unconventional hydrocarbons.

Dr Barry Bradshaw is a Geoscientist with over 30 years experience undertaking geological and geophysical studies and play-based prospectivity studies for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources, geological storage projects, and sediment-hosted mineral deposits. Barry is currently employed as the Energy Resources and Advice activity leader at Geoscience Australia, and has previously worked as a Principal Geologist at CGSS consultants, Senior Research Scientist at AGSO/Geoscience Australia and Research Scientist at Texas A&M University (USA). Barry graduated from the University of Sydney in 1988, and completed a PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato (New Zealand) in 1991.