A speculative ridge within the Kidson Sub-basin – integrated interpretation from geophysical data

Y. Zhan

doi:10.1071/EP23112

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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A speculative ridge within the Kidson Sub-basin – integrated interpretation from geophysical data

Y. Zhan ^A ^*

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia.

Yijie (Alex) Zhan graduated from China University of Geoscience (Beijing) with a BSc in 2005. He has worked on structural interpretation, fracture detection and reservoir modelling in various basins. He has published in English and Chinese on seismic interpretation, airborne electromagnetic data, azimuthal anisotropy, forward modelling and characterisation of gas-bearing volcanoclastic and conventional reservoirs. He joined the Geological Survey of Western Australia’s Basin and Energy Geoscience group as Senior Geophysicist in 2011, and is a member of PESA.

^* Correspondence to: alex.zhan@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Australian Energy Producers Journal 64 242-257 https://doi.org/10.1071/EP23112

Submitted: 18 December 2023 Accepted: 1 February 2024 Published: 16 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of Australian Energy Producers. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the basement geometry and its implications on the Kidson Sub-basin in the southern Canning Basin. Integration of seismic data primarily near the rim of the sub-basin with airborne electromagnetic data across its central portion reveals an east-northeast oriented ridge at Permian level, suggesting a possible elevated structure in the Ordovician and basement. The proposed ridge effectively separates the Kidson Sub-basin into two distinct parts, providing an explanation for facies and thickness variations observed in the Nambeet and Goldwyer formations, as well as the absence of the Willara Formation in the southeastern portion of the sub-basin. The presence of shallowing trends observed in seismic profiles along the southern flank of the ridge suggests the proximity of the basement high. The ridge is speculative and requires further work to verify its existence, potentially including passive and reflection seismic surveys across the structure. If confirmed, it might be a significant feature with far-reaching implications for the prospectivity of resources in the Kidson Sub-basin. The hydrocarbon sourced from the Nambeet, Goldwyer and Bongabinni formations in the NNW depocentre may have migrated via the extension of the Parallel Range Fault and be trapped in the footwall block over the ridge. Compared to the structures in the Fitzroy Trough, the traps within the Kidson Sub-basin are expected to maintain reasonable integrity and have good potential for petroleum accumulation and carbon sequestration in the thick Paleozoic succession.

Keywords: AEM, airborne electromagnetic data, basement, Canning Basin, gravity, Kidson Sub-basin, prospectivity, seismic, structure.

Biographies

Yijie (Alex) Zhan graduated from China University of Geoscience (Beijing) with a BSc in 2005. He has worked on structural interpretation, fracture detection and reservoir modelling in various basins. He has published in English and Chinese on seismic interpretation, airborne electromagnetic data, azimuthal anisotropy, forward modelling and characterisation of gas-bearing volcanoclastic and conventional reservoirs. He joined the Geological Survey of Western Australia’s Basin and Energy Geoscience group as Senior Geophysicist in 2011, and is a member of PESA.

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