Geoscience Australia's southwest margin geophysical surveys

Abstract

The Australian Government?s five year (2006?2011) Offshore Energy Security Program aims to encourage the discovery of new hydrocarbon resources in Australia?s vast offshore frontier areas through the provision of pre-competitive data and information. One priority region, identified in consultation with the petroleum exploration industry and the respective State and Northern Territory geological surveys, is the southwestern continental margin of Australia. Geoscience Australia?s Southwest Margin Project is investigating the petroleum potential of sedimentary basins located on the continental margin extending from Cape Range to Cape Leeuwin. Primary areas of interest include the Perth and Mentelle basins. Other areas of interest include the southern Exmouth Sub-basin (Northern Carnarvon Basin), the offshore Southern Carnarvon Basin and the Wallaby Plateau. The main aims of the Southwest Margin Project are to provide pre-competitive regional information to underpin opportunities for the discovery of a new hydrocarbon province, to support promotion of selected areas for petroleum exploration, to enhance our understanding of petroleum potential and aspects of exploration risk and to inform future marine planning.