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Journal of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Triassic paleogeography and petroleum systems of the North West Shelf, Australia: key insights from a new regional study

Jarrad Grahame A C , Emma Cairns B and Stephanie Roy B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CGG Multi-Client & New Ventures, 1 Ord Street, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.

B CGG Robertson, Tynycoed, Llanrhos, Llandudno LL30 1SA, United Kingdom.

C Corresponding author. Email: jarrad.grahame@cgg.com

The APPEA Journal 57(2) 744-748 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16156
Accepted: 20 March 2017   Published: 29 May 2017

Abstract

CGG Multi-Client & New Ventures, in collaboration with CGG Robertson, has undertaken a new comprehensive study of the Triassic paleogeography and petroleum systems of the North West Shelf (NWS) including the Northern Carnarvon, Roebuck, Browse and Bonaparte basins. The key objectives of the study were to enhance the understanding of the prospectivity of NWS Triassic petroleum systems, develop new paleogeography maps, establish evidence for Triassic marine-derived source rocks and investigate the prospectivity of Late Triassic carbonate reef complexes. The study comprises new biostratigraphic analyses, quantitative evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN®) analyses, core logging, 1D and 2D modelling of key wells and seismic sections, plate reconstructed paleogeography and play mapping. Of key relevance to this study is the paleo-depositional framework and subsequent structuring of Triassic successions throughout the NWS basins in the context of petroleum system development.

Keywords: pinnacle reefs, Late Triassic.

Jarrad Grahame currently holds the position of Geoscientist at CGG Multi Client and New Ventures for the Asia-Pacific region. Jarrad studied Exploration Geophysics at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia before joining the oil and gas exploration industry. Jarrad’s primary role involves seismic interpretation and integration of well and seismic datasets for offshore basins, including clastic, carbonate resource plays. Jarrad has worked on basins in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and North America, encompassing a wide range of depositional environments. Jarrad has participated in regional studies and petroleum system analyses for a range of integrated geoscience projects.

Emma Cairns currently holds the position of Assistant Geoscientist at CGG Robertson. Emma studied Earth Science at Lancaster University and Quaternary Science at Royal Holloway University in the UK. Emma’s primary role involves sedimentological interpretation and integration of well datasets for clastic sediments. Emma has worked on studies in Australia, the Middle East and Norway, encompassing a wide range of depositional environments. Emma has participated in a range of integrated and multidisciplinary regional studies.

Stephanie Roy currently holds the position of Geochemist at CGG Robertson. Stephanie has a Bachelor Degree in Geology (UQAC – Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada) and a Masters and Ph.D. in Petroleum Geochemistry (INRS-ETE – Institut national de la Recherche scientifique, Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement, Quebec, Canada). Stephanie studied unconventional plays (shale gas) at IFPEN (French Institute of Petroleum, France) during her post-doctoral fellow before joining a junior oil and gas exploration company based in Quebec City (Canada) for 5 years. In 2015, Stephanie joined CGG Robertson, where she is involved in organic geochemistry and 1D modelling for a number of different basins in Canada, Australia, East Africa, Banda Arc, Pakistan, North Sea and Mexico.


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