Exploring for the Future—a new oil and gas frontier in northern Australia
Paul Henson A B , David Robinson A , Lidena Carr A , Dianne S. Edwards A , Susannah K. MacFarlane A , Amber J. M. Jarrett A and Adam H. E. BaileyA Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: paul.henson@ga.gov.au
The APPEA Journal 60(2) 703-711 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19080
Accepted: 19 February 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is a four-year, AU$100.5 million initiative from the Australian Government conducted by Geoscience Australia in partnership with state and Northern Territory government agencies, CSIRO and universities to provide new geoscientific datasets for frontier regions. As part of this program, Geoscience Australia acquired two new seismic surveys that collectively extend across the South Nicholson Basin (L120 South Nicholson seismic line) and into the Beetaloo Sub-basin of the McArthur Basin (L212 Barkly seismic line). Interpretation of the seismic has resulted in the discovery of new basins that both contain a significant section of presumed Proterozoic strata. Integration of the seismic results with petroleum systems geochemistry, structural analyses, geochronology, rock properties and a petroleum systems model has expanded the knowledge of the region for energy exploration. These datasets are available through Geoscience Australia’s newly developed Data Discovery Portal: an online platform delivering digital geoscientific information, including seismic locations and cross-section images, and field site and well based sample data. Specifically for the EFTF energy project, a petroleum systems framework with supporting organic geochemical data has been built to access source rock, crude oil and natural gas datasets via interactive maps, graphs and analytical tools that enable the user to gain a better and faster understanding of a basin’s petroleum prospectivity.
Keywords: crude oil, digital data portal, Lawn Hill Platform, McArthur Basin, natural gas, onshore petroleum prospectivity studies, petroleum systems, Proterozoic, seismic surveys, South Nicholson Basin, source rocks.
Paul Henson is a graduate from the University of Tasmania and is currently Director of the Onshore Energy Systems Section at Geoscience Australia. He has extensive experience in the minerals sector working on mineral systems in Proterozoic and Archaean terranes. Since 2010, he has led the Australian Governments’ onshore carbon storage program, undertaking deep onshore drilling and seismic acquisition programs in collaboration with the states and industry. He now manages the Energy component of the EFTF program, leading a team of researchers to acquire new precompetitive geoscientific data to improve our understanding of the oil and gas potential of Australian onshore basins. |
David Robinson has worked with Geoscience Australia since 2001 in a variety of roles across the agency. He is currently Branch Head of the Basin Systems Branch where he leads Geoscience Australia’s groundwater geoscience, precompetitive energy and data repository programs. During the first phase of his career, he worked as a hazard and risk modelling specialist, helping to modernise Geoscience Australia’s approach to earthquake hazard and risk assessment. This was followed by a period as Chief Scientist of Geoscience Australia’s Indonesian program, DMInnovation, where he led an integrated effort to increase the use of science and technology in Indonesian disaster management and deliver tangible changes to policies and actions across multiple Indonesian Government agencies. David has a PhD in Seismology from the Research School of Earth Sciences, ANU, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Geophysics from Flinders University of South Australia. |
Lidena Carr is a Geoscientist for the Onshore Energy Systems project in the Onshore Energy Systems Directorate, Basins Systems Branch, Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division, Geoscience Australia. She graduated from the Australian National University (ANU) majoring in Geology and Human Ecology with a BA/BSc (Hons) in 2004. In 2007, she joined Geoscience Australia with the then ACRES (satellite imagery), before moving to her current position as a Seismic Interpreter and Basin Analyst. Currently she works within the EFTF program in northern Australia. |
Dianne Edwards is a Senior Petroleum Geochemist for the Onshore Energy Systems project in the Onshore Energy Systems Directorate, Basins Systems Branch, Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division, Geoscience Australia. Her scientific focus is on defining the petroleum systems of Australia’s petroliferous basins, including both conventional and unconventional play types. Dianne received her BSc (Hons) degree in Geology and MSc in Organic Petrology and Organic Geochemistry from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK). She was awarded her PhD from the University of Adelaide in 1996. Dianne is a member of PESA. Currently she works within the EFTF program in northern Australia. |
Susannah MacFarlane is a Geoscientist for the Onshore Energy Systems project in the Onshore Energy Systems Directorate, Basins Systems Branch, Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division, Geoscience Australia. She previously worked for Pangaea Resources in Sydney, where she gained experience in northern Australian basins, and before this, for Schlumberger in the UK. She joined Geoscience Australia in 2017 where she currently works within the EFTF program in northern Australia. Susannah graduated with an MSc in Planetary Science in 2003 and was awarded her PhD in 2007, both from the University College London. |
Amber Jarrett is a Geochemist in the Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division, Geoscience Australia. Her research interests include basin hosted resource potential, organic-inorganic geochemistry, isotopes, Proterozoic biomarkers and early life. Amber graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 2008, majoring in both Geology and Biology, and a PhD in 2014 from ANU. Amber is also a key researcher in the MinExCRC. |
Adam Bailey is a Petroleum Geoscientist for the Onshore Energy Systems project in the Onshore Energy Systems Directorate, Basins Systems Branch, Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division, Geoscience Australia. Adam has expertise in petroleum geomechanics, structural geology and basin analysis. He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 2012 and a PhD in 2016 from the Australian School of Petroleum at the University of Adelaide. Currently he works within the EFTF program in northern Australia. |
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