Stocktake Sale on now: wide range of books at up to 70% off!
Register      Login
Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Variation of vertical stress in the McArthur and Beetaloo basins

Rasoul Ranjbarkarami https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6714-4875 A * , Mojtaba Rajabi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0114-3199 A and Parisa Tavoosiiraj A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.




Rasoul Ranjbarkarami is a PhD Candidate in Geomechanics at the School of the Environment, the University of Queensland (UQ). He graduated with an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from University of Tehran (2013). His research interests are petroleum geomechanics, structural geology, and petrophysical evolution of reservoir rock. Rasoul started his career in 2013 as a Geologist and spent 8 years working for explorational companies in oil and gas before joining the School of Environment at UQ.



Mojtaba Rajabi is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Senior Research Fellow at the School of the Environment, UQ. He has over 15 years of extensive experience in crustal stress analysis, geomechanics, geomechanical-numerical modelling and petrophysics. Mojtaba graduated with a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Adelaide in 2016. Since 2012, Dr Rajabi has worked on the Australian and World Stress Map projects and is currently the Deputy Head of the World Stress Map project.



Parisa Tavoosiiraj graduated with an MSc in Sedimentology and sedimentary rocks from University of Tehran. Geophysics, reservoir characterisation, and petroleum geomechanics are her areas of interest in research. Parisa began her professional career in 2019 by working in upstream section for 3 years as a Seismic Stratigraphic Interpreter. Parisa is currently is working as a Research Assistant at UQ.

* Correspondence to: r.ranjbarkarami@uq.edu.au

Australian Energy Producers Journal 64 203-218 https://doi.org/10.1071/EP23179
Submitted: 15 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

Abstract

The McArthur and Beetaloo basins have been the focus of unconventional hydrocarbon exploration, specifically targeting shale gas and tight gas resources. Vertical stress (SV), which is one of the three principal stresses, is a critical parameter in geomechanical analysis of sedimentary basins and has implications in fracture gradient calculation, pore pressure prediction, assessing the present-day stress regime, and hydraulic fracturing design. In addition, variations in vertical stresses can yield additional insights into the tectonic history of an area. In this study, we examine the variability of vertical stress magnitude and vertical stress gradients by employing a systematic analysis of density log and check-shot velocity data obtained from 31 wells located within the McArthur and Beetaloo basins. Our analysis revealed that vertical stress gradients range from 23 to 27 MPa/km (equivalent to ~1.0–1.2 psi/ft), with an average gradient of 25 MPa/km ± 1.0 (1.1 psi/ft). This variability in SV gradients underscores the inadequacy of the commonly assumed 1.0 psi/ft approximation for geomechanical analyses within these basins. The origins of such diverse SV gradients can be attributed to several factors; however, the likely cause of the SV gradient within this region is the presence, thickness, and depth of the shallow high-density volcanic rocks and a complex history of uplift and erosion.

Keywords: Antrim Volcanics, Australian stress pattern, Beetaloo Subbasin, bulk density, in-situ stress, McArthur Basin, wireline density, uplift, vertical stress.

Biographies

EP23179_B1.gif

Rasoul Ranjbarkarami is a PhD Candidate in Geomechanics at the School of the Environment, the University of Queensland (UQ). He graduated with an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from University of Tehran (2013). His research interests are petroleum geomechanics, structural geology, and petrophysical evolution of reservoir rock. Rasoul started his career in 2013 as a Geologist and spent 8 years working for explorational companies in oil and gas before joining the School of Environment at UQ.

EP23179_B2.gif

Mojtaba Rajabi is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Senior Research Fellow at the School of the Environment, UQ. He has over 15 years of extensive experience in crustal stress analysis, geomechanics, geomechanical-numerical modelling and petrophysics. Mojtaba graduated with a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Adelaide in 2016. Since 2012, Dr Rajabi has worked on the Australian and World Stress Map projects and is currently the Deputy Head of the World Stress Map project.

EP23179_B3.gif

Parisa Tavoosiiraj graduated with an MSc in Sedimentology and sedimentary rocks from University of Tehran. Geophysics, reservoir characterisation, and petroleum geomechanics are her areas of interest in research. Parisa began her professional career in 2019 by working in upstream section for 3 years as a Seismic Stratigraphic Interpreter. Parisa is currently is working as a Research Assistant at UQ.

References

Ahmad M, Dunster JN, Munson TJ (2013) McArthur Basin. In ‘Geology and mineral resources of the Northern Territory. Vol. 5’. (Compilers M Ahmad, T Munson) Special Publication. pp. 15:1–15:72. (NTGS) Available at https://geoscience.nt.gov.au/gemis/ntgsjspui/bitstream/1/81495/1/GNT_Ch15_McArthur.pdf

Altmann C, Baruch E, Close D, Faiz M, Richards B, Cote A (2018) Could the Mesoproterozoic Kyalla Formation emerge as a viable gas condensate source rock reservoir play in the Beetaloo Sub-basin? ASEG Extended Abstracts 2018(1), 1-8.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Anselmetti FS, Eberli GP (1993) Controls on sonic velocity in carbonates. Pure and Applied Geophysics 141, 287-323.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Asquith GB, Gibosn CR (1982) ‘Basic well log analysis for geologists.’ (American Association of Petroleum Geologists)

Bailey AHE, Henson P (2019) Variation of vertical stress in the onshore Canning Basin, Western Australia. The APPEA Journal 59(1), 364-382.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bailey A, King R, Backé G (2012) Integration of structural, stress, and seismic data to define secondary permeability networks through deep-cemented sediments in the northern Perth Basin. The APPEA Journal 52(1), 455-474.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bailey AHE, King RC, Holford SP, Hand M (2016) Incompatible stress regimes from geological and geomechanical datasets: Can they be reconciled? An example from the Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Tectonophysics 683, 405-416.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bailey A, Tenthorey E, Ayling B (2017) Characterising the present-day stress regime of the Georgina Basin. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 64(1), 121-136.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bailey AHE, Jarrett AJM, Tenthorey E, Henson PA (2021) Understanding present-day stress in the onshore Canning Basin of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 68(6), 818-838.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bell JS (1990) Investigating stress regimes in sedimentary basins using information from oil industry wireline logs and drilling records. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 48(1), 305-325.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bell J (1996) ‘Petro geoscience 1. In situ stresses in sedimentary rocks (part 1): Measurement techniques.’ (Geoscience Canada)

Bioregional Assessment Program (2023) Beetaloo sub-basin boundary [Dataset]. Available at https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/a7710381-78bf-4e1f-b015-a9e874599f47

Brocher TM (2005) Empirical relations between elastic wavespeeds and density in the earth’s crust. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 95(6), 2081-2092.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Brooke‐Barnett S, Flottmann T, Paul PK, Busetti S, Hennings P, Reid R, Rosenbaum G (2015) Influence of basement structures on in situ stresses over the Surat Basin, southeast Queensland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 120(7), 4946-4965.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Brown ET, Hoek E (1978) Trends in relationships between measured in-situ stresses and depth. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts 15(4), 211-215.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bull SW (1998) Sedimentology of the Palaeoproterozoic Barney Creek Formation in DDH BMR McArthur 2, southern McArthur Basin, Northern Territory. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 45(1), 21-31.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Burra A, Esterle JS, Golding SD (2014) Horizontal stress anisotropy and effective stress as regulator of coal seam gas zonation in the Sydney Basin, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology 132, 103-116.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Christensen NI, Mooney WD (1995) Seismic velocity structure and composition of the continental crust: A global view. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 100(B6), 9761-9788.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Close D, Baruch E, Cote A, Altmann C, Mohinudeen F, Richards B, Stonier S (2016) Unconventional gas potential in the Northern Territory, Australia: Exploring the Beetaloo Sub-basin. In ‘AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Calgary’, pp. 19–22. (AAPG)

Close D, Côté A, Baruch E, Altmann C, Mohinudeen F, Richards B, Ilett R, Evans R, Stonier S (2017) Exploring the Beetaloo: Will Australia’s first viable shale play be sourced by billion year old gas? The APPEA Journal 57(2), 716-721.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Crick I, Boreham C, Cook A, Powell T (1988) Petroleum geology and geochemistry of middle Proterozoic McArthur basin, northern Australia ii: Assessment of source rock potential. AAPG bulletin 72(12), 1495-1514.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Darling T (2005) ‘Well logging and formation evaluation.’ (Elsevier)

Dickinson G (1953) Geological aspects of abnormal reservoir pressures in Gulf Coast Louisiana. AAPG Bulletin 37(2), 410-432.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

DiSiena JP, Hilterman FJ (1994) Density estimation from the sonic log: A case study. In ‘SEG technical program expanded abstracts 1994’. pp. 1096–1099. (Society of Exploration Geophysicists)

Elmahdy M, Farag A, Tarabees E, Bakr A (2018) Pore pressure prediction in unconventional carbonate reservoir. SPE-194224-MS. Paper presented at the SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. https://doi.org/10.2118/194224-MS

Engelder T (1993) ‘Stress regimes in the lithosphere.’ (Princeton University Press: NJ)

Faiz M, Zoitsas A, Altmann C, Baruch E, Close D (2020) Compositional variations and carbon isotope reversal in coal and shale gas reservoirs of the Bowen and Beetaloo basins, Australia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 484(1), 51-70.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Flottman T, Brooke-Barnett S, Trubshaw R, Naidu S-K, Kirk-Burnnand E, Paul P, Busetti S, Hennings P (2013) Influence of in-situ stresses on fracture stimulations in the Surat Basin, southeast Queensland. SPE-167064-MS. Paper presented at the SPE Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition-Asia Pacific, Brisbane, Australia. https://doi.org/10.2118/167064-MS

Gardner GHF, Gardner LW, Gregory AR (1974) Formation velocity and density—the diagnostic basics for stratigraphic traps. Geophysics 39(6), 770-780.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Garrad D (2023) A new interpretation sheds light on the evolution of the Beetaloo Sub-basin and its surrounds. In ‘AGES 2023 Proceedings, NT Geological Survey’. pp. 68–78. (NTGS) Available at https://geoscience.nt.gov.au/gemis/ntgsjspui/handle/1/92568

Glass LM Ahmad M Dunster JN (2013) Chapter 30. Kalkarindji province. In ‘The Geology and Mineral Resources of the Northern Territory’. (Compilers: M Ahmad, T Munson) Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 530130. Available at https://geoscience.nt.gov.au/gemis/ntgsjspui/handle/1/81510

Godfrey NJ, Beaudoin BC, Klemperer SL (1997) Ophiolitic basement to the Great Valley Forearc Bbasin, California, from seismic and gravity data: Implications for crustal growth at the North American continental margin. Geological Society of America Bulletin 109(12), 1536-1562.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hall L, Wang L, Bailey A, Orr M, Owens R, Jarrett A, Lech M, Skeers N, Reese B, Woods M (2020) ‘Petroleum prospectivity of the Beetaloo Sub-basin. Technical appendix for the geological and bioregional assessment program: Stage 2.’ (Department of the Environment and Energy, Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia: Australia)

Hillis RR, Williams AF (1993) The contemporary stress field of the Barrow-Dampier Sub-basin and its implications for horizontal drilling. Exploration Geophysics 24(4), 567-575.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hillis RR, Enever JR, Reynolds SD (1999) In situ stress field of eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 46(5), 813-825.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Jepson G, King RC, Holford S, Bailey AHE, Hand M (2019) In situ stress and natural fractures in the Carnarvon Basin, North West Shelf, Australia. Exploration Geophysics 50(5), 514-531.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

King RC, Hillis RR, Reynolds SD (2008) In situ stresses and natural fractures in the northern PerthBasin, Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 55(5), 685-701.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

King RC, Neubauer M, Hillis RR, Reynolds SD (2010) Variation of vertical stress in the Carnarvon Basin, NW Shelf, Australia. Tectonophysics 482(1–4), 73-81.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Lanigan K, Hibbird S, Menpes S, Torkington J (1994) Petroleum exploration in the proterozoic Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory. The APPEA Journal 34(1), 674-691.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Lindseth RO (1979) Synthetic sonic logs; a process for stratigraphic interpretation. Geophysics 44(1), 3-26.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ludwig WJ, Nafe JE, Drake CI (1970) 2. Seismic refraction. In ‘The Sea, Volume 4A: New Concepts of Sea Floor Evolution: Part 1, General Observations. Vol. 4’. (Eds AE Maxwell, E Bullard, JL Worzel) pp. 53–84. (John Wiley & Sons)

Lyon PJ, Boult PJ, Watson M, Hillis RR (2005) A systematic fault seal evaluation of the Ladbroke Grove and pyrus traps of the Penola Trough, Otway Basin. The APPEA Journal 45(1), 459-476.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Mildren S (1997) The contemporary stress field of Australia’s North West Shelf and collision related tectonism. University of Adelaide, Adelaide.

Mildren S, Clark R, Holford S, Titus L (2013) Characterisation of fracture permeability at Cow Lagoon-1, McArthur Basin, Northern Territory, Australia and recommendations for development of the greater Cow Lagoon structure. SPE-167087-MS. Paper presented at the SPE Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition-Asia Pacific, Brisbane, Australia. https://doi.org/10.2118/167087-MS

Morawietz S, Heidbach O, Reiter K, Ziegler M, Rajabi M, Zimmermann G, Müller B, Tingay M (2020) An open-access stress magnitude database for Germany and adjacent regions. Geothermal Energy 8(1), 25.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Muir M, Armstrong KJ, Jackson MJ (1980) Precambrian hydrocarbons in the McArthur Basin, NT. Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics 5, 301-304.
| Google Scholar |

Mukherjee S, Rajabi M, Esterle J, Copley J (2020) Subsurface fractures, in-situ stress and permeability variations in the Walloon Coal Measures, eastern Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology 222, 103449.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Munson TJ (2014) ‘Petroleum geology and potential of the onshore Northern Territory.’ (Northern Territory Geological Survey)

Musolino M, King R, Holford S, Hillis R (2024) Quantifying inaccuracies in vertical stress determination methods in sedimentary basins; a case study of deep coal-bearing strata in the Cooper Basin, Australia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 546(1), SP546-2023-40.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Nelson E, Hillis R (2005) In situ stresses of the West Tuna area, Gippsland Basin. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 52(2), 299-313.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Nelson E, Hillis R, Sandiford M, Reynolds S, Mildren S (2006) Present-day state-of-stress of southeast Australia. The APPEA Journal 46(1), 283-306.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Nelson EJ, Chipperfield ST, Hillis RR, Gilbert J, McGowen J (2007a) Using geological information to optimize fracture stimulation practices in the Cooper Basin, Australia. Petroleum Geoscience 13(1), 3-16.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Nelson EJ, Chipperfield ST, Hillis RR, Gilbert J, McGowen J, Mildren SD (2007b) The relationship between closure pressures from fluid injection tests and the minimum principal stress in strong rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 44(5), 787-801.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Niemann J (2002) Developing a more rigorous methodology for the determination of pressure from resistivity measurements. In ‘Geopressure: conceptual advances, applications, and future challenges'. SEG/EAGE Summer Research Workshop, Galveston, Texas, 12–17 May 2002.

Nixon AL, Glorie S, Hasterok D, Collins AS, Fernie N, Fraser G (2022) Low‐temperature thermal history of the McArthur Basin: Influence of the Cambrian Kalkarindji large igneous province on hydrocarbon maturation. Basin Research 34(6), 1936-1959.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

NTGS (2017) Kyalla and middle Velkerri Resource Assessment: Gorrie, Beetaloo, OT downs, and Broadmere sub-basins. Available at https://geoscience.nt.gov.au/gemis/ntgsjspui/handle/1/85135

Plumb K, Wellman P (1987) Mcarthur Basin, Northern Territory: Mapping of deep troughs using gravity and magnetic anomalies. BMR Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics 10(3), 243-251.
| Google Scholar |

Rajabi M, Tingay M (2013) Applications of intelligent systems in petroleum geomechanics-prediction of geomechanical properties in different types of sedimentary rocks. In ‘International EAGE Workshop on Geomechanics and Energy’. pp. cp-369-00012. (European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers)

Rajabi M, Bohloli B, Ahangar EG (2010) Intelligent approaches for prediction of compressional, shear and stoneley wave velocities from conventional well log data: A case study from the Sarvak carbonate reservoir in the Abadan Plain (southwestern Iran). Computers & Geosciences 36(5), 647-664.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rajabi M, Tingay M, Heidbach O (2016) The present-day state of tectonic stress in the Darling Basin, Australia: Implications for exploration and production. Marine and Petroleum Geology 77, 776-790.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rajabi M, Tingay M, Heidbach O, Hillis R, Reynolds S (2017) The present-day stress field of Australia. Earth-Science Reviews 168, 165-189.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ranjbar-Karami R, kadkhodaie-Ilkhchi A, Shiri M (2014) A modified fuzzy inference system for estimation of the static rock elastic properties: A case study from the Kangan and Dalan gas reservoirs, South Pars gas field, the Persian gulf. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 21, 962-976.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rawlings D (1997) High-level intrusions in the McArthur Basin, NT: Deformation styles in the host stratigraphy and metallogenic implications. New developments in research for ore deposit exploration. Third national conference of the Specialist Group in Economic Geology. Geological Society of Australia, Vol 44, p. 59.

Rawlings DJ (1999) Stratigraphic resolution of a multiphase intracratonic basin system: The McArthur Basin, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 46(5), 703-723.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rawlings D, Korsch R, Goleby B, Gibson G, Johnstone D, Barlow M (2004) The 2002 southern McArthur Basin seismic reflection survey. Geoscience Australia, Record 17, 78.
| Google Scholar |

Raymond OL (2018) ‘Australian geological provinces 2018.01 edition.’ (Geoscience Australia)

Revie D (2017) ‘Unconventional petroleum resources of the roper group, McArthur Basin.’ (Northern Territory Geological Survey)

Reynolds S, Hillis R, Paraschivoiu E (2003) In situ stress field, fault reactivation and seal integrity in the Bight Basin, south Australia. Exploration Geophysics 34(3), 174-181.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Reynolds S, Mildren S, Hillis R, Meyer J (2004) The in situ stress field of the Cooper Basin and its implications for hot dry rock geothermal energy development. In ‘PESA Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium II’. (PESA)

Reynolds SD, Mildren SD, Hillis RR, Meyer JJ (2006) Constraining stress magnitudes using petroleum exploration data in the Cooper–Eromanga basins, Australia. Tectonophysics 415(1–4), 123-140.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Smye KM, Hennings PH, Horne EA (2021) Variations in vertical stress in the Permian Basin region. AAPG Bulletin 105(10), 1893-1907.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Tassone D, Holford S, Tingay M, Tuitt A, Stoker M, Hillis R (2011) Overpressures in the Central Otway Basin: The result of rapid Pliocene–Recent sedimentation? The APPEA Journal 51(1), 439-458.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Tassone DR, Holford SP, Duddy IR, Green PF, Hillis RR (2014) Quantifying Cretaceous–Cenozoic exhumation in the Otway Basin, southeastern Australia, using sonic transit time data: Implications for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon prospectivity. AAPG Bulletin 98(1), 67-117.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Tingay MRP, Hillis RR, Morley CK, Swarbrick RE, Okpere EC (2003) Variation in vertical stress in the Baram Basin, Brunei: Tectonic and geomechanical implications. Marine and Petroleum Geology 20(10), 1201-1212.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Traugott M (1997) Pore/fracture pressure determinations in deep water. World Oil 218(8), 68-70.
| Google Scholar |

van Ruth P, Hillis RR, Swarbrick RE (2002) Detecting overpressure using porosity-based techniques in the Carnarvon Basin, Australia. The APPEA Journal 42(1), 559-569.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Van Ruth P, Hillis R, Tingate P, Swarbrick R (2003) The origin of overpressure in ‘old’ sedimentary basins: An example from the Cooper Basin, Australia. Geofluids 3(2), 125-131.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

van Ruth P, Hillis R, Tingate P (2004) The origin of overpressure in the Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia: Implications for pore pressure prediction. Petroleum Geoscience 10(3), 247-257.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

van Ruth PJ, Nelson EJ, Hillis RR (2006) Fault reactivation potential during CO2 injection in the Gippsland Basin, Australia. Exploration Geophysics 37(1), 50-59.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Vidal-Gilbert S, Tenthorey E, Dewhurst D, Ennis-King J, Van Ruth P, Hillis R (2010) Geomechanical analysis of the Naylor Field, Otway Basin, Australia: Implications for CO2 injection and storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 4(5), 827-839.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

White A, Hillis R (2004) In-situ stress field and fault reactivation in the Mutineer and Exeter fields, Australian North West Shelf. Exploration Geophysics 35(3), 217-223.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Wilson A, Côté A, Richards B, Altmann C (2022) Borehole image features map depositional environment change in Mesoproterozoic deltas: Insights from the Beetaloo Sub-basin. In ‘PESA Energy Geoscience’, 29–30 August 2022, Darwin, Australia. https://doi.org/10.36404/YTBN7230