Land seismic work in Australia

Abstract

In the evermore urgent search for oil and gas reserves, one scientific aid stands out. The reflection seismograph is the industry's most important tool for resolving complex sub-surface geological problems. In Australia the search for oil has been in progress for the past one hundred years. Prior to the 1950's the exploration effort was, at best, spasmodic. It is significant that continuous exploration for oil reserves commenced with the introduction of the seismic tool in Westerg Australia during the 1950's. In the ensueing thirty years of application, in excess of 215 crew years or some 250,000 line kilometres of seismic coverage have been recorded onshore in Australia. As we move into the 1980's, it is instructive to review our past experiences and consider how we may apply the lessons of the past to the improved tools of the present and the challenge of the future. There have been several reviews of the seismic method since its introduction in the 1930's. During this period predictions were made regarding the future progress of the science. Historically, most of these predictions have come true, at an accelerated rate and with the development of a technology, not known, at that time.