New deep crustal seismic data acquisition program for NWQ's frontier petroleum basins

Abstract

The Georgina and South Nicholson basins and the Isa Superbasin of North West Queensland (NWQ), represent frontier basins earmarked for examination of resource potential under the Strategic Resources Exploration Program. Little exploration has occurred for petroleum resources in these basins although a proven petroleum system exists in both the Isa Superbasin and the Georgina Basin with demonstrated flow at sub-commercial rates. To increase knowledge of the petroleum system, define the extent of the South Nicholson Basin and examine basin architecture, Geoscience Australia acquired deep (to 20-s listening time) seismic data across the South Nicholson Basin and northern Isa Superbasin area in 2017. However, this survey focused on broader structural architecture definition across the Proterozoic Isa Superbasin and South Nicholson and McArthur basins. Little is understood of the petroleum system in the southern Isa Superbasin, or even if this structure is part of the Isa Superbasin, where Proterozoic gas is inferred from mineral boreholes and oil stained Cambrian-aged carbonates exist. To increase understanding of this southern region, the Queensland Government acquired a new NWQ SEEBASE® (depth to basement) model in 2018, and will be undertaking a 2D deep seismic survey within the Camooweal region to better understand the structural architecture, sediment thicknesses and seismic characteristic of packages of this southern area. The seismic survey is centred on the Georgina Basin and will tie into the South Nicholson survey – extending knowledge further south across major structures featured in the SEEBASE® model.