Longshore Sediment Supply to the Deep Ocean. The current model to supply sand to deep water off continental margins is that provided by rivers operating at low sea level. We propose an alternative model in which sand is provided by longshore transport to deep water at high sea level north of Fraser Island, SE Queensland. Here we will test the validity of our new model by site studies of sea bottom morphology, composition and dynamics. If the model proves true, we will have: 1) generated an entir ....Longshore Sediment Supply to the Deep Ocean. The current model to supply sand to deep water off continental margins is that provided by rivers operating at low sea level. We propose an alternative model in which sand is provided by longshore transport to deep water at high sea level north of Fraser Island, SE Queensland. Here we will test the validity of our new model by site studies of sea bottom morphology, composition and dynamics. If the model proves true, we will have: 1) generated an entirely new exploration model for deepwater hydrocarbons, 2) provided new expertise and seabed maps for generating a superior marine naval defence capability.Read moreRead less
Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight B ....Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight Basin. The prospective parts of this basin comprise delta/deepwater fold-thrust belt systems and analysis of more data-rich systems worldwide will help provide the geological knowledge required to help re-invigorate exploration in the Bight Basin.Read moreRead less
The use of outcrop analogues to characterise large-scale deepwater sedimentary architecture. Deepwater turbidite sedimentary systems are one of the modern frontiers in petroleum exploration, with many major discoveries expected from around the world in the next 25 years. Technological advances in the drilling and production of the deepwater hydrocarbons now enable the exploration and exploitation in this realm. However, the geometry, internal architecture and spatial variations of deepwater sand ....The use of outcrop analogues to characterise large-scale deepwater sedimentary architecture. Deepwater turbidite sedimentary systems are one of the modern frontiers in petroleum exploration, with many major discoveries expected from around the world in the next 25 years. Technological advances in the drilling and production of the deepwater hydrocarbons now enable the exploration and exploitation in this realm. However, the geometry, internal architecture and spatial variations of deepwater sandbodies are still poorly understood. By using state-of-the-art outcrop, modern submarine fan and petroleum exploration data, this research project will improve the understanding of the reservoir geometry and internal architecture of deepwater sandbodies. The results will aid in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons in deepwater sedimentary systems.Read moreRead less
Biosphere, hydrocarbon and ore fluid interactions in the Early Precambrian. Ore deposits and petroleum are important for economic and social areas of Australia's growth. New discoveries are needed to maintain Australia's wealth as mines reach the end of operations and petroleum supplies decrease. This project will demonstrate how ore fluids and hydrocarbons interact in the geological environment. It should, therefore greatly expand the conceptual framework in which to explore for both mineral an ....Biosphere, hydrocarbon and ore fluid interactions in the Early Precambrian. Ore deposits and petroleum are important for economic and social areas of Australia's growth. New discoveries are needed to maintain Australia's wealth as mines reach the end of operations and petroleum supplies decrease. This project will demonstrate how ore fluids and hydrocarbons interact in the geological environment. It should, therefore greatly expand the conceptual framework in which to explore for both mineral and hydrocarbon resources, particularly in old, deep and hot basins, which are considered to be the last frontiers of exploration. Outcomes concerning the nature of early life will be of global interest.Read moreRead less
Integrating Stress and Strain Data from the North West Shelf, Australia: Implications for Hydrocarbon Seal Integrity. Many exploration wells in the Australian North West Shelf encounter residual columns from which hydrocarbons have leaked due to fault reactivation. Recently there has been a significant increase in our knowledge of contemporary stress (from data such as borehole breakouts)
and strain (from fault reactivation styles) on the North West Shelf.
This project will integrate informati ....Integrating Stress and Strain Data from the North West Shelf, Australia: Implications for Hydrocarbon Seal Integrity. Many exploration wells in the Australian North West Shelf encounter residual columns from which hydrocarbons have leaked due to fault reactivation. Recently there has been a significant increase in our knowledge of contemporary stress (from data such as borehole breakouts)
and strain (from fault reactivation styles) on the North West Shelf.
This project will integrate information on stress and strain in order to investigate whether the current state-of-stress is consistent with
observed reactivation styles, and thus develop predictive models for
fault reactivation and hydrocarbon leakage based on the distribution of
stress and strain.Read moreRead less
Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will ....Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will provide high-quality research and training experience for the APD and PhD student involved, whom will spend time with research groups and oil companies in Australia, UK, USA and SE Asia. Finally, the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less
A highly resolved chronostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework for Pre-Salt Brazilian core basins. Hydrocarbon production and exploration today support viable economies. The engagement of industry with higher learning institutions will advance and enhance the discipline of petroleum geology, with a resultant spectrum from new sources of oil and gas to significantly reducing CO2 emissions (and decreasing the impact of global warming). National and community benefits are diverse: training ....A highly resolved chronostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework for Pre-Salt Brazilian core basins. Hydrocarbon production and exploration today support viable economies. The engagement of industry with higher learning institutions will advance and enhance the discipline of petroleum geology, with a resultant spectrum from new sources of oil and gas to significantly reducing CO2 emissions (and decreasing the impact of global warming). National and community benefits are diverse: training and research support for many graduate students and staff in Australia, a better understanding of ancient greenhouse climates, testing and refinement of new techniques (e.g. bioevents, biosteering) in petroleum studies and practical experience of integrating data from frontier exploration wells.Read moreRead less
Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to un ....Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to understanding the development and evolution of geological basins and the sediments that fill them. The models will be integrated with available offshore data for potentially prospective Australian basins in the Northwest Shelf and the Southern Australian margin.Read moreRead less
Sediment transport in upwelling currents and its relevance to an active petroleum system in the Morum Sub-basin, South Australia. Australia had a trade deficit of $3.5 billion in petroleum products in 2005 and this is forecast to increase dramatically in the future. Giant oil fields may exist in the Morum Sub-basin and their exploitation could significantly reduce Australia's trade deficit in petroleum products. It would also reduce Australia's reliance on oil form politically unstable parts of ....Sediment transport in upwelling currents and its relevance to an active petroleum system in the Morum Sub-basin, South Australia. Australia had a trade deficit of $3.5 billion in petroleum products in 2005 and this is forecast to increase dramatically in the future. Giant oil fields may exist in the Morum Sub-basin and their exploitation could significantly reduce Australia's trade deficit in petroleum products. It would also reduce Australia's reliance on oil form politically unstable parts of the globe. Any exploration activity and subsequent exploration success would have a significant effect on the rural economy based around Portland, the main port in the area, through which most of the logistics would flow.Read moreRead less
Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen in ....Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and Germany. It will provide high quality research training for the RA and PhDs whom will spend time at the Universities of Brunei and Karlsruhe and at Shell Brunei and Shell Malaysia. Finally the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less