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
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
Obduction, lithospheric flexure and basin formation. The proposal aims to investigate the links between hydrocarbon basins and obduction, or emplacement of oceanic crust onto continental margins. Obduction of the Samail Ophiolite of Oman onto the Arabian Peninsular at a time of the world's largest hydrocarbon accumulation, requires a causative relationship. This event remains poorly constrained and controversial, and therefore limits exploration models for hydrocarbons. Understanding the dynamic ....Obduction, lithospheric flexure and basin formation. The proposal aims to investigate the links between hydrocarbon basins and obduction, or emplacement of oceanic crust onto continental margins. Obduction of the Samail Ophiolite of Oman onto the Arabian Peninsular at a time of the world's largest hydrocarbon accumulation, requires a causative relationship. This event remains poorly constrained and controversial, and therefore limits exploration models for hydrocarbons. Understanding the dynamics of obduction of ocean crust onto a passive continental margin and the resultant flexural basin is of major global importance. This proposal addresses this issue in the superbly exposed Arabian Pensinsular, applying geochronology, basin analysis and basin modelling techniques.Read moreRead less
Spreading ridge sedimentation processes: a novel approach using Macquarie Island as a natural laboratory. This research will examine the south eastern tectonic plate boundary of Australia, providing analogues for seafloor spreading related crustal processes that relate to present plate boundaries and ancient examples now joined to the Australian continent. The scientific innovation represented by this project will help Australian scientists to better understand an important part of the plate tec ....Spreading ridge sedimentation processes: a novel approach using Macquarie Island as a natural laboratory. This research will examine the south eastern tectonic plate boundary of Australia, providing analogues for seafloor spreading related crustal processes that relate to present plate boundaries and ancient examples now joined to the Australian continent. The scientific innovation represented by this project will help Australian scientists to better understand an important part of the plate tectonic cycle. This project will be of direct relevance to the Australian minerals exploration industry and will provide better constraints on rift-related metallogenesis.Read moreRead less
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
Environmental stress indicators in coral skeletons. Coral reefs are critical for Australia's tourism and fisheries industries, cultural heritage and international conservation responsibilities. The proposed research will test and document two newly identified stress indicators in corals, one of which will allow stress to be documented by visual inspection on living reef flats. Both new techniques will allow documentation of historical records of stress events, thus improving understanding of ree ....Environmental stress indicators in coral skeletons. Coral reefs are critical for Australia's tourism and fisheries industries, cultural heritage and international conservation responsibilities. The proposed research will test and document two newly identified stress indicators in corals, one of which will allow stress to be documented by visual inspection on living reef flats. Both new techniques will allow documentation of historical records of stress events, thus improving understanding of reef dynamics through intervals of climate change, and importantly, they also may help detect 'early warning signs' of poor health in living reef corals. Thus, the research will inform both palaeoclimate studies and current reef management strategies. Read moreRead less
Integrated provenance analysis: towards better ways of interpreting the source of ancient sediments. Determining the provenance of sedimentary grains is a key element of testing competing geological hypotheses. Most provenance analyses are based on single-grain analytical techniques that may miss vital information. This project will develop an integrated, systematic approach to provenance analysis by applying a broad range of modal, geochemical and isotopic techniques to enable the effective i ....Integrated provenance analysis: towards better ways of interpreting the source of ancient sediments. Determining the provenance of sedimentary grains is a key element of testing competing geological hypotheses. Most provenance analyses are based on single-grain analytical techniques that may miss vital information. This project will develop an integrated, systematic approach to provenance analysis by applying a broad range of modal, geochemical and isotopic techniques to enable the effective identification of sources of grains in sedimentary rocks. The new system will be used to test hypotheses of when the Pilbara and Yilgarn cratons amalgamated to form the core of the Australian continent.Read moreRead less
Murray Basin: A unique archive of late Neogene global change. Salinization, soil erosion, groundwater depletion and surface water degradation are but a few of the inter-related environmental problems facing the Murray-Darling Basin. These problems require an understanding of the way in which shallow groundwater, salts and surface water interact with near-surface sediments. This project is aimed at a better understanding the nature of those near-surface sediments in the Murray Basin and how th ....Murray Basin: A unique archive of late Neogene global change. Salinization, soil erosion, groundwater depletion and surface water degradation are but a few of the inter-related environmental problems facing the Murray-Darling Basin. These problems require an understanding of the way in which shallow groundwater, salts and surface water interact with near-surface sediments. This project is aimed at a better understanding the nature of those near-surface sediments in the Murray Basin and how they were formed. If we can understand how the basin came to be the way it is (in the modern setting), we may better understand the way it might behave when subject to man-made changes like increased groundwater usage, etc.Read moreRead less
Latest Jurassic history of the Exmouth Sub-basin, North West Shelf: lowstand deposits of the basal Barrow Group. Sand-filled canyons may be excellent petroleum reservoirs, however, interpretation of formation and sediment filling of these major deep marine features is controversial. This project seeks to elucidate the origin of canyons and associated basin floor fans by combining sedimentological data with seismic interpretation and modelling to generate new insights into the history of the E ....Latest Jurassic history of the Exmouth Sub-basin, North West Shelf: lowstand deposits of the basal Barrow Group. Sand-filled canyons may be excellent petroleum reservoirs, however, interpretation of formation and sediment filling of these major deep marine features is controversial. This project seeks to elucidate the origin of canyons and associated basin floor fans by combining sedimentological data with seismic interpretation and modelling to generate new insights into the history of the Exmouth Sub-basin during the Latest Jurassic. In particular, this project provides an opportunity to explore the role of tectonism in canyon formation, the results of which will be of international interest. Geological models developed in this project will enhance our understanding of deep marine systems.Read moreRead less
Application of Double and Triple Dating of Zircons to Sediment Provenance Studies and to Quantifying Recycling in Sedimentary Rocks. Double and triple dating are exciting new ANU-Yale breakthroughs that can be used to more accurately identify the source of sediment in rivers and sedimentary rocks than is possible using existing techniques. They have fundamental applications in the study of erosion, tracing the source of heavy minerals in titanium deposits and in determining the source of sedi ....Application of Double and Triple Dating of Zircons to Sediment Provenance Studies and to Quantifying Recycling in Sedimentary Rocks. Double and triple dating are exciting new ANU-Yale breakthroughs that can be used to more accurately identify the source of sediment in rivers and sedimentary rocks than is possible using existing techniques. They have fundamental applications in the study of erosion, tracing the source of heavy minerals in titanium deposits and in determining the source of sedimentary sequences that host oil. Under favourable circumstances double dating can be used also to date sediments that are devoid of fossils, which has direct application in oil exploration.Read moreRead less