Subsurface sequence stratigraphy of Devonian carbonates, Canning basin, Western Australia

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7171088

Southgate, P N; Jackson, J; Kennard, J M; O'Brien, P E; Passmore, V L; Lindsay, J F ^[1]; Holmes, A E; Christie-Blick, N ^[2]

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1. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra (Australia)
2. Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, NY (United States)

The Canning basin of Western Australia is best known for its Devonian reef complexes. in 1990 the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) began a sequence stratigraphic study of key parts of the basin. This work integrates industry seismic and well data with two deep-crustal, regional seismic lines acquired by BMR in 1988. Initial work on the Lennard Shelf and adjacent Fitzroy trough has established a new sequence stratigraphy. At the margin of the Fitzroy trough, the most prominent features on seismic sections are alternating wedge-shaped and tabular bodies up to 150 m and 50 m thick, respectively. Internal reflections in the wedge-shaped bodies show downlap toward the basin and onlap toward the platform margin. On strike lines these wedges exhibit complex lensoidal geometries. Drillcore indicates that the wedges comprise basement-derived conglomerates with a sandy calcareous matrix. Seismic and well data suggest five Late Devonian sequences. The wedges and oblique prograding units are thickest and most easily recognized in the upper three sequences (Late Frasnian-Famennian ). The underlying thinner sequences probably correlate with the classic back-stepping Frasnian reefs identified in outcrop by Playford. Recognition of lowstand deposits in the Devonian reef complexes represent a new hydrocarbon exploration play.

• OSTI ID: 7171088
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVONIAN PERIOD
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
REEFS
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURVEYS
WESTERN AUSTRALIA