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Appendix D Surat Basin geological model
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Page 1: Appendix D Surat Basin geological model · Surat Stratigraphic Framework Page 11 of 49 The product of the geological modelling was the 3D geocellular model along with a series of

Appendix D Surat Basin geological model

Page 2: Appendix D Surat Basin geological model · Surat Stratigraphic Framework Page 11 of 49 The product of the geological modelling was the 3D geocellular model along with a series of

      Surat Basin Stratigraphic Framework  

    April 2012 

Surat Basin Stratigraphic Framework

April 2012

 

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Table of Contents 1.  Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4 

2.  Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 8 

2.1.  Area of Interest ....................................................................................................................... 8 

2.2.  Datasets .................................................................................................................................. 8 

2.3.  Geological Modelling ............................................................................................................ 10 

3.  Regional Structure ........................................................................................................................ 12 

4.  Geological Descriptions ................................................................................................................. 17 

4.1.  Base Jurassic Unconformity .................................................................................................. 17 

4.2.  Precipice Sandstone .............................................................................................................. 17 

4.3.  Evergreen Formation ............................................................................................................ 17 

4.4.  Hutton Sandstone ................................................................................................................. 25 

4.5.  Walloon Subgroup ................................................................................................................ 25 

4.1.  Springbok Sandstone ............................................................................................................ 25 

4.2.  Westbourne Formation ......................................................................................................... 35 

4.1.  Gubberamunda Sandstone, Orallo Formation and Mooga Sandstone ................................ 35 

5.  References .................................................................................................................................... 49 

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Executive Summary

This report summaries the development of a regional 3D geological model and stratigraphic framework for the Surat Basin. The model was built using a range of open-file and QGC well datasets, along with seismic structural surfaces and surface geology data. The model will provide the business with a regional framework for future studies associated with groundwater impact modelling and ongoing stratigraphic studies. Furthermore, it also provides a framework for stratigraphic prognosis within and outside of QGC acreage for future drilling.

This summary represents version 1 of the framework study; ongoing integration with addition well data and seismic data will continue to develop a more robust model of the subsurface. Future integration will also include interpretative petrophysics (calibrated to core data) for modelling of hydraulic properties such as porosity and permeability.

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1. Introduction

The Surat Basin is a broad intra-cratonic downwarp that covers an area of about 300,000 km2 in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales (Figure 1) (Rigby and Kantsler, 1987). The sequence comprises a non-marine Jurassic succession overlain by a mixed non-marine and marine Early Cretaceous succession; marine influences were initiated during deposition of the Bungil Formation (Green et al 1997) (Figure 2). The Mimosa Syncline is an axial trough in the centre of the basin that contains the thickest preserved section (c. 2500 m); the axis of this syncline is coincident with the underlying Permo-Triassic Taroom Trough (Error! Reference source not found.).

Sedimentation in the basin was initiated in the Early Jurassic and resulted in deposition of the quartzose Precipice Sandstone. Throughout the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, several episodes of fluvial-lacustrine-coal swamp sedimentation occurred as the basin gently subsided; resulting in the deposition of the Evergreen to Bungil Formations. Exon (1980) recorded a series of six sedimentary cycles, each comprising a basal sandy succession that grades into increasingly labile units at the top of the cycles. The deposits of the Surat Basin are lateral equivalents to sediments in the Eromanga Basin further west. Wiltshire (1989) proposed that the Nebine Ridge and Anakie High formed an effective watershed dividing the two basins. Transgression during the Aptian resulted in a return to shallow marine conditions and deposition of the Wallumbilla Formation of the Rolling Downs Group; the first marine sequence deposited since the Permian (Rigby and Kantsler, 1987).

A previous study the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) and summarised by Green et al (1997) provides the most robust regional study of lithostratigraphic units to date. However their well top interpretation and subsequent interpretation of well tops by the GSQ as found in the QPED database is strongly controlled by local variations in wireline log character and lithology. The direct use of the GSQ / QPED formation tops to generate a stratigraphic and hydrodynamic model results in significant artefacts that don’t resemble time-equivalent geological packages.

The aim of this project was to develop a robust regionally-consistent stratigraphic framework of the major geological units within the Surat Basin. The correlation of well tops were undertaken to define regionally-consistent packages based on both ‘composite’ and ‘interpretive’ petrophysical log suites. Additionally, substantial effort was made to incorporate surface geology into the model to ensure that the surface exposure of each formation was accurately represented.

The stratigraphic framework was generated in Petrel, a geological interpretation and modelling package produced and supported by Schlumberger. Surfaces were generated for the Base Jurassic, Precipice Sandstone, Evergreen Formation, Hutton Sandstone, Walloon Coal Measures, Springbok Sandstone, Westbourne Formation, Gubberamunda Sandstone, Orallo Formation and top Mooga Sandstone.

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Figure 1: Area of interest (red) Covering the Surat Basin (light blue) edge (green) and QGC development and exploration fields (purple); location of Figure 2 seismic lines also shown.

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Figure 2: Regional stratigraphic summary of the Surat Basin (from Ryan et al, 2012).

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Fig

ure 3: R

egio

nal seism

ic section

BM

R8

4-14; locatio

n o

f seismic lin

e sho

wn

on

Fig

ure 1 (fro

m R

yan et al, 20

12).

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2. Methodology

2.1. Area of Interest An area of interest (AOI) was defined on the basis of capturing the following elements: QCLNG project area; northern limit of the Surat Basin; majority portion of the Mimosa Syncline and good geographical coverage of external petroleum wells (Figure 1).

A cell size of 1000x1000 m was chosen as optimal for a reasonable level of resolution whilst mitigating issues with processing time for such a geographically large project. The project was adapted from an existing ‘master’ project with pre-existing QGC well and geological data and loaded with additional data from open file wells within the AOI.

2.2. Datasets In the construction of each stratigraphic horizon, a combination of three data sources was utilised: Sedimentary Basin of Eastern Australia (SBEA) seismic grids, formation tops from well data and outcrop/subcrop edges from GSQ surface geological maps.

Pre-existing grids for surface elevation and Phanerozoic depth to basement was also loaded from Geoscience Australia (GA) and OZ SEEBASE respectively.

SBEA Grids

Pre-existing structural grids from SBEA project were used to define gross basin structure away from well control. The complete suite of stratigraphic units considered in this model and their associated regional seismic horizons are provided in Table 1.

Well Data – Formation Tops

A total of 247 external petroleum wells with available wireline data exist within the AOI. A selection of these wells was utilised for formation interpretation and horizon modelling (Figure 4). External wells were high-graded on the basis of providing good stratigraphic and spatial coverage, wireline log availability, as well as addressing problem areas within the SBEA seismic grids.

QGC well data for 756 wells across the four QCLNG development areas (Northern, Central, Southern and Western) were loaded into the project as were relevant geologic and petrophysical logs.

To ensure a robust framework for a correlation, several basin-scale cross sections were created across areas of good data coverage. Wells falling on these cross sections were assigned formation tops on the basis of Gamma Ray (GR), Sonic (DT), Density (RHOB/DENS) and Resistivity (RES) logs (Figure 4). These cross-sections formed the framework of the well top interpretive work and additional efforts were made to ensure sound geological picks were made.

 

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Figure 4: Wireline log section showing major stratigraphic units.

Base JurassicEvergreen  Hutton 

WalloonSpringbok

WestbourneGubberamunda

OralloMooga

Base Jurassic  Evergreen Hutton  WalloonPrecipice 

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Age System SeriesSBEA

Seismic Horizon

Lithostratigraphic formation

130

Cretaceous Early

Mooga

s50 Orallo

140 Gubberamunda

145

Jurassic

Late

Westbourne Formation 150

155

160

Springbok Sandstone

165

Middle

s40 Walloon Subgroup

170 s35

Hutton Sandstone 175

180

185

190

Early

s30

Evergreen Formation

195

200 s20

Precipice Sandstone

s10

Table 1: Jurassic to Early Cretaceous stratigraphic horizons with correlations to SBEA seismic horizons.

Outcrop/subcrop edges

Outcrop/subcrop edges were digitised from available 1:1,000,000 and 1:250,000 GSQ surface geological maps, with best efforts to approximate the assumed outcrop edge where map data was poor or absent. The outcrop/subcrop edges were assigned a z-value matching surface topography and transformed into digital point data. Outcrop/subcrop edges could then be treated as ‘well-tops’ for the purposes of generating surfaces, albeit at depth values equating to surface topography.

2.3. Geological Modelling In order to develop a robust stratigraphic and structural model for the Surat Basin, the above mentioned datasets were combined to develop a 3D geological model. The major advantage of developing a 3D geological model over more traditional 2D structure and isopach maps methods is that the stratigraphic relationships and thicknesses between units are maintained. This ensures that horizons/surface do not intersect each other in 3D space which would generate geologically insensible relationships. The boundary of the model framework was defined as the same AOI used to interpret formation tops. The top and base of the model were defined by the Geoscience Australia 9 second digital elevation model and the generated Base Jurassic surface respectively. The model was built with 1000m x 1000m x,y cells.

For each geological unit within the model, the combined well top, seismic grids and outcrop data was used to generate a ‘conformable’ horizon. The surface elevation was modelled as an ‘erosional’ surface to replicate erosion that has occurred following the Late Cretaceous uplift of the Surat Basin.

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The product of the geological modelling was the 3D geocellular model along with a series of depth structure and isopach maps for each geological unit (Figure 5).

 

Figure 5: Intersection through 3D model highlighting the laterally-extensive stratigraphic package and structure as define through use of the SBEA seismic surfaces.

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3. Regional Structure

The Surat Basin overlies several distinct geological sequences\terranes. Throughout the central depocentre (Mimosa Syncline) (Figure 6), the basin overlies sediments of the Permo-Triassic Bowen Basin, whereas on the basin margins, the Surat sequence overlies crystalline basement comprising Early Devonian to Late Triassic convergent margin orogenic complexes known as the Central West and New England Fold Belts.

Several major tectonic episodes are responsible for the current configuration of the Surat Basin. The first episode was a major Triassic compressional event that pre-dates deposition of the Surat Basin sequence. It was this event that terminated deposition in the underlying Bowen Basin and resulted in thrusting, uplift and subsequent peneplanation of the land surface. This Middle-Late Triassic contractional deformation is known as the Goondiwindi Event (Korsch et al, 2009). This event formed a series of thrust and back-thrust fault systems including the Burunga, Leichhardt and Moonie-Goondiwindi faults.

A regional mid-Cretaceous uplift and tilting event ceased deposition in the Surat Basin. Most of the uplift and erosion occurred in the north of the basin where as much as 3km of Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments have been removed (Raza et al, 2009). The use of Apatite Fissure Track (AFT) data by Raza et al (2009) has indicated that the timing of uplift (approximately 95 Ma) is consistent with plate tectonic models in which convergent tectonism between the Australia and the Pacific plates ceases and subsequent seafloor spreading in the Tasman Sea begins (84 Ma) (Gaina et al, 1998).

Apart from the regional synclinal axis of the basin, the Mimosa Syncline, the structure of the Surat Basin margins are characterised by a number of significant anticlinal and synclinal structures. These structures are largely controlled by reactivation of Triassic and basement faulting including the Moonie, Goondiwindi, Leichhardt and Burunga faults that occur on the eastern flank of the Taroom Trough, and also the Hutton-Wallumbilla Fault in the north-west of the basin (Figure 6). As described above, the relief on these structures is assumed to be created by uplift and compression during the Late Cretaceous-Eocene. As there was little syndepositional tectonism, all units with the Surat Basin sequence exhibit the same relief over these reactivation structures.

The structural architecture of the Surat Basin are highlighted in two cross-sections (intersections of the 3D geological model) as specified in Figure 7. The map includes the Base Jurassic horizon as reference.

The west-east line was placed across the basin in order to capture the architecture of deposits over the Roma Shelf, Mimosa Syncline and Undulla Nose in proximity to the Berwyndale South and Argyle development fields held by QGC. The north-south section is aligned parallel to the Mimosa Syncline and highlights the erosional northern limit of the Surat Basin.

The west-east section (Figure 8) demonstrates the shallow dips and thinning of sediments over the Roma Shelf in the West and thickening of sediments over the Mimosa Syncline. Also apparent is the thinning out of the Precipice Sandstone towards the western depositonal limit, beyond which the Evergreen Formation is directly deposited on pre-Jurassic basement. East of the Mimosa Syncline, steepening of units as a result of reactivation of the Leichhardt-Burunga Faults is evident.

The north-south cross-section (Figure 9) highlights the general thickening of formations in the north towards, in particular, the thickening of the Walloon Subgroup. Erosion and uplift of the northern Surat Basin as a result of Late Cretaceous compression is also evident.

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Figure 6: Major Tectonic Elements of the Surat Basin and wells used for cross sections. The inclusion of the Phanerozoic SEEBASE map shows the depth and orientation of the Taroom Trough, which approximates the Mimosa Syncline reactivation in the Jurassic.

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Figure 7: Location of West-East (Figure 34) and North-South (Figure 35) structural cross-sections over the Base Jurassic surface.

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040000

80000120000

160000200000

240000280000

320000360000

040000

80000120000

160000200000

240000280000

320000360000

-3200 -2800 -2400 -2000 -1600 -1200 -800 -400 0 400 800 1200

-3200 -2800 -2400 -2000 -1600 -1200 -800 -400 0 400 800 1200

Cretaceous to S

urfaceM

oogaO

ralloG

ubberamunda

Westbourne

Springbok

Wallons

Hutton

Zone 9

EvergreenPrecipice

Zo

ne

s

Figu

Figure 8: West-East structural cross-section.

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160000180000

200000220000

240000260000

280000300000

320000340000

360000380000

160000180000

200000220000

240000260000

280000300000

320000340000

360000380000

-3500 -3000 -2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000

-3500 -3000 -2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000

Cretaceous to S

urfaceM

oogaO

ralloG

ubberamunda

Westbourne

Springbok

Wallons

Hutton

Zone 9

EvergreenPrecipice

Zon

es

Figure 9: North-South structural cross-section

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4. Geological Descriptions

The following section described the geology of each of the mapped geological horizons and units. The wells Cooraki-1, Overston-1, Gilgai-1 and Trelinga 1 were selected as examples for demonstrating variation in log character across key parts of the basin (location of wells shown on Figure 6).

4.1. Base Jurassic Unconformity The base Jurassic Unconformity depth structure surface represents the base of the Surat Basin succession (Figure 10). As such, it captures the major structural feature defining the Surat Basin – the Mimosa Syncline and the anticlinal structures located on the flanks of the syncline.

4.2. Precipice Sandstone The Precipice Sandstone is a fine to coarse grained, porous and permeable, quartzose sandstone with well developed, medium scale, planar cross-bedding (Green et al., 1997). The unit can be coarse grained or pebbly near the base, and becomes fine to medium grained in the upper section with minor siltstone bands and clay matrix. The unit is interpreted as a continental high energy braided stream environment with upper deposits signalling a shift to lower energy meandering fluvial systems. The log character of the Precipice Sandstone is defined by a low gamma baseline, generally fast sonic velocities (Figure 11).

The main structural features controlling the depth structure of Precipice Sandstone (Figure 12) are the series of anticlinal structures on the flank of the basin. The key feature of the generated isopach grid is the restricted depositional limit of the unit in the southwest, southeast and northwest. The isopach demonstrates the thinning of Precipice sands in the southwest corner and over the Roma Shelf (Figure 13). Thickening of the unit on the basin-ward side of the Triassic thrust fault system suggests that there was some influence of these structures during deposition either through elevated topography and reduced accommodation space. The formation is at its thickest eastwards along the Mimosa Syncline and along the northern flank where subsequent erosion has removed thicker sections of the Precipice. Abrupt thinning and cessation of the unit along the northeastern flank is likely as a result of steepening along the Burunga Fault.

4.3. Evergreen Formation The Evergreen formation is characterised by thinly bedded mudstone, carbonaceous mudstone, siltstone and sandstone conformably deposited over the Precipice Sandstone (Green et al., 1997). Despite heterogeneity in log character (Figure 14), the sequence represents deposits from meandering streams in association with floodplain systems. On wireline logs, the Evergreen Formation can be identified by a generally low average resistivity response, a variable noisy sonic log, and comparably high gamma ray readings in comparison to the underlying Precipice Sandstone (Figure 11).

The Evergreen formation drapes over the Precipice Sandstone and is deposited directly on basement beyond the depositional limit of the Precipice Sandstone. The unit is thickest in the north along the Mimosa syncline. Thickening of the unit is observed on the western flank of the Merivale Fault as well as along the Leichardt fault in the centre of the basin. Thinning of the Evergreen to the west is accompanied by a varying range of thicknesses at a regional scale independent of major structural features (Figure 16).

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Figure 10: Base Jurassic depth structure map.

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Figure 11: Precipice Sandstone wireline log section (Gamma Ray, Sonic, Resistivity)

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Figure 12: Precipice Sandstone depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 13: Precipice Sandstone Isopach map

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Figure 14: Evergreen Formation wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity).

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Figure 15: Evergreen Formation depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 16: Evergreen Formation Isopach map.

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4.4. Hutton Sandstone The Hutton Sandstone is a heterogenous succession of well sorted, cross-bedded, quartzose to sub-labile porous and permeable, fluvial sandstone with minor thin conglomerate beds, interbedded silts and thin beds of mudstone (Green et al., 1997). Mudstones and siltstones are clay rich, carbonaceous, and can be interbedded with thin beds of very fine grained sandstone. The unit sits conformably over the Evergreen Formation. The Hutton Sandstone can be identified on wireline logs by a high resistivity and low gamma ray response (Figure 17). Gamma ray log response tends to be gradational over the upper contact with the base Walloon Subgroup whereas the abrupt decrease in resistivity can be used to diagnose the formation top.

The Hutton Sandstone (Figure 19) exhibits some of the most uniform thicknesses across the basin, with the centre to western flanks characterised by 100-200m thicknesses (Figure 19). The thickest sections are found in the northern extent of the Mimosa Syncline. Observable thickening or thinning of the Hutton over the Undulla and Kogan noses is negligible.

4.5. Walloon Subgroup The Walloon Subgroup is comprised of (in depositional order) the Eurombah Formation, Taroom Coal Measures, Tangalooma Sandstone and Juandah Coal Measures (Green et al., 1997). The Eurombah Formation is a fining upward sequence consisting of sandstones, siltstones and mudstones with rare thin coals. The Taroom Coal Measures are vertically heterogeneous, comprising mudstones, siltstones, fine-grained low porosity sandstones and coal. Separating the Taroom from the Juandah coal measures are the medium-grained sands of the Tangalooma Sandstone. The overlying Juandah Coal Measures are similar to the Taroom deposits, comprising mudstones, coal, sandstones and siltstones. The interbedded nature of coals with other sediments can be recognised by infrequent sonic log spikes – a key feature used in determining formation tops for the Walloon Subgroup from wireline logs (Figure 20).

The Top Walloon Subgroup depth structure map is shown in Figure 21. There is a well defined northeast-southwest trend along the northern rim of the basin through QGC-held acreage that contains the thickest sections of the Walloon Subgroup (Figure 22). As with the Hutton Sandstone, the Walloon Subgroup is thickest in the north. For the purposes of this model, the Walloon Subgroup Isopach includes all units from the Top Walloons to Top Hutton, therefore including the non-coal bearing ‘Eurombah’ / ‘Durabilla’ formations.

4.1. Springbok Sandstone The Springbok Sandstone sits over an unconformity with the Walloon Subgroup and represents a low energy fluvial system associated with a reduction of accommodation space at the start of the late Jurassic (Green et al., 1997). The unit is lithologically heterogeneous, consisting of feldspathic and lithic fining upward sands, interbedded carbonaceous siltstones, interbedded mudstone, tuffs, and occasional thin coals. Despite high feldspathic content, the Springbok is identifiable from by a low gamma ray signal and a generally high resistivity response (Figure 23).

The top of the Springbok Sandstone (Figure 24) conforms to the same structural trends as other major horizons and exhibits the same NW-SE trend of thicker deposition as observed in the Walloon Subgroup. The Springbok Sandstone is thickest in QGC-held development blocks, with the same broad trend as the Walloon Subgroup. The Springbok Sandstone thins dramatically towards the west and southwest of the basin depocentre (Figure 25).

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Figure 17: Hutton Sandstone wireline log section (Gamma Ray, Sonic, Resistivity)

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Figure 18: Hutton Sandstone depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 19: Hutton Sandstone Isopach map.

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Figure 20: Walloon Subgroup wireline log section (Gamma Ray, Sonic, Resistivity).

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Figure 21: Walloon Subgroup depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 22: Walloon Subgroup Isopach map.

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Figure 23: Springbok Sandstone wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity).

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Figure 24: Springbok Sandstone depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 25: Springbok Sandstone Isopach map.

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4.2. Westbourne Formation The Late Jurassic Westbourne Formation is deposited conformably over the underlying Springbok Sandstone. It comprises interbedded shales, siltstones, and fine grained sandstones (Green et al., 1997). Sandstones in the section are petrologically similar to the Springbok Sandstone and are likely of the same provenance. Despite lithological similarities, the Westbourne Formation can be identified on logs by a higher gamma ray a lower resistivity response (Figure 26).

The Westbourne Formation (Figure 28) displays more uniform thicknesses and does not exhibit thickening along the same NW-SE trend as observed in the Walloon Subgroup and Springbok Sandstone (Figure 25).

4.1. Gubberamunda Sandstone, Orallo Formation and Mooga Sandstone The Gubberamunda Sandstone is comprised of medium to coarse grained poorly sorted quartzose sandstones interbedded with finer sandstones, siltstones and shales. The unit unconformably overlies the Westbourne Formation and is interpreted as a high energy mixed continental to shallow marine environment with fluvial inputs (Green et al., 1997). The formation is readily identifiable by a low gamma signal and high resistivity on wireline logs (Figure 29).

The Orallo Formation consists of friable medium to coarse grained sandstones, interbedded with carbonaceous siltstones, silty mudstones, tuffs and coals (Green et al., 1997). The unit is deposited conformably over the Gubberamunda and represents a fluvial depositonal environment with localised lacustrine deposits. The prominence of shales and siltstones in the Orallo results in a comparably muted resistivity log, accompanied by a higher than average gamma ray log (Figure 32).

The Mooga Sandstone conformably overlies the Orallo Formation and comprises fluvial quartzose to sublabile sandstones with thinly interbedded dark grey mudstones and siltstones (Green et al., 1997). Deposits in the Mooga Sandstone are interpreted as representing continental streams varying from meandering to braiding, with swamp environments responsible for many of the fine grained deposits. The sequence is generally characterised by a lower gamma log value in lower deposits. Higher resistivity log values of Mooga sands helps distinguish it from the underlying Orallo Formation (Figure 35).

Together, the Gubberamunda, Orallo and Mooga units are constrained by less-robust well top data than deeper formations, particularly around QGC development blocks (Figure 29, Figure 32 and Figure 35). As such, generated depth-structure and isopach maps exhibit more ‘bullseyes’ than do other formations. Regardless, there are several structural trends that these three formations share. They do not exhibit the same thickening trend in QGC tenements as do deeper formations. These units are thickest above, or to the southwest of the Mimosa Syncline (Figure 31, Figure 34 and Figure 37).

Structurally, the Undulla Anticline is well pronounced in each unit, with steeper flanks than in deeper units. The formation tops do not steepen as rapidly towards the outcrop edge as shallower units and exhibit gentler gradients towards outcrop.

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Figure 26: Westbourne Formation wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity)

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Figure 27: Westbourne Formation depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 28: Westbourne Formation Isopach map.

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Figure 29: Gubberamunda wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity).

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Figure 30: Gubberamunda Sandstone depth (mSS) structure map.

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Figure 31: Gubberamunda Sandstone Isopach map.

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Figure 32: Orallo Formation wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity)

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Figure 33: Orallo Formation depth structure map.

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Figure 34: Orallo Formation Isopach map.

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Figure 35: Mooga Sandstone wireline log section (Gamma Ray; Sonic; Resistivity)

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Figure 36: Mooga Sandstone depth structure map.

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Figure 37: Mooga Sandstone Isopach map.

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5. Future Program

This project represents the first phase of regional model development by QGC. Following on from the results presented here, a second phase of modelling will be undertaken during 2012 as the precursor of QGC’s GEN3 Groundwater Model.

Specifically the additional inputs and study integrated into the next version of the model will include:

Loading and interpretation of addition open-file, ‘purchased’, and new QGC wireline log datasets

Core analysis (Routine Core Analysis) for calculation of porosity and permeability for a range of formation and facies types

Interpretation of pump-test data from QGC’s groundwater monitoring network. Generation of interpretive petrophysical wireline log including Vshale, PHIE include calibration

to new core analysis and pump-test data. Refinement of existing interpretation based on interpretive petrophysics Rebuild of regional 3D framework and population of regional model with regional

hydraulic\reservoir properties. Generation of fine-scale ‘Sector’ model aimed at understanding fine-scale variability of

hydraulic properties based on new core analysis and petrophysics.

 

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6. References

Exon, N. F., 1976, Geology of the Surat Basin in Queensland. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia. Bulletin, 166.

Exon, N.F., 1980, The stratigraphy of the Surat Basin, with special reference to coal deposits. Coal geology, Journal of the Coal Geology Group, GSA 1(3), 57–69.

Gaina C., Muller R. D., Royer J-Y., Stock J., Hardebeck J. and Symonds P. 1998, The tectonic history of the Tasman Sea: a puzzle with 13 pieces. Journal of Geophysical Research 103, 12413–12433.

Green, P. M., Carmichael, D. C., Brain, T. J., Murray, C. G., McKellar, J. L., Beeston, J. W., and Gray, A. R. G., 1997, Lithostratigraphic units in the Bowen and Surat Basins, Queensland. In: Gree, P. M. (ed), The Surat and Bowen Basins of south-east Queensland. Queensland Minerals and Energy Review Series, Queensland Department of Mines and Energy, 31-108.

Korsch, R. J. and Totterdell, J. M., 2009, Subsidence history and basin phases of the Bowen, Gunnedah and Surat Basins, eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 56, 433-459.

Korsch, R. J., Totterdell, J. M., Fomin, T. and Nicoll, M. G., 2009, Contractional structures and deformational events in the Bowen, Gunnedah and Surat Basins, eastern Australia', Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 477 — 499.

Hoffman, K. L., Totterdell, J. M., Dixon, O., Simpson, G. A., Brakel, A. T., Wells, A. T., and McKellar, J. L., 2009, Sequence stratigraphy of Jurassic strata in the lower Surat Basin succession, Queensland. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 56, 461-476.

Raza, A., Hill, K. C. and Korsch, R. J., 2009, Mid-Cretaceous uplift and denudation of the Bowen and Surat Basins, eastern Australia: relationship to Tasman Sea rifting from apatite fission-track and vitrinite-reflectance data. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 501–531.

Rigby, S.M. AND Kanstler, A.J., 1987, Marilla Creek – An untested stratigraphy play in the Surat Basin. APPEA Journal, 27 (1), 230-244.

Ryan, D.J, Hall, A., Erriah, L., and Wilson, P.B., 2012, The Walloon Coal Seam Gas Play, Surat Basin, Queensland. APPEA Journal 52.

Totterdell, J. M., Moloney, J., Korsch, R. J. and Krassay A. A., 2009, Sequence Stratigraphy of the Bowen-Gunnedah and Surat Basins in New South Wales. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 56, 433-459.

Wiltshire, M.J., 1989, Mesozoic stratigraphy and palaeogeography, eastern Australia. In: O’Neil, B.J., (ed.), The Cooper and Eromanga Basins, Australia. Proceedings of the Petroleum Society of Australia’s Cooper and Eromanga Basins Symposium, Adelaide, 1989, 279-291.


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