Carnarvon Basin (Barrow Sub-basin) Geochemical Calibration Survey : Project 121.18

Brief description

Transglobal Environmental Geosciences (TEG) and the Bureau of Mineral Resources,as part of the Joint Research Agreement into hydrocarbon seepage around theAustralian Continental margin, conducted a calibration survey over some knownhydrocarbon accumulations in parts of the Barrow Sub-basin and the Ranldn Platformduring 1989. This survey was conducted at the end of a larger and proprietarygeochemical 'sniffer' survey conducted by TEG (for Amoco Production Co., USA) inthe Perth Basin. Approximately 220 line km of Direct Hydrocarbon Detection (DHD) data werecollected during the survey in the vicinities of known hydrocarbon accumulations,Saladin, South Chervil, Chervil, North Herald and South Pepper in the inshore part ofthe Barrow Sub-basin. Additional survey lines were run in the deeper water part of thebasin, on the landward side of the rift, in the vicinities of Chinook and Griffin, andfurther to the north, on the southern extension of the Rankin Platform (Alpha Arch)over the Gorgon gas/condensate field. Light hydrocarbon anomalies were detected in bottom-waters in the vicinities ofSaladin, Chervil, South Chervil, North Herald and South Pepper, although theanomalies were generally weak (< five-fold background). No anomalies were detectednear Chinook and Griffin, nor Gorgon, although problems with the tow-cable and tow-fish resulted in the tow-fish being too high above the seafloor to detect any significantseepage.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknown

Statement: Legacy product, lineage not available