L009 seismic reflection survey at Roma, QLD, 1952_1953.

Brief description

A reflection seismic survey was made in an area north and north-west of Roma, to find whether there are any domal structures associated with the known occurrences of oil and gas. The general quality of the reflections recorded was poor, and no evidence of an anticline or basement high was found at Hospital Hill or Block 1 6 where oil and gas have been previously found. No targets for drilling were found and further seismic work is not at present recommended.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Statement: Natural gas was first discovered at Roma in 1900, whilst drilling for water on Hospital Hill. As a result of the discovery many exploratory deep wells and shallow scout bores have since been drilled by various operating companies. Gravity and magnetic surveys of the area were made during 1947 and 1948 (Dooley,1950) by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics. These surveys consisted partly of regional reconnaissance work and partly of a semi-detailed survey in the Roma-Mt.Bassett-Blythdale area. The gravity survey showed two areas of residual gravity which may be due to structures within the sediments and which may be suitable for oil accumulation. To test these areas a reflection seismic survey was made by the Bureau during 1949 and 1950. A preliminary report describing this work (Dooley, 1951) was forwarded to Associated Australian Oilfields, N.L. in May 1951. Subsequently, a site was selected and drilled by Associated Australian Oilfields, N.L. (Bore No. A.A.0.1) and a gas horizon was encountered. However, the formation proved too impermeable to yield an appreciable supply of gas and the bore was abandoned. It is well known that the beds at Roma in which oil and gas have been found are not uniformly distributed over the areas previously tested by drilling and a change in character of the reservoir beds between A. A. 0.No. 1 Bore and both Hospital Hill and Block 16 was apparent. This raised a new set of problems which prompted the company to forward a request dated 17/7/51, and supported by the Queensland Department of Mines in their letter No. 51/648 dated 27/7/ 51 , for further seismic work to be done in the area around Roma.