NRS-15081 | Seismic surveys (SS)

Full description

Seismic reports provide analysis and interpretation of exploration data obtained through seismic surveys. The objective of many of the reports is to measure the structural and depositional conditions of the survey area to determine whether there are substantial deposits to justify test drilling. These surveys can involve reflection and refraction shooting to ascertain the depth and structure of deposits.

The reports may include a description of the method used to process seismic data, field operations reports that detail what was done in the field during the survey, a statistical summary, maps of the survey area, description of the regional geology including stratigraphy, a description of previous geological and geophysical surveys, seismograms, time cross sections; conclusions and recommendations such as where to drill testing wells. Maps may provide details such as survey location and elevation, and the location of exploration wells and stratigraphic bores.

Some reports are a reinterpretation of survey data previously obtained and some contain correspondence. There are also seismic reports of marine areas. Some reports may contain a notice inserted into the reports to acknowledge a missing document.

Seismic surveys are part of the Geological Survey collection, a unique collection of unpublished reports on the results of exploration submitted to the then Department of Mineral Resources by companies and individuals as a consequence of exploration and mining licences being granted. The exploration reports are essential sources of information for explorers, and also add to the understanding of the State's geology, mineral, coal and petroleum resources. If the company is still engaged in mining activity or if mining licences are still active then reports may be confidential and unavailable.

Due to the high access rates for the Geological Survey Reports, the Department of Mineral Resources undertook a copying program making digitised copies available on the Geological Survey (DIGS).

Interested parties can view published and unpublished exploration, mining and Departmental reports on-screen and these can be downloaded. The images have been slightly downgraded to minimise download times, however, higher quality images can be ordered from DIGS.


Custody History
The original reports comprising the Geological Survey collection were transferred from the Department of Mineral Resources to the State Records Authority between 1999 and 2001.

A note regarding access to Seismic surveys
The original reports will not be issued to the public so those interested in accessing them should refer to the Geological Survey (DIGS) website where copies of non-confidential reports are available. The reports are indexed and can be searched by title, author, subject terms, tenement, location, map reference, report number, and report year. In addition to the reports being indexed, the various documents making up the report, such as contents page, text, maps, and photographs, are also indexed and therefore retrievable.