Great Australian Bight Basin Geology and Seismic Survey Report

A 1987 joint study by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and the South Australian Department of Mines and Energy rekindled exploration interest in the region. This folio presents interpreted seismic data and geological assessments for multiple offshore basins. The principal product integrates multichannel seismic surveys with sampling and heatflow work from the RfV Rig Seismic vessel.

Use Cases

• Interpret seismic reflection profiles to map subsurface structures like the Polda Trough or Eyre Sub-basin.
• Analyze heatflow measurements and sampling data to assess petroleum generation potential in the Duntroon and Denman Basins.
• Compare geological interpretations and structural styles between the shallow-water and deep-water basins covered in the joint study.
• Use the folio's mapped basin geometries and fault systems for constructing 3D geological models of the Great Australian Bight.

Strengths

• Joint study combines efforts from two government organizations (BMR and SADME) for broader coverage.
• Integrates multiple data types: multichannel seismic survey data, follow-up sampling, and heatflow measurements.
• Covers multiple specific geological basins including the Great Australian Bight Basin, Duntroon Basin, Denman Basin, Polda Trough, and Bremer Basin.

Limitations

• Primary data collection and interpretation occurred in the late 1980s, making the geological models potentially outdated.
• Report acknowledges internal inconsistencies in interpretation and presentation style between the two contributing organizations.
• Data is presented as a compiled report (folio) in PDF/HTML formats, not as a structured, machine-readable dataset.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) and South Australian Department of Mines and Energy (SADME) joint study.

Collection Method

Regional framework multichannel seismic survey with follow-up sampling and heatflow work, plus re-interpretation of existing company seismic data.

Time Range

Survey and study conducted circa 1986-1987.

Freshness

Report content is from 1987; metadata was last updated 2026-04-04.

Geography

Great Australian Bight offshore region, specifically the Duntroon Basin, Denman Basin, Great Australian Bight Basin (including Eyre Sub-basin), Polda Trough, and Bremer Basin.