Geology and Prospectivity of the Northern Houtman Sub-basin, Offshore Western Australia

The northern Houtman Sub-basin is an under-explored region of the northern Perth Basin, offshore Western Australia. New seismic reflection data from 2014–15 was used to reassess tectonic evolution, structural architecture, and petroleum prospectivity, resulting in a 3D geological model. The study maps up to 16 km of Permian–Cretaceous sedimentary succession and identifies significant variations in crustal thickness.

Use Cases

• Assess petroleum prospectivity based on mapped Permian–Cretaceous sedimentary sequences and structural architecture.
• Model tectonic evolution based on interpreted seismic stratigraphy and crustal structure variations.
• Identify exploration targets based on mapped half-graben structures and major fault zones.
• Correlate regional stratigraphy using the new tectonostratigraphic framework for the Houtman Sub-basin.

Strengths

• Includes new seismic reflection data acquired in 2014–15 under a government precompetitive program.
• Maps up to 16 km of Permian–Cretaceous sedimentary succession and a 2–3 km thick pre-rift section.
• Created a 3D geological model covering the survey area, reducing exploration risk.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is delivered as PDF and DOCX files, which may require extraction for computational analysis.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Seismic reflection data acquisition and interpretation, integrated with potential field modelling.

Time Range

Data acquired in 2014–15; geological study covers Permian to Cretaceous periods.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 17:43:07.957672; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northern Houtman Sub-basin, offshore Western Australia, within the Perth Basin.