Rift Evolution and Petroleum Prospectivity of the Capel and Faust Basins

Geological data from the Capel and Faust basins offshore eastern Australia was collected under Australian government programs from 2003 to 2011. The dataset includes high-quality 2D seismic profiles, multibeam bathymetry, gravity and magnetic data, and rock dredge samples. Analysis was presented at the Australian Earth Sciences Convention in July 2010.

Use Cases

• Map depocentre geometry and basin fill thickness using 2D seismic data and multibeam bathymetry.
• Characterize syn-rift and post-rift megasequences (Syn rift 1, Syn rift 2, sag) from seismic interpretation for stratigraphic modeling.
• Assess petroleum prospectivity by integrating rock dredge sample lithology with seismic facies and potential field data.
• Model basement composition and rift precursor volcanics using gravity, magnetic, and seismic data.

Strengths

• Data includes high-quality 2D seismic profiles, a significant improvement over regional profiles from the 1970s-1990s.
• Basin fill thickness is defined, with a maximum total thickness exceeding 6 kilometers.
• Depocentre dimensions are quantified, with the largest approximately 150 km long and 40 km wide.

Limitations

• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, limiting reproducibility for statistical analysis.
• Primary data formats are PDF and HTML reports, not raw structured data files, requiring extraction for computational use.
• Temporal coverage of the core interpreted data is focused on a specific period (2003-2011 collection, 2010 analysis).

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, originating from Geoscience Australia under Australian Government programs.

Collection Method

Acquired via marine surveys collecting 2D seismic, multibeam bathymetry, gravity, magnetic data, and rock dredge samples.

Time Range

Data collection primarily 2003-2011; analysis presented in 2010. Interpreted sequences range from Early Cretaceous to Recent.

Freshness

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Geography

Capel and Faust basins on the northern Lord Howe Rise, offshore eastern Australia, in water depths of 1300-2500 m.