Deep Formation Water Salinity in the Canning Basin

Salinity of deep formation water in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, ranges from near-fresh (<1,000 mg/L TDS) to brine (>300,000 mg/L TDS). Data is estimated from well logs or measured from oil-production wells and drill stem tests. Salinity patterns correlate with depth, stratigraphy, and paleo-depositional environments, with the highest concentrations found in southern sub-basins like Willara and Kidson.

Use Cases

• Modeling paleo-groundwater flow based on salinity-depth profiles and stratigraphic unit correlations.
• Assessing groundwater resource potential by identifying areas with lower salinity formation water.
• Studying evaporite dissolution impacts on water chemistry in specific formations like the Grant Group and Carribuddy Formation.
• Analyzing the relationship between sedimentary facies (e.g., sabkhas) and extreme salinity values in sub-basins.

Strengths

• Covers a wide salinity range from <1,000 mg/L to >300,000 mg/L TDS, documenting extreme brine conditions.
• Provides detailed geological context linking salinity to specific sub-basins, formations, and depositional cycles.
• Data is sourced from direct measurements and well log estimates, offering multiple data collection methods.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: row count, column names, file size, and license information are not provided.
• The dataset's spatial representativeness is limited as most wells are drilled near basin margins or in the top few kilometers of sediment.
• Update timestamps conflict between sources, with one showing 2026-03-25 and others showing 2026-04-20.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Estimated from well log data or measured on water samples from oil-production wells and drill stem tests.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 according to the most recent platform entry.

Geography

Canning Basin, Western Australia, with specific focus on the Willara and Kidson Sub-Basins.