Seabed Geology and Multibeam Survey for CO2 Storage Assessment in Western Australia

Geoscience Australia's 2012 marine survey collected data to assess CO2 storage potential in the Vlaming Sub-Basin. The survey gathered 653 km² of multibeam and backscatter data, 6.65 km² of side-scan sonar imagery, and 89 seabed grab samples from 43 stations.

Use Cases

• Analyze multibeam and backscatter data to map seabed geomorphology and identify linear fault-like structures for seal integrity assessment.
• Correlate side-scan sonar imagery with seabed grab sample locations to characterize coralline red algal (rhodolith) bed distributions.
• Use chirper shallow sub-bottom profile data to investigate connectivity between the South Perth Shale seal and the underlying Gage Sandstone reservoir.
• Map spatial correlations between surveyed ridges and mounds (standing 4-5 m high) and the structural lineaments evident in the basin geology.

Strengths

• Includes 653 km² of multibeam and backscatter data for detailed seabed mapping.
• Survey collected physical samples from 43 stations, providing 89 seabed grab samples for ground-truthing.
• Covers two distinct areas (Area 1 and Area 2) within a shallow sediment-starved shelf setting for comparative analysis.

Limitations

• Primary data is from a single survey in 2012, limiting temporal analysis and potentially representing outdated conditions.
• The report states the precise relationship between observed seabed features and subsurface geology is uncertain and requires further work.
• Data is delivered as HTML and PDF reports, not as structured, machine-readable tables or GIS-ready formats, complicating direct analysis.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Marine survey acquiring multibeam, backscatter, chirper sub-bottom profiles, side-scan sonar, and seabed grab samples.

Time Range

Survey undertaken in March and April 2012.

Freshness

Survey conducted in March-April 2012; metadata last updated in 2026.

Geography

Vlaming Sub-basin, Western Australia, specifically two areas on the Rottnest Shelf.