Tectono-magmatic evolution of the Browse Basin, North West Shelf: Insights for hydrocarbon exploration in igneous provinces
| Autor: | Kosuke Tsutsui, Simon Holford, Mark Bunch, Rosalind King, Ken McClay, Nick Schofield |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2023 |
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| DOI: | 10.5281/zenodo.7980197 |
| Popis: | Continental margins often undergo complex geological histories, including multiple rift phases, igneous activity, and drastic changes in their sedimentary environments. To succeed in hydrocarbon exploration in such areas, it is necessary to conduct integrated geological investigations to deeper understand their tectonic, magmatic, and sedimentary evolution. The focus of this study is the Browse Basin, which is a typical rifted continental margin basin located on the Australian North West Shelf. There is active exploration for Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs in this basin, and over 20 hydrocarbon discoveries have been made in past decades. Although this basin is highly prospective, severely faulted reservoirs and the unpredictable distribution of igneous rocks are recognised as major risks for both exploration and field development in this area. This study investigates the basin-wide record of Mesozoic tectonism and igneous events by integrating multiple subsurface datasets including regional 2D and 3D seismic surveys, logs from exploration/appraisal wells, and regional gravity and magnetic data. We evaluated basin architecture, the distribution of intrusive and extrusive rocks, the petrological characteristics of igneous and sedimentary rocks, and their correlation to seismic facies. A series of Mesozoic paleo-environmental maps illustrate transitions of tectono-magmatic activities through geological time. Our evaluation suggests that Early to Middle Jurassic rifting exerted the major control on tectonic and magmatic activity in this basin. This event activated NE-SW trending faults and generated significant volumes of igneous rocks across the basin, in particular along the western outboard area, which influenced the distribution of sandstone reservoirs. During the Lower Cretaceous, the focus of faulting and volcanic activity shifted towards the northern part of the basin, forming a series of submarine volcanoes. The outcomes of this study will contribute to future exploration and field development planning in the Browse Basin. Open-Access Online Publication: May 29, 2023 |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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