Papers by Irina Borissova
International Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia 13-16 September 2015, 2015
International Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia 13-16 September 2015, 2015
Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2016
ABSTRACT This report (Record 2009/38) contains the description and preliminary analysis of datase... more ABSTRACT This report (Record 2009/38) contains the description and preliminary analysis of datasets acquired during Geoscience Australia marine reconnaissance survey GA2476 to the west Australian margin. The survey, completed as part of the Federal Government's Offshore Energy Program, was undertaken between 25 October 2008 and 19 January 2009 using the German research vessel RV Sonne. The survey acquired geological, geophysical, oceanographic and biological data over poorly known areas of Australia's western continental margin. Data from the marine reconnaissance survey (GA2476) and the concordant regional seismic survey (GA0310) will improve knowledge of frontier sedimentary basins and marginal plateaus and allow assessment of their petroleum prospectivity and environmental significance. These data will be used to improve resource management and underpin decisions regarding future acreage release in offshore Western Australia and marine zone management. Four key areas were targeted: the Zeewyck and Houtman sub-basins (Perth Basin), the Cuvier margin (northwest of the Southern Carnarvon Basin), and the Cuvier Plateau (a sub-feature of the Wallaby Plateau). Over the duration of the survey a total of 229,000 km2 (26,500 line-km) of seabed was mapped with the multi-beam sonar, 25,000 line-km of digital shallow seismic reflection data and 25,000 line-km of gravity and magnetic data. A variety of sampling equipment was deployed over the duration of the survey, including ocean floor observation systems (OFOS), deep-sea TV controlled grab (BODO), boxcores, rock dredges, conductivity-temperature-depth profilers (CTD) and epibenthic sleds. A total of 62 stations were examined throughout the survey, including 16 over the Houtman Sub-basin, 16 over the Zeewyck Sub-basin, 13 in the Cuvier margin, 12 over the Cuvier Plateau and four in the Indian Ocean. This report is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the survey activities, equipment used and preliminary results form survey GA2476. https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&catno=69606
ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2015
Energy Procedia, 2013
In mid 2011, the Australian Government announced funding for a four-year National CO 2 Infrastruc... more In mid 2011, the Australian Government announced funding for a four-year National CO 2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP) to accelerate the identification and development of sites suitable for the long-term storage of CO 2 in Australia that are within reasonable distances of major energy and industrial CO 2 emission sources. The NCIP program supports precompetitive storage exploration and provides a basis for the development of transport and storage infrastructure. The Plan follows the recommendations of the Carbon Storage Taskforce and the National CCS Council, formerly, the National Low Emissions Coal Council for pre-competitive data acquisition. It builds on the work funded under the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) and the need for adequate storage to be identified as a national priority. Geoscience Australia is providing strategic advice in delivering the plan and will take a lead role in the acquisition of pre-competitive data and geological studies to assess storage potential. Four offshore sedimentary basins (Bonaparte, Browse, Perth and Gippsland basins) and several onshore basins have been identified for precompetitive data acquisition and storage assessment.
Marine Geophysical Researches, 2004
In 2001 and 2002, Australia acquired an integrated geophysical data set over the deep-water conti... more In 2001 and 2002, Australia acquired an integrated geophysical data set over the deep-water continental margin of East Antarctica from west of Enderby Land to offshore from Prydz Bay. The data include approximately 7700 km of high-quality, deep-seismic data with coincident gravity, magnetic and bathymetry data, and 37 non-reversed refraction stations using expendable sonobuoys. Integration of these data with similar quality data recorded by Japan in 1999 allows a new regional interpretation of this sector of the Antarctic margin. This part of the Antarctic continental margin formed during the breakup of the eastern margin of India and East Antarctica, which culminated with the onset of seafloor spreading in the Valanginian. The geology of the Antarctic margin and the adjacent oceanic crust can be divided into distinct east and west sectors by an interpreted crustal boundary at approximately 58°E. Across this boundary, the continent-ocean boundary (COB), defined as the inboard edge of unequivocal oceanic crust, steps outboard from west to east by about 100 km. Structure in the sector west of 58°E is largely controlled by the mixed rift-transform setting. The edge of the onshore Archaean-Proterozoic Napier Complex is downfaulted oceanwards near the shelf edge by at least 6 km and these rocks are interpreted to underlie a rift basin beneath the continental slope. The thickness of rift and pre-rift rocks cannot be accurately determined with the available data, but they appear to be relatively thin. The margin is overlain by a blanket of post-rift sedimentary rocks that are up to 6 km thick beneath the lower continental slope. The COB in this sector is interpreted from the seismic reflection data and potential field modelling to coincide with the base of a basement depression at 8.0-8.5 s two-way time, approximately 170 km oceanwards of the shelf-edge bounding fault system. Oceanic crust in this sector is highly variable in character, from rugged with a relief of more than 1 km over distances of 10-20 km, to rugose with low-amplitude relief set on a long-wavelength undulating basement. The crustal velocity profile appears unusual, with velocities of 7.6-7.95 km s )1 being recorded at several stations at a depth that gives a thickness of crust of only 4 km. If these velocities are from mantle, then the thin crust may be due to the presence of fracture zones. Alternatively, the velocities may be coming from a lower crust that has been heavily altered by the intrusion of mantle rocks. The sector east of 58°E has formed in a normal rifted margin setting, with complexities in the east from the underlying structure of the N-S trending Palaeozoic Lambert Graben. The Napier Complex is downfaulted to depths of 8-10 km beneath the upper continental slope, and the margin rift basin is more than 300 km wide. As in the western sector, the riftstage rocks are probably relatively thin. This part of the margin is blanketed by post-rift sediments that are up to about 8 km thick. The interpreted COB in the eastern sector is the most prominent boundary in deep water, and typically coincides with a prominent oceanwards step-up in the basement level of up to 1 km. As in the west, the interpretation of this boundary is supported by potential field modelling. The oceanic crust adjacent to the COB in this sector has a highly distinctive character, commonly with (1) a smooth upper surface underlain by short, seaward-dipping flows; (2) a transparent upper crustal layer; (3) a lower crust dominated by dipping high-amplitude reflections that probably reflect intruded or altered shears; (4) a strong reflection Moho, confirmed by seismic refraction modelling; and (5) prominent landward-dipping upper mantle reflections on several adjacent lines. A similar style of oceanic crust is also found in contemporaneous ocean basins that developed between Greater India and Australia-Antarctica west of Bruce Rise on the Antarctic margin, and along the Cuvier margin of northwest Australia.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2007
Abstract We document the interpretation of three crustal sections from coincident deep seismic re... more Abstract We document the interpretation of three crustal sections from coincident deep seismic reflection, gravity and magnetic data acquired on Australia's southern margin: one section from the Naturaliste Plateau and the Diamantina Zone; and two in the Great Australian Bight (GAB). Interpretations are based on an integrated study of deep multichannel seismic, gravity and magnetic data, together with sparse sonobuoy and dredging information.
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2003
ABSTRACT This report (Record 2009/38) contains the description and preliminary analysis of datase... more ABSTRACT This report (Record 2009/38) contains the description and preliminary analysis of datasets acquired during Geoscience Australia marine reconnaissance survey GA2476 to the west Australian margin. The survey, completed as part of the Federal Government's Offshore Energy Program, was undertaken between 25 October 2008 and 19 January 2009 using the German research vessel RV Sonne. The survey acquired geological, geophysical, oceanographic and biological data over poorly known areas of Australia's western continental margin. Data from the marine reconnaissance survey (GA2476) and the concordant regional seismic survey (GA0310) will improve knowledge of frontier sedimentary basins and marginal plateaus and allow assessment of their petroleum prospectivity and environmental significance. These data will be used to improve resource management and underpin decisions regarding future acreage release in offshore Western Australia and marine zone management. Four key areas were targeted: the Zeewyck and Houtman sub-basins (Perth Basin), the Cuvier margin (northwest of the Southern Carnarvon Basin), and the Cuvier Plateau (a sub-feature of the Wallaby Plateau). Over the duration of the survey a total of 229,000 km2 (26,500 line-km) of seabed was mapped with the multi-beam sonar, 25,000 line-km of digital shallow seismic reflection data and 25,000 line-km of gravity and magnetic data. A variety of sampling equipment was deployed over the duration of the survey, including ocean floor observation systems (OFOS), deep-sea TV controlled grab (BODO), boxcores, rock dredges, conductivity-temperature-depth profilers (CTD) and epibenthic sleds. A total of 62 stations were examined throughout the survey, including 16 over the Houtman Sub-basin, 16 over the Zeewyck Sub-basin, 13 in the Cuvier margin, 12 over the Cuvier Plateau and four in the Indian Ocean. This report is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the survey activities, equipment used and preliminary results form survey GA2476. https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&catno=69606
As part of the Australian Government’s Energy Security Initiative, a new tectono-stratigraphic an... more As part of the Australian Government’s Energy Security Initiative, a new tectono-stratigraphic and petroleum systems study has been carried out in the Vlaming Sub-basin on
Australia’s southwest continental margin. The study has included: biostratigraphic revisions for key wells; seismic
interpretations of new and reprocessed data; geochemical assessments of key source rock intervals and liquid hydrocarbons; structural restoration of key seismic sections; and, 3D burial history modelling. Results have significantly
improved our understanding of the Vlaming Sub-basin’s evolution and provide a basis for future exploration. New exploration opportunities in the southern Vlaming Sub-basin are open to explorers through the Australian Government’s 2008 Acreage Release.
ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2015
Energy Procedia, 2013
As part of the Australian Government National CO 2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), Geoscience Austral... more As part of the Australian Government National CO 2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), Geoscience Australia is undertaking CO 2 storage assessment of the Vlaming Sub-basin located offshore Western Australia in the southern Perth Basin. The Vlaming Sub-basin is a Mesozoic depocentre containing up to 14 km of sediments. Close proximity of the basin to industrial sources of CO 2 emissions in the Perth area drives the search for storage solutions in this basin. The main reservoir unit identified as suitable for storage of CO 2 is the Early Cretaceous Gage Sandstone deposited in paleotopographic lows of the Valanginian breakup unconformity. The reservoir unit is laterally extensive (over 1,500 km 2 ) and over most of the area reasonably thick (100 -300 m). It occurs at depths between 1000 and 3000 m below the seafloor, which is suitable for injection of supercritical CO 2 and makes it an attractive target for the long-term storage. The reservoir unit is overlain by a thick deltaic to shallow marine succession of the South Perth Shale, which represents a regional seal in the area. The first assessment of the Vlaming Sub-basin was undertaken by CO2CRC with a focus on evaluation of the reservoir unit and overall storage capacity. These results published by the Carbon Storage Taskforce estimated that up 1 GT of CO 2 can be stored in the Gage Sandstone. The current study is based on interpretation and integration of the seismic, well and marine datasets, both existing and acquired since the previous assessment. It includes detailed analysis of reservoir and seal properties and a comprehensive evaluation of the seal integrity risks to allow a more accurate and realistic modeling for CO 2 storage.
Antarctica, 2006
In 2001 and 2002, the Australian Government acquired approximately 9 000 km of high-quality geoph... more In 2001 and 2002, the Australian Government acquired approximately 9 000 km of high-quality geophysical data over the margin of East Antarctica between 110–142° E that provide a sound framework for understanding the geology of the region. The data comprise 36-fold deep-seismic, gravity and magnetic data and nonreversed refraction/wide-angle reflection sonobuoys recorded along transects that extend from the lower continental slope out to oceanic crust at a spacing along the margin of approximately 90 km. The continental ...
Geology, 2008
Abstract The origin of the submarine Naturaliste Plateau off the southwestern coast of Australia ... more Abstract The origin of the submarine Naturaliste Plateau off the southwestern coast of Australia is controversial; previous work supports both oceanic and continental affinities for the basement to volcanic and sedimentary sequences. We report the first evidence of reworked Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1230–1190 Ma) continental crust, based on laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry analysis of zircons from granite and orthogneiss samples dredged from the southern margin of the plateau. Thermobarometry ...
Geological framework of the Kerguelen Plateau and adjacent ocean basins.
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Papers by Irina Borissova
Australia’s southwest continental margin. The study has included: biostratigraphic revisions for key wells; seismic
interpretations of new and reprocessed data; geochemical assessments of key source rock intervals and liquid hydrocarbons; structural restoration of key seismic sections; and, 3D burial history modelling. Results have significantly
improved our understanding of the Vlaming Sub-basin’s evolution and provide a basis for future exploration. New exploration opportunities in the southern Vlaming Sub-basin are open to explorers through the Australian Government’s 2008 Acreage Release.
Australia’s southwest continental margin. The study has included: biostratigraphic revisions for key wells; seismic
interpretations of new and reprocessed data; geochemical assessments of key source rock intervals and liquid hydrocarbons; structural restoration of key seismic sections; and, 3D burial history modelling. Results have significantly
improved our understanding of the Vlaming Sub-basin’s evolution and provide a basis for future exploration. New exploration opportunities in the southern Vlaming Sub-basin are open to explorers through the Australian Government’s 2008 Acreage Release.