O'Brien Et Al, 2002 APPEA - HRDZ PDF

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INFLUENCE OF HYDROCARBON MIGRATION AND SEEPAGE

ON BENTHIC COMMUNITIES IN THE TIMOR SEA, AUSTRALIA


G.W. O’Brien1,6, K. Glenn1, G. Lawrence2, growing carbonate communities could effectively out-
A.K. Williams3, M. Webster1, S. Burns4 and compete other types of sediment deposition/accumulation
R. Cowley5 processes on the continental shelf. Moreover, this trough
1
Geoscience Australia focussed the location of (what would become) the
Indonesian Through Flow (ITF). The conjunction of the
Canberra ACT 2601
2 ITF with the Indian Ocean ultimately provided a range of
TREICOL Limited
diverse genetic opportunities, a situation which
Knebworth Hertfordshire UK reinforced the favourable growth conditions created by
3
Nigel Press Associates the rapid subsidence. As a result of these processes,
Crockham Park Edenbridge Kent TN8 6SR UK reefal growth in the Timor Sea took place almost
4
RadarSat International exclusively over the last five million years, with most
3851 Shell Road, Suite 200 occurring over the last three million years or so.
Richmond British Columbia Canada V6X 2W2 At a local scale, new data also strongly suggest that the
5
Signalworks Pty Ltd locations of the majority of reefs and carbonate banks
93 Hume Street and build-ups in the area are associated with active and
Greensborough Victoria 3088 palaeo-hydrocarbon seeps. These seeps are localised
6 over either fault systems which tap the reservoir, along
Now at: National Centre for Petroleum Geology and
migration fairways, or at the pinch-out of the regional
Geophysics (NCPGG)
Cretaceous top seal. Our interpretations suggest that the
University of Adelaide SA 5001 reefs and the build-ups formed by a sequential process.
[email protected] Firstly, hydrocarbon seepage (induced by collision-
related faulting) localised small seafloor (chemo-
ABSTRACT lithotrophic) biological carbonate communities, which
ultimately formed topographically positive features.
The Ashmore Platform–Timor Sea region of Australia’s These higher relief features were subsequently
North West Shelf is an area of significant petroleum preferentially colonised by an assortment of reef-building
exploration potential, with several large commercial oil biota, whose rapid growth progressively kept up with
fields present. Moreover, exploration activity seems likely rising sea-level (which was driven principally by collision-
to continue at current levels for the foreseeable future, related subsidence). The most favourable conditions for
and may also extend into deeper water, given high oil initial reef colonisation probably occurred during periods
prices and improved drilling technologies. The area is of relatively low sea-level, when the areas around the
also one of high conservation value, with both the Cartier reefs were located at much shallower water depths (<40m)
Marine reserve and Ashmore Reef (a Category 1 marine than today, and ample sunlight reached the seafloor.
park), as well as numerous other genetically-rich Clearly, the fact that the genetically rich carbonate
carbonate seed bank systems, closely associated spatially communities in this area are probably causally related to
with exploration activities. Balancing the conservation natural hydrocarbon seepage (and the attendant
and resource values in this area will present a key processes which drove that seepage) will present a series
challenge into the future. of almost unique exploration, development (especially
The magnitude of this challenge has been highlighted engineering) and conservation challenges.
by recent work undertaken by AGSO, which involved the
acquisition and interpretation of assorted remote sensing
data, such as high-resolution bathymetry (including side-
KEY WORDS
scan sonar), satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Bonaparte and Browse Basins, Neogene carbonate
Landsat, water column geochemical sniffer, airborne bank and reef development, hydrocarbon seepage,
laser fluorosensor, seismic data and seafloor sediment Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), geochemical sniffer.
sampling. These studies have shown that, at both a
regional and local scale, the development of these
important carbonate systems appears to directly relate
INTRODUCTION
to the geological development of the area. Over the last decade, investigations have revealed the
At a regional scale, the collision between the Australian Bonaparte Basin and the northern Browse Basin to be
and Eurasian crustal plates in the Pliocene (<5 MaBP) areas of widespread and intense palaeo- and present day
induced the formation of the Timor Trough. The rapid hydrocarbon seepage, and attendant trap breach (O’Brien
subsidence associated with the formation of the trough and Woods, 1995; O’Brien et al, 1998a,b, 2000). In the
provided a range of ideal habitats within which rapidly Bonaparte Basin, fault seal failure is probably the

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—225


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

principal factor controlling leakage, whereas hydrocarbon probably similar to that presently seen between the
seepage in the northern Browse Basin, particularly on Exmouth Plateau and the inboard Carnarvon Basin in the
the Yampi Shelf (O’Brien et al, 1998a, 2000), is mostly southern North-West Shelf. The collision in the Bonaparte
associated with progressive top seal failure towards the Basin characteristically resulted in rapid Pliocene
basin margin. subsidence and deposition at both localised and regional
Previous investigations have focussed on the petroleum scales. Pliocene depocentres formed at this time include
exploration implications of leakage and seepage in the the Cartier and Nancar Troughs.
region. In contrast, in this study, several types of The formation of the Timor Trough (Figs 1 and 3)
hydrocarbon seepage and supporting data have been focussed the location of what would become the
used to investigate possible relationships between the Indonesian Through Flow (ITF), an important
distribution and type of seeps, the regional geology and oceanographic feature which now brings hot, saline water
geological history, and the formation of tropical carbonate from the Indonesian Archipelago southwards. From a
banks and reefs in this area. biological view-point, the entry of the hot waters of the
Five distinct areas have been studied (Fig. 1). These ITF, the tropical setting of the Bonaparte Basin and the
are: rapid Pliocene subsidence all combined to provide an
1. The Yampi Shelf, near the Cornea and Londonderry extremely favourable suite of environments for the growth
exploration wells. This is an area of intense gas and of carbonate bank and reef communities. The presence
oil seepage (O’Brien et al, 2000). of abundant hydrocarbon seepage, which in other areas
2. The Heywood Shoals, on which the Heywood–1 has been linked to carbonate formation (Hovland et al,
exploration well was drilled. This is an area of 1987, 1984; Roberts et al, 1987, 1989a,b,c), provides
significant oil seepage. another factor to consider in relation to bank and reef
3. The Sahul Shoals, an area with modest oil seepage. development in this region.
4. The Karmt Shoals, an area of intense oil seepage, and The deep-water channel that now constitutes the Timor
5. The Buller Bank: The Buller Bank lies over the Buffalo Trough was probably particularly critical during times of
oil field. low sea level, when most of the Bonaparte Basin would
This study used Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have been sub-aerially exposed. This can be seen on
which were acquired and interpreted over the entire Figures 4a, b, c and d, which show the approximate
region to map oil slicks (Fig. 2). SAR coverage over the geomorphology of the region for times when sea-level
region was typically two-fold, though in some areas ranged from present day (Fig. 4a), to 55, 100 and 120 m
coverage was five-fold (O’Brien et al, 2001) These SAR below present day sea-level. These images were generated
data were complemented by regional and 3D seismic by computer in ER-Mapper using AGSO’s digital terrain
data, as well as side-scan sonar and water column model for the region. The -120 m image (Fig. 4d) roughly
geochemical sniffer survey data in some areas. corresponds to how the region would have looked at the
These data have been used to test the premise that the time of maximum lowering of sea level, approximately
formation of carbonate reefs and banks in this area is 18,000 years ago. Clearly, many of the important carbonate
causally related to hydrocarbon seepage. reefs and banks in this area, such as Ashmore Reef,
Cartier Reef and Hibernia Reef, were all either sub-
Regional geology and oceanography aerially exposed, or located very close to the coastline, at
this time. A comparison between Figure 4a (present day)
The large-scale structural architecture, geomorphology and Figure 4d emphasises just how much the
and Neogene fault reactivation history of the Bonaparte geomorphology of this region has been affected by sea-
Basin have all been closely controlled by the collision of level change in the Quaternary.
the Australian and Eurasian Plates. At a regional scale,
this collision induced rapid Pliocene down-warping and RESULTS
flexing of the crust within the outer Bonaparte Basin. The
flexural stresses in turn drove much of the extensional Ages of reefs in the Bonaparte Basin
fault reactivation which resulted in partial to complete
trap breach, and attendant seepage, in the area (O’Brien A significant unknown within the Bonaparte Basin is the
et al, 1996, 1999). Ultimately, the collision resulted in the age of the carbonate banks and reefs in the region, and how
formation the Timor Trough, which is a major foreland the timing of the initiation of bank and reef development
basin system. This trough was produced in the Pliocene relate to tectonism and trap breach during the Neogene.
by the uplift of a major marginal plateau system which The best indications on the ages of carbonate banks and
was then located along the extreme north-eastern flank reefs in the region comes from 3D seismic data (Figs 5a, b
of the Bonaparte Basin (and the attendant down-warping and c). In this paper, we have used interpretations derived
of the thinned crust located between the marginal plateau from the Buller 3D Survey in the northern Bonaparte Basin.
and the inboard Bonaparte Basin). This palaeo-marginal These images effectively represent slices through the 3D
plateau system comprised a significant part of what is seismic data volume, and correspond broadly to surfaces at
now the island of Timor. The relationship of this palaeo- the present day (Fig. 5a), the mid-Pliocene (Fig. 5b) and the
marginal plateau to the inboard Bonaparte Basin was Miocene (Fig. 5c) horizons.

226—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


9∞

or Sunrise
Tim
Troubadour

Evans Shoals

Sahul
Laminaria
Platform
k
B an
Karmt Shoals Elang
ller
11∞ Bu Bayu

Sahul
Shoals Oliver

Jabiru
Challis
Vu Talbot
Skua

Montara

13∞

Heywood
Shoals
Londonderry
Cornea
lf
S he
m pi
Ya

0 200 km

15∞

122∞ 124∞ 126∞ 128∞ 130∞ 14/OA/1366

Figure 1. Bathymetry of the Timor Sea, showing areas investigated.

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—227


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia
G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

122∞ 124∞ 126∞ 128∞

10∞

Corallina 1
Laminaria 1

12∞
Elm 1

Skua 1
Woodbine 1
Crux 1

Londonderry 1
Cornea 1
14∞
Scott Reef 1

Gwydion 1

Adele Island 1

16∞

0 200 km

14/OA/1355

Figure 2. Coverage of the SAR data used in the present study.

These slices suggest that the banks and reefs in the Hydrocarbon seepage and carbonate reef and
Bonaparte Basin were essentially absent in the Miocene
bank formation
(Fig. 5c), but developed in the Pliocene (Fig. 5b), and are
still growing strongly at the present day. These data
indicate that the timing of the onset of reef growth YAMPI SHELF, BROWSE BASIN
broadly coincided with both the timing of Pliocene
The northern Yampi Shelf is an area of significant oil
subsidence and trap breach in this region.

228—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

d
relan
e Fo
g en
Neo

sic
ras
Ju cean
O sin
Ba

14/OA/1356

Figure 3. Oblique view (looking northeast) of the bathymetry of the Timor Sea.

and gas seepage (O’Brien et al, 1998a, 2000, 2001). There liquid hydrocarbons prolifically. In contrast, slicks occur
is strong spatial compartmentalisation of the oil and the at only low densities further away from the shoals—the
gas seepage (Figs 6 and 7). This may be due to the Heywood Shoals are effectively a bulls-eye with respect
combined effects of separate oil (Early Cretaceous or to the presence of oil slicks. This observation is supported
Jurassic) and gas (Palaeozoic?) sources, the progressive by recent fluid inclusion investigations of the Heywood–1
failure of the top-seal margin-wards and differences in exploration well (Mark Brincat, CSIRO Petroleum, pers.
the relative permeability of oil and gas (O’Brien et al, comm. 2002) which demonstrate that this structure
2000). previously contained a hydrocarbon column which later
The gas leaks prolifically inboard from the Cornea leaked. Seismic data through the shoals (Fig. 10) show
wells, whereas the oil seepage, defined by the SAR slicks, that the shoals are located directly over a major basin-
is focussed at the basin margin, along the approximate margin fault system.
edge of the regional seal (Fig. 6). The seismic and SAR data, when combined with the
A side-scan sonar investigation (using RV Franklin) of observation that numerous hydrocarbon shows were
the zone of most intense oil seepage on the far inboard encountered in the Heywood–1 exploration well, and the
part of AGSO seismic line 165-09 (Fig. 7) revealed the fact that a palaeo-oil column was present in the structure,
presence of metres-high build-ups on the seafloor (Fig. suggest that the presence of these shoals at this specific
8). These features were concentrated closely around the location may be related to hydrocarbon seepage.
region of high oil slicks density, but were absent
elsewhere. Whilst these build-ups have not yet been SAHUL SHOALS, ASHMORE PLATFORM
sampled successfully, the most plausible explanation is
that they represent biological communities living on the Numerous SAR slicks were detected around the carbonate
seeping hydrocarbons. banks which constitute the Sahul Shoals (Fig. 11). In
particular, these slicks were present around the edges of
HEYWOOD SHOALS, BROWSE BASIN the banks, perhaps suggesting that the cores of the banks
are impermeable to hydrocarbons migrating from depth.
The SAR data acquired over the Heywood Shoals (Fig. No commercial hydrocarbon accumulations have yet
9) suggests that the shoals are an area which is leaking been discovered around the Sahul Shoals, and in general,

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—229


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

a b

c d

14/OA/1357

Figure 4. Pseudo-bathymetry of the Timor Sea for varying sea-levels. 4a. Present day. 4b. Minus 55 m. 4c Minus 100 m. 4d. Minus 120 m.

the number of hydrocarbon shows detected in exploration evidence for seepage in the region. Bishop and O’Brien
wells in this area has also been sparse. These observations also reported the presence of widely distributed
suggest that the amount of hydrocarbons seeping to the thermogenic hydrocarbons within the off-bank sediments
seafloor around the Sahul Shoals is probably quite small. in this area. More recent work on sediment samples
Nevertheless, a close spatial relationship seems to exist around the Karmt Shoals (Edwards and Hulskamp, 1998)
between the seeps and the carbonate build-ups. has also revealed the presence of liquid hydrocarbons,
which they noted were broadly similar to the oil found in
KARMT SHOALS, NANCAR TROUGH the Corallina field to the north.
O’Brien et al (2001) proposed that the numerous SAR
Numerous, dense clusters of SAR slicks were detected slicks present in and around the Karmt Shoals were due
around the edges of the carbonate banks which constitute to a combination of low fault seal capacity in the Nancar
the Karmt Shoals (Figs 12a and b). As with the Sahul Trough, and vigorous secondary and tertiary hydrocarbon
Shoals, these slicks were present around the edges of the migration processes. These workers proposed that
banks, but were absent over the banks themselves. significant Pliocene subsidence within the Nancar Trough
The SAR observations are consistent with the had probably re-invigorated the petroleum system in the
interpretations of Bishop and O’Brien (1998), who region.
presented seismic and Airborne Laser Fluorosensor

230—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

a b Reefs present

c 14/OA/1358

Figure 5. Slices through the Buller 3D Survey seismic data. 5a. Present day seafloor. 5b. Approximately Mid-Pliocene. 5c. Approximately
Late Miocene.

Heywood
Li
ne

Shoals
16
5-
09

Londonderry
Major gas seep

Cornea

SAR anomalies
Sniffer survey

14/OA/1367

Figure 6. Oil (via SAR) and gas (bottom water methane via sniffer) seepage on the Yampi Shelf, overlain on bathymetry. Position of AGSO
seismic line YST 165-09 indicated.

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—231


6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 CDP

300

200

ppm
Methane in
bottom waters
100
SAR oil slicks at

232—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


edge of seal

0
NW SE
3694 2694 1694 694 SP
0

0.5
ertiary
Base T

Basement high bald of seal

Two-way time (s)


nian
Turo

1.0
G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

Basement
tian
e Ap
Lat 14/OA/1368

Figure 7. AGSO seismic line 165-09, showing offset of gas (bottom water methane) and oil (via SAR) seepage. Oil seeps are located principally at edge of seal.
Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

14/OA/1360
N
Build-ups over
seeps
Side-Scan Sonar Seafloor
build-ups over oil seeps
(line 165-09)

als
ho
dS
oo
yw
He
gh
ou
thr
ine
ic l
ism
Se
14/OA/1359

Figure 8. Side-scan sonar record of seafloor through region of oil


seepage at end of line 165-09 (see Figures 6 and 7).

BULLER BANK, BONAPARTE BASIN

A major carbonate bank, the Buller Bank, is located over


the commercial Buffalo oil field (Fig. 13). In contrast to the
strong evidence for present day seepage seen around the
carbonate banks within the Karmt Shoals, no SAR slicks
were detected over the Buffalo structure or specifically
around Buller Bank. Nevertheless, an obvious spatial Figure 9. Oil slicks (via SAR data) over Heywood Shoals, with
correlation exists between the location of a commercial oil location of seismic line (Figure 10) indicated. Locations of seafloor
field and the presence of a large carbonate bank. build-ups seen in Figure 8 indicated.

A MODEL FOR CARBONATE seeps. Where seeps are absent, so (generally) is the evidence
BANK AND REEF DEVELOPMENT for significant contemporary carbonate bank formation.
From our observations, the following simple, three-
The data presented in this paper suggest that a strong stage model is proposed. This model proposes that the
spatial, and probably causal, relationship exists between reefs and the build-ups in the region formed by a relatively
the location of hydrocarbon seeps in the Timor Sea and the simple, sequential process. It grossly understates what in
presence (or absence) of carbonate banks and reefs. The reality would undoubtedly be very complex systems. The
key linking feature between a wide range of features, from model is as follows.
small, seafloor build-ups, to isolated carbonate shoals such Firstly, an active petroleum system was established
as Heywood Shoals, to large clusters of banks such the involving the formation of charged traps (Fig. 14a) and
Karmt Shoals, is that they are all associated with modern active migration fairways.

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—233


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

SAR oil slicks over and


around Heywood Shoals
0

3
Two-way time (s)

Figure 10. AGSO seismic line showing that Heywood Shoals are located over major, basin margin fault system. Significant SAR slicks present
around Heywood Shoals.

Subsequently, in the Neogene, collision-related collision-related subsidence (Fig. 14c). The ability of the
faulting induced hydrocarbon seepage above charged localised banks to keep pace with the rapid Pliocene
hydrocarbon accumulations (Fig. 14b) or migration subsidence resulted in the development of apparently
fairways. As a result, small, localised seafloor (chemo- isolated banks (Fig. 14c) which were surrounded by
lithotrophic) biological carbonate communities much deeper water (in some cases up to 400 m).
developed, and used the hydrocarbons as a food source. The observations presented in this paper indicate that
These communities eventually formed significant, an intimate association exists between the evolution of
topographically positive features. These higher relief the petroleum systems in the Timor Sea and the
features were subsequently preferentially colonised by development of key biological systems, and biological
an assortment of reef- and bank-building biota. diversity, in the region. The fact that the genetically-rich
It is probable that initial reef colonisation occurred carbonate communities in this area are probably causally
preferentially during periods of relatively low sea level, related to natural hydrocarbon seepage, and to the
when the areas around the reefs were located at much attendant processes which drove that seepage, will
shallower water depths (perhaps less than 40 m) than present a series of almost unique exploration and
today, and the seafloor was well within the photic zone. development (especially engineering) and conservation
Rapid growth of the bank systems was facilitated by challenges in this important region.
rising sea level, which was in turn driven principally by

234—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

REFERENCES
BISHOP, D.J., AND O’BRIEN, G.W., 1998—A multi-
disciplinary approach to definition and characterisation
of carbonate shoals, shallow gas accumulations and
related complex, near-surface structures in the Timor
Sea, APPEA Journal, 38 (1), 93–114.

EDWARDS, D.S. AND HULSKAMP, 1998—Laboratory


UV fluorescence of 10 seafloor sediment extracts from
AC/P16, Karmt Shoals, Timor Sea. AGSO unpublished
report.

HOVLAND, M., TALBOT, M, QVALE, H., OLAUSSEN,


S., AND AASBERG, R., 1987—Methane-related carbonate
cements in pockmarks of the North Sea. Journal of
Sedimentary Petrology, 57, 81–892.

HOVLAND, M., CROKER, P. F., AND MARTIN, M. 1994—


Fault associated seabed mounds (carbonate knolls?) off
western Ireland and north-west Australia, Marine and
Petroleum Geology, 11 (2) 232–46.

O’BRIEN, G.W. AND WOODS, E.P., 1995—Hydrocarbon-


related diagenetic zones (HRDZs) in the Vulcan Sub-
basin, Timor Sea: recognition and exploration
implications. APEA Journal, 35 (1), 220–252.

O’BRIEN, G.W., LISK, M., DUDDY, I.R., EADINGTON,


Figure 11. SAR slicks (blue) around Sahul Shoals. P.J., CADMAN, S. AND FELLOWS, M., 1996—Late
Tertiary fluid migration in the Timor Sea: A key control
on thermal and diagenetic histories? APPEA Journal, 36
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (1), 399–427.
The authors wish to thank the operational crew of the
O’BRIEN, G.W., QUAIFE, P., BURNS, S., MORSE, M.,
Australian Geological Survey Organisation vessel RV
AND LEE, J., 1998a—An evaluation of hydrocarbon
Rig Seismic, who acquired the geochemical sniffer data
seepage in Australia’s Timor Sea (Yampi Shelf) using
used in this study, and the crew of the RV Franklin, which
integrated remote sensing technologies. Proceedings,
acquired the side-scan sonar data.
SEAPEX Exploration Conference, 2–3 December,
We also thank RadarSat International for its great
Singapore. 205–18.
support of this cooperative pilot project. Maria de Farago
Botella, OBS Operations Manager for Nigel Press and
O’BRIEN, G.W., QUAIFE, P., COWLEY, R., MORSE, M.,
Associates, performed all of the weather compliance
WILSON, D., FELLOWS, M. AND LISK, M, 1998b—
research for this paper. Michael Morse at AGSO
Evaluating trap integrity in the Vulcan Sub-basin, Timor
contributed with aspects of the gridding of sniffer data
Sea, Australia, using integrated remote sensing
and Melissa Fellows assisted with sniffer data collection.
geochemical technologies. In: PESA Western Australian
We thank Greg Blackburn and Jenny Baird (TAC Pty
Basins Symposium 2 Volume. P.G. and R.R. Purcell (eds),
Ltd) for their work on the Yampi Shelf Tie (YST) Study,
237–54.
which has been used in this paper. BHP Petroleum kindly
provided imagery from the Buller 3D seismic data-set.
O’BRIEN, G W, LISK, M, DUDDY, I R, HAMILTON, J.,
Special thanks to Lindell Emerton and Brian Hack, who
WOODS, P., AND COWLEY, R., 1999—Plate convergence,
turned the chaos into figures and the authors into chaos!
foreland development and fault reactivation: Primary
We especially thank the APPEA reviewers, Deidre
controls on brine migration, thermal histories and trap
Brooks and Peter Barber, whose comments improved the
breach in the Timor Sea, Australia. Marine-and-
manuscript.
Petroleum-Geology. 16 (6), 533–60.
G.W. O’Brien, M. Webster and K. Glenn publish with
the permission of the CEO, AGSO.
O’BRIEN, G W, LAWRENCE, G, WILLIAMS, A,
WEBSTER, M., WILSON, D., AND BURNS., 2000—Using
integrated remote sensing technologies to evaluate and

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—235


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

characterise hydrocarbon migration and charge ROBERTS, H. H., SASSEN, R., AND AHARON, P., 1987—
characteristics on the Yampi Shelf, northwestern Carbonates of the Louisiana continental slope.
Australia: a methodological study: APPEA Journal, 40 (1), Proceedings Offshore Technology Conference, 19 (2),
230–55. 373–82.

O’BRIEN, G.W., LAWRENCE, G.M., WILLIAMS, A.K., ROBERTS, H. H., SASSEN, R., CARNEY, R., AND
WEBSTER. M., LEE, J., COWLEY, R., AND BURNS, S. AHARON, P., 1989a—13C depleted authigenic carbonate
2001—Hydrocarbon migration and seepage in the Timor buildups from hydrocarbon seeps, Louisiana continental
Sea and Northern Browse Basin North West Shelf, slope. Transactions Gulf Coast Association of Geological
Australia: An Integrated SAR, Geological and Societies, 39, 523–30.
Geochemical Study. AGSO Record and GIS.
ROBERTS, H.H., SASSES, R., CARNEY, R., AND
AHARON, P., 1989b—Carbonate buildups on the
continental slope off central Louisiana. Proceedings,
a
Offshore Technology Conference, 21 (1), 655–62.

ROBERTS, H.H., SASSEN, R., CARNEY, R., AHARON,


P., AND PORTIER, R., 1989c—Reef-like carbonate
3-35

buildups on the Louisiana continental slope. Transactions


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, 39, 587.

Authors' biographies over page.

NNE SSW
3rd rank SAR slick Karmt Shoals - Intense slick development 3rd rank SAR slick
0
b

1
Two-way time (s)

3
4

Figure 12 a and 12 b. 12a. SAR slicks (blue) around Karmt Shoals.12b. Seismic line ( AGSO VTT 163-35) through Karmt Shoals.

236—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

0.5
Two-way time (s)

1.0
Top Oliver

1.5

Figure 13. Carbonate bank (Buller Bank) located over Buffalo oil field.

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—237


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

Late Miocene Sea Level

Sea Floor

Post-rift sediments
sediment
Hydrocarbon
column
colum

Re
e
oir

~5.7 Ma Fault Reactivation / Hydrocarbon Seepage


Seafloor build-u

dim
Post-rift sed s

R s
Residual e
column oir

Pliocene to Recent Oil slicks

Carbonate t
build-ups
over oil seep

e n w e ge
Pl i o Rese
rvoir
i ments
ed
t-r ift s
Pos Oil
Gas 14/OA/1365

Figure 14. Three stage schematic model for seepage-related carbonate bank and reef formation in the Timor Sea.

238—APPEA JOURNAL 2002


Influence of hydrocarbon migration and seepage on benthic communities in the Timor Sea, Australia

THE AUTHORS

Geoffrey O’Brien is a Research Alan Williams gained a BSc


Fellow and geoscience consultant (Hons) in Geology from the
with NCPGG, University of University of Wales (Swansea) in
Adelaide. Dr O’Brien has 1965 and a MSc in Geochemistry
previously worked for from the University of Leeds in
Geoscience Australia as research 1966. After initial forays into UK
group leader of the Marine base metal exploration, mud
Environment and Basin Studies logging in the UKCS and lecturing
Program, for BHP and for at Addis Ababa University, he
Western Mining Corporation. His spent 1970–78 as a remote
present work is focussed on the sensing geologist for Hunting
application of multi-disciplinary research strategies to basin Surveys and Consultants. He joined BP Exploration in 1979,
evaluation and environmental management on continental initially as a geological geochemist, later heading up the
margins. Member: PESA, AAPG and AGU. interpretation team for BP’s ALF Project and finally managed
BP’s Integrated Seepage Detection team. In 1992 he joined
Kriton Glenn received a BSc World Geoscience Corporation to manage the latest version
(Hons) in geology from the of the ALF technology from Guildford, UK. In 1995, he moved
Australian National University, to National Remote Sensing Centre Limited in Farnborough to
Geology Department and is head up global oil marketing services, and in 1999, joined Nigel
presently completing a PhD at Press Associates Ltd (NPA) as exploration business manager.
Adelaide University. He has Alan has presented papers on various aspects of satellite
worked on the bio-stratigraphy exploration, specialising in remote seepage detection methods.
of all Australian offshore basins Member: AAPG, SEG, IPA, PESGB and APPEA.
with Geoscience Australia and
for the past three years has been Mark Webster is a technical
employed by Environment specialist with the Petroleum and
Australia to provided a wide range of geo-scientific advice for Marine Program (North West
Australia’s Marine Protected Areas. Australian Margins Project) at
AGSO. Key areas of responsibility
Geoff Lawrence (BSc, PhD, include data management and
FGS, FIMM) founded The Really manipulation, image processing
Easy Imaging Co Ltd (TREICoL) in and GIS development.
1992 after 10 years as Manager of
Satellite Remote Sensing at BP
Exploration. TREIC o L joint-
ventured with the NPA Group to
develop offshore basin screening Shawn Burns works for RadarSat International in British
(OBS) using satellite radar to map Columbia, Canada. He is a business development manager for
hydrocarbon seepage and RadarSat, particularly within the Asia-Pacific Region, and has
pollution offshore. They have been involved in a number of pilot studies using SAR data
screened 310 basins in 150 OBS projects from 66 countries to around Australia. These studies have included environmental
become the leaders in this technology. Previously, Geoff was management, oil exploration and disaster assessment.
a visiting industry associate at NASA’s JPL and senior geologist
and exploration manager in 40 countries of Africa, Middle East
Southeast Asia and Australia (where his surveys found Nabarlek
uranium and two nickel deposits) with international consultants
Hunting. He was the founding President of the Geological
Remote Sensing Society.

APPEA JOURNAL 2002—239


G.W. O’Brien, K. Glenn, G. Lawrence, A.K. Williams, M. Webster, S. Burns and R. Cowley

THE AUTHORS

Robert Cowley graduated


with a BSc (Hons) degree from
the University of Adelaide in
1984. He has worked as a
petroleum geophysicist in
exploration and field
development roles in most of
Australia’s major offshore
basins, principally with BHP
Petroleum. He has worked
on software development
projects with Signalworks Pty Ltd, including systems used to
process and interpret airborne laser fluorosensor data.
Member: ASEG and SEG.

240—APPEA JOURNAL 2002

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