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Seal Distribution as a Constraint on the Limits of Petroleum Prospectivity: A Pilot Study from the Eyre Sub-basin in the Great Australian Bight

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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This report presents results from a pilot study conducted within the northern part of the Great Australian Bight, focusing primarily on the Eyre Sub-basin. The aim of the study was to develop and test a methodology for creating petroleum prospectivity maps based primarily on the extent of sealing lithologies. The Eyre Sub-basin provides a good basis for this study due to the good seismic coverage and lithological data provided from eight ODP holes and an Esso petroleum exploration well (Jerboa-1). Well data are used to determine which sequences contain potential sealing lithologies, while seismic data are used to map out the extent and distribution of potential sealing sequences across the study area. The regional extent of sealing units to their first pinch-out is used as a first-order assessment of petroleum prospectivity. Results from Jerboa-1 show that there is a proven oil source and adequate reservoir facies with seal and trap integrity being the major play risks. Mesozoic sediments provide the primary potential sealing units across this region and have greatest thickness across the Eyre Sub-basin. To the west and north of this sub-basin, the distribution of the Mesozoic sediments is discontinuous, resulting in lower sealing potential. Mesozoic sediments are absent within the Eucla Inlier immediately north of the Eyre Sub-basin, resulting in very low sealing potential. Three categories of petroleum prospectivity have been determined in this study. Good prospectivity has been assigned up to the limits of the thick and continuous Mesozoic sediments in the Eyre Sub-basin. Low prospectivity has been assigned to the western Apollo Shelf, reflecting the reliance on relatively thin and discontinuous Mesozoic seals and the poor seal potential of Tertiary age carbonates. The Eucla Inlier is designated as a non-prospective area due to the absence of Mesozoic sediments and any potential sealing units for Tertiary age reservoirs.

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Title Seal Distribution as a Constraint on the Limits of Petroleum Prospectivity: A Pilot Study from the Eyre Sub-basin in the Great Australian Bight
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/dbb87ba6-17d0-4f8d-b1a0-8180ffc0ef50
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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      ],
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      ],
      [
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        -29.0
      ],
      [
        123.0,
        -29.0
      ],
      [
        123.0,
        -38.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

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This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Seal Distribution as a Constraint on the Limits of Petroleum Prospectivity: A Pilot Study from the Eyre Sub-basin in the Great Australian Bight". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/seal-distribution-as-a-constraint-on-the-limits-of-petroleum-prospectivity-a-pilot-study-from-t