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Reconciling the onshore-offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

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The Canning Basin is a prospective hydrocarbon frontier basin and is unusual for having limited offshore seismic and well data in comparison with its onshore extent. In this study, seismic mapping was conducted to better resolve the continuity of 13 key stratigraphic units from onshore to offshore to delineate prospective offshore hydrocarbon-bearing units, and better understand the distribution of mafic igneous units that can compartmentalise migration pathways and influence heat flow. The offshore Canning Basin strata are poorly constrained in six wells with limited seismic coverage; hence data availability was bolstered by integrating data from the onshore portion of the basin and adjacent basins into a single 3D seismic stratigraphic model. This model integrates over 10 000 km of historical 2D seismic data and 23 exploration wells to allow mapping of key stratal surfaces. Mapped seismic horizons were used to construct isochores and regional cross-sections. Seven of the 13 units were mapped offshore for the first time, revealing that the onshore and offshore stratigraphy are similar, albeit with some minor differences, and mafic igneous units are more interconnected than previously documented whereby they may constitute a mafic magmatic province. These basin-scale maps provide a framework for future research and resource exploration in the Canning Basin. To better understand the basin’s geological evolution, tectonic history and petroleum prospectivity, additional well data are needed in the offshore Canning Basin where Ordovician strata have yet to be sampled.

C. T. G. Yule, J. Daniell, D. S. Edwards, N. Rollet & E. M. Roberts (2023). Reconciling the onshore/offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity, Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/08120099.2023.2194945 Appeared in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences Pages 691-715, Volume 70, 2023 - Issue 5.

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Field Value
Title Reconciling the onshore-offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/4d3c76fe-28b9-482b-9811-e7fdf2b77739
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 05/07/2023
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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Data Portal Geoscience Australia

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This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Reconciling the onshore-offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/reconciling-the-onshore-offshore-stratigraphy-of-the-canning-basin-and-implications-for-petrole