Combining geophysical data and calcite twin stress inversion to refine the tectonic history of subsurface and offshore provinces: A case study on the Cooper-Eromanga Basin, Australia

Abstract

The use of core samples, borehole image logs, and seismic data is common practice for obtaining valuable structural data; however, these data are often obtained in isolation from other methods and not usually used for paleostress inversion processes. Therefore, for the first time, we present a new approach for constraining paleoprincipal stress orientations and regimes by integrating geophysical data (seismic and well data) with calcite twin principal stress orientation inversion analysis to refine the evolution of entirely subsurface or offshore basins; a case study on the subsurface Cooper‐Eromanga Basin, Australia. Calcite samples were collected from oriented core, natural fracture data collected from borehole image logs, and fault data interpreted from three‐dimensional seismic surveys. The analysis of microscale, mesoscale and macroscale data constrained the paleoprincipal stress orientations and regimes of six successive tectonic events: (1) NNW‐SSE oriented strike‐slip Carboniferous Alice Springs event; (2) SE‐NW oriented compressional Mid‐Permian event; (3) NE‐SW oriented strike‐slip Late Permian Daralingie event; (4) E‐W compressional Late Triassic Hunter‐Bowen event; (5) E‐W compressional Late Cretaceous event; and (6) N‐S compressional Paleogene event. This study shows the applicability of integrating geophysics with calcite twin stress inversion to decipher the tectonic evolution of entirely subsurface and offshore provinces.

An automated cross‐validation method to assess seismic time‐to‐depth conversion accuracy: a case study on the Cooper and Eromanga basins, Australia

“…; Kulikowski, Cooke and Amrouch ; Pokalai et al . ; Kulikowski ; Kulikowski and Amrouch , ; Kulikowski et al . , ).…”

“…; Hloušek, Hellwig and Buske ; Scarselli, McClay and Elders ; Black et al . ; Kulikowski ; Kulikowski and Amrouch , , b; Robson ; Schofield et al . ; Kulikowski, Amrouch and Burgin ; Kulikowski et al .…”

“…Location of the Warburton, Cooper, and Eromanga basins (modified after Kulikowski and Amrouch 2017). significant research gap on the accuracy of time-to-depth conversion methods and geophysicists have little information on the expected error or the significance of variables on accuracy. The work presented here showcases an automated statistical approach for assessing the accuracy of four commonly used time-to-depth conversion methods that are tested using the cross-validation method (using n well controls to predict the depth at the nth + 1 well location).…”

Basement structural architecture and hydrocarbon conduit potential of polygonal faults in the Cooper‐Eromanga Basin, Australia

“…Early structural interpretation was performed on old sparse two-dimensional (2D) seismic lines, with only a few 3D seismic surveys used for research (Abul Hand 2013, 2015;Grant-Woolley et al 2014;Kulikowski, Amrouch and Cooke 2016b;Kulikowski and Amrouch 2017). Early structural interpretation was performed on old sparse two-dimensional (2D) seismic lines, with only a few 3D seismic surveys used for research (Abul Hand 2013, 2015;Grant-Woolley et al 2014;Kulikowski, Amrouch and Cooke 2016b;Kulikowski and Amrouch 2017).…”

“…evolution of the basin is difficult to constrain. Early structural interpretation was performed on old sparse two-dimensional (2D) seismic lines, with only a few 3D seismic surveys used for research (Abul Hand 2013, 2015;Grant-Woolley et al 2014;Kulikowski, Amrouch and Cooke 2016b;Kulikowski and Amrouch 2017). The basin is known to have two major northeast-southwest (NE-SW)striking ridges (Gidgealpa-Merrimelia-Innamincka (GMI) and Murteree-Nappacoongee (MN) ridges) that isolate the NE-SW elongate Patchawarra, Nappamerri, and Tenappera troughs; however, details beyond this are greatly unknown.…”