<div>The Vlaming Sub-Basin CO2 Storage Potential Study data package includes the datasets associated with the study in the Vlaming Sub-basin, located within the southern Perth Basin about 30 km west of Perth. The data in this data package supports the results of the Geoscience Australia Record 2015/009 and appendices. The study provides an evaluation of the CO2 geological storage potential of the Vlaming Sub-basin and was part of the Australian Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative.</div>

The Vlaming Sub-Basin CO2 Storage Potential Study web service includes the datasets associated with the study in the Vlaming Sub-basin, located within the southern Perth Basin about 30 km west of Perth. The data in this web service supports the results of the Geoscience Australia Record 2015/009 and appendices. The study provides an evaluation of the CO2 geological storage potential of the Vlaming Sub-basin and was part of the Australian Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative.

Between 3 May 2012 to 24 June 2012 Geoscience Australia undertook two major surveys off the coast of the Northern Territory in the Petrel Sub-Basin. The data acquisition was funded through the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) and the Petrel Sub-basin was selected in particular as it has been identified as a prospective area for CO2 storage. One of these surveys, GA336 acquired 4091 kilometres of 2D seismic reflection data. Following on from the completion of the seismic processing of this data was further investigative work investigative work such as this analysis. Four prime lines, GA336-107, 110, 205 and 207 along with the well logs, Flat-Top1, Petrel 1A and Petrel 4 were selected for further 2D Simultaneous Inversion and Rock Physics Modelling. Previous Pre Stack Depth Migration had been undertaken on these lines and the PSDM Angle Stacks were imported along with the relevant horizon interpretation into the Jason integration algorithms.

No abstract available

There are numerous isotopic tracers that have the potential to track the movement of CO2 as it is sequestered underground. Their primary role is in verifying the presence of sequestered CO2. These tracers range from CO2 to 3He to PFT?s to SF6. With such a variety of possible tracers, it is important to identify which tracer(s) are (a) economically viable, (b) can be measured appropriately, (c) fit with the specifics of the geological site, and (d) meet the concerns of the public. Tracers can be used either in a continuous mix with the whole body of sequestered gas as an ownership label or in a pulse to monitor changes in the reservoir characteristics of the body of rock hosting the sequestered gas. Rather than going to the expense of adding a tracer to the stream of sequestered CO2 there may be the opportunity to use natural tracers, such as the very CO2 being injected. In the Weyburn Project, the CO2 injected was isotopically distinct from any CO2 that might have been present in the geological system to which it was being added. The CO2 piped from a gasification plant in North Dakota had an isotopic signature quite depleted in 13C (approx. ?13C -20 to -30?; ref Hirsche et al., 2004). This contrasted with the carbonate minerals and any CO2 present in the hydrocarbon reservoir to which the gas was being sequestered as part of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project. Unfortunately, the sequestered CO2 may not be as isotopically different as background sources, for example separating CO2 from natural gas prior to re-injection in the same formation. Costs of tracers per litre can range in orders of magnitude; however the cost should be measured as amount per metric tonne CO2 in order to obtain the true cost. Amounts required tend to be controlled by the background atmospheric presence of any tracer and by the sampling methods and locations. For example, the amount of tracer used to monitor subsurface movement of CO2 from an injection to a monitoring well would potentially be very low if that tracer is not present in deep saline aquifers. However, if shallow water bores or soil or atmospheric level measurements are also being taken, then the presence of the tracer in the soil or atmosphere will strongly control how much additional tracer is required to see changes above background. Addition of 14CO2 to sequestered CO2 may be regarded as a cost effective tracer that will closely mimic CO2. However, it will not advance ahead of the sequestered CO2, it will mask natural differences in 13C/14C variations in the soil and atmosphere, and of course is radiogenic and therefore less favored by the public. By contrast, SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) is also inexpensive, and has been used in a variety of tracer experiments (Tingey et al., 2000 and references therein). However, SF6 is required in larger volumes (engineering issue for mixing), is increasing in presence in the atmosphere (Maiss and Brenninkmeijer, 1998) and is a highly potent greenhouse gas. As an example of its global warming potential (GWP), 5500 tonnes SF6 is the equivalent of releasing 132 million tons of CO2 (Maiss and Brenninkmeijer, 1998).

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Survey GA-0335 (SOL5463) was acquired by the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. Underwater video footage and still photographic images (12 megapixel resolution) from towed-video were acquired from 11 stations. The quality of imagery varies among transects and some still images were not of suitable quality for analysis. No still images are available for stations 2, 4 and 7 due to system malfunction. Video and still image files and associated parent folders are named by station number, gear code (CAM = underwater camera system) and then the deployment number. For example 'STN08CAM06' would represent a video transect from Station 08 that was the 6th video transect of the survey. Please note that the Ultra-short Baseline (USBL) acoustic tracking system used to track the towed-camera system failed early in the survey; hence geo-location of video transects and stills could only be linked to the R.V. Solander's ship navigation.

Geoscience Australia undertook a marine survey of the Leveque Shelf (survey number SOL5754/GA0340), a sub-basin of the Browse Basin, in May 2013. This survey provides seabed and shallow geological information to support an assessment of the CO2 storage potential of the Browse sedimentary basin. The basin, located on the Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, was previously identified by the Carbon Storage Taskforce (2009) as potentially suitable for CO2 storage. The survey was undertaken under the Australian Government's National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP) to help identify sites suitable for the long term storage of CO2 within reasonable distances of major sources of CO2 emissions. The principal aim of the Leveque Shelf marine survey was to look for evidence of any past or current gas or fluid seepage at the seabed, and to determine whether these features are related to structures (e.g. faults) in the Leveque Shelf area that may extend to the seabed. The survey also mapped seabed habitats and biota to provide information on communities and biophysical features that may be associated with seepage. This research, combined with deeper geological studies undertaken concurrently, addresses key questions on the potential for containment of CO2 in the basin's proposed CO2 storage unit, i.e. the basal sedimentary section (Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous), and the regional integrity of the Jamieson Formation (the seal unit overlying the main reservoir).

The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less than 100 m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. Sub bottom profiler data were acquired using a sparker source and a 24 channel streamer, and processed as shallow, high resolution, multi-channel seismic reflection data.

The GEODISC Geographic Information System (GIS) Overview and Demonstration With the understanding that "better information leads to better decisions", Geoscience Australia has produced a Geographic Information System (GIS) that showcases the research completed within Projects 1, 2, and 8 of the GEODISC Program (Geological CO2 storage program in the Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Centre, 1999-2003). The GIS is an interactive archive of Australia-wide regional analysis of CO2 sources and storage potential, incorporating economic modelling (Projects 1 and 8), as well as four site specific studies of the Dongara Gas field, Carnarvon Basin, Petrel Sub-basin and Gippsland Basin (Project 2). One of the major objectives of a collaborative research program such as GEODISC is to share results and knowledge with clients and fellow researchers, as well as to be able to rapidly access and utilise the research in future technical and policy decisions. With this in mind, the GIS is designed as a complete product, with a user-friendly interface developed with mainstream software to maximise accessibility to stakeholders. It combines tabular results, reports, models, maps, and images from various geoscientific disciplines involved in the geological modelling of the GEODISC site specific studies (ie geochemistry, geomechanics, reservoir simulations, stratigraphy, and geophysics) into one media. The GEODISC GIS is not just an automated display system, but a tool used to query, analyse, and map data in support of the decision making process. It allows the user to overlay different themes and facilitates cross-correlation between many spatially-related data sources. There is a vast difference between seeing data in a table of rows and columns and seeing it presented in the form of a map. For example, tabular results such as salinity data, temperature information and pressure tests, have been displayed as point data linked to well locations. These, in turn, have been superimposed on geophysical maps and images, to enable a better understanding of spatial relationships between features of a potential CO2 injection site. The display of such information allows the instant visualisation of complex concepts associated with site characterisation. In addition, the GEODISC GIS provides a tool for users to interrogate data and perform basic modelling functions. Economic modelling results have been incorporated into the regional study so that simple calculations of source to sink matching can be investigated. The user is also able to design unique views to meet individual needs. Digital and hardcopy map products can then be created on demand, centred on any location, at any scale, and showing selected information symbolised effectively to highlight specific characteristics. A demonstration of the GIS product will illustrate all of these capabilities as well as give examples of how site selection for CO2 sources and storage locations might be made.

A study of the geological prospectivity for carbon dioxide subsurface storage in selected member economies of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) region was recently completed. The study is part of a multi-phase program of the APEC Energy Working Group to promote sustainable energy development within the APEC community. APEC economies considered in this study including the Republic of Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Thailand. The objective of the study is to establish a sound understanding of the relationship between the key emission sources and the prospective basins that may contain potential storage sites, and to derive a qualitative assessment of whether the storage potential available in a specific country will meet its storage requirements through the foreseeable future. China has very high emissions and moderate to high prospectivity for storage and Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have moderate emissions and moderate storage prospectivity. The Philippines have low emissions and low storage prospectivity, whereas the Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei both have high emissions and low storage prospectivity.