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  • Geoscience Australia undertook a marine survey of the Leveque Shelf (survey number (GA-0340/SOL5754), 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).

  • Geoscience Australia carried out marine surveys in Jervis Bay (NSW) in 2007, 2008 and 2009 (GA303, GA305, GA309, GA312) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through colocated sampling of surface sediments (for textural and biogeochemical analysis) and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Research Vessel Kimbla. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and tide/wave measurement were concentrated in a 3x5 km survey grid (named Darling Road Grid, DRG) within the southern part of the Jervis Bay, incorporating the bay entrance. Additional sampling and stills photography plus bathymetric mapping along transits was undertaken at representative habitat types outside the DRG. The dataset contains 11 bathymetry grids of Jervis Bay survey area produced from the processed EM3002 bathymetry data using the CARIS HIPS and SIPS software. Please see the metadata for detailed informaiton.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • Geoscience Australia conducted a marine survey (GA-0345 andGA-0346 /TAN1411) in Commonwealth waters of the north-eastern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin) between 9 October and 9 November 2014. The purpose of the survey was to collect pre-competitive marine data to support a CO2 storage assessment in the Browse Basin, with particular emphasis on the integrity of seals overlying select CO2 storage plays. Data acquisition was undertaken as part of the National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), administered by the Department of Industry and Science. The survey was conducted in 3 Legs aboard the New Geoscience Australia (GA) conducted a marine survey (GA0345/GA0346/TAN1411) of the north-eastern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin) between 9 October and 9 November 2014 to acquire seabed and shallow geological information to support an assessment of the CO2 storage potential of the basin. The survey, undertaken as part of the Department of Industry and Science's National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), aimed to identify and characterise indicators of natural hydrocarbon or fluid seepage that may indicate compromised seal integrity in the region. The survey was conducted in three legs aboard the New Zealand research vessel RV Tangaroa, and included scientists and technical staff from GA, the NZ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA) and Fugro Survey Pty Ltd. Shipboard data (survey ID GA0345) collected included multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter over 12 areas (A1, A2, A3, A4, A6b, A7, A8, B1, C1, C2b, F1, M1) totalling 455 km2 in water depths ranging from 90 - 430 m, and 611 km of sub-bottom profile lines. Seabed samples were collected from 48 stations and included 99 Smith-McIntyre grabs and 41 piston cores. An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) (survey ID GA0346) collected higher-resolution multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter data, totalling 7.7 km2, along with 71 line km of side scan sonar, underwater camera and sub-bottom profile data. Twenty two Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) missions collected 31 hours of underwater video, 657 still images, eight grabs and one core. This catalogue entry refers to bathymetry data acquired during survey GA0345/GA0346/TAN1411.

  • Geoscience Australia conducted a marine survey to provide seabed environmental information to support the assessment of the CO2 storage potential of the Vlaming Sub-Basin. 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. The major aim of this survey was to look for evidence of any gas fluid seepage at the seabed and wether the location had faults that have been identified in a number of seismic lines. The survey also mapped seabed biota in the area of interest to indentify any biota communities that are related with seepage. This research addresses key questions of the regional seal integrity of the Southern Perth Shale and the potential for storing of CO2 in the Early Cretaceous Gage Sandstone. The survey was conducted by Fugro's Southern Supporter in the Vlaming Sub-Basin, North and South of Rotnest Island between the period of the 17th of March to the 20th of April 2012. Shallow seismic sub bottom profiler data were acquired as well as high resolution multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data during the survey. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • The remote Eastern frontiers project aimed to provide a geological and petroleum prospectivity assessement of the Faust Capel Basins. Funded through Australian Governement Initiatives (Energy Security Program). The Faust Capel Basins survey GA-2436/ TAN0713 was acquired by Geoscience Australia onboard the RV Tangaroa (operated by NIWA) from the 6th of October to the 22nd of November 2007. The geographic range stretched from Wellington to the Faust Capel Basins to Lord Howe Island and back to Wellington. Approximately 8,945 sailing km of multibeam bathymetry was acquired. The high resolution bathymetry data imaged seafloor features in unprecedented detail, revealing the effects of recent magmatic activity and fluid migration on the seafloor. It also produced a new image of a flat topped unexplored seamount. A member of the Lord Howe Rise seamount chain.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • The NSW Continental Slopes survey GA-2413, SS10/2006 was acquired by Geoscience australia onboard the RV Southern Surveyor from the 12th of October to the 25th of October 2006. The geographical range stretched from Jervis bay in the South to Port Stephens in the North. The aim was to assess the physical nature of the NSW continental slope, improve our understanding of the surface and subsurface structure of the continental slope and to investigate the history of sediment movement along the continental slope.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • The Mentelle Basin survey GA-0293, SS08/2005 was acquired by Geoscience Australia onboard the RV Southern Surveyor from the 28th of September to the 19th of October 2005. This deep water rift basin (up to 4500m depth) is located offshore from Fremantle on the SW Australian margin. The objectives of the survey was to study deep water marine habitats and to assess the petroleum potential of the Mentelle Basin. The swath data collected covered a new area of seabed that revealed the extents of the blind submarine canyons and completed the coverage of the Perth Canyon and filled the remaining gaps with high resolution swath bathymetry data.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • This resource contains bathymetry and backscatter data for the Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) in the Timor Sea collected by Geoscience Australia during September and October 2012 on RV Solander (survey GA0339/SOL5650). The survey used a Kongsberg EM3002 300 kHz multibeam sonar system mounted in single head configuration to map four areas, covering a combined area of 507 square kilometres. Data are gridded to 2 m spatial resolution. The Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve survey was undertaken as an activity within the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program Marine Biodiversity Hub and was the key component of Research Theme 4 - Regional Biodiversity Discovery to Support Marine Bioregional Plans. Hub partners involved in the survey included the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Geoscience Australia, the University of Western Australia, Museum Victoria and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Data acquired during the survey included: multibeam sonar bathymetry and acoustic backscatter; sub-bottom acoustic profiles; physical samples of seabed sediments, infauna and epibenthic biota; towed underwater video and still camera observations of seabed habitats; baited video observations of demersal and pelagic fish, and; oceanographic measurements of the water column from CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) casts and from deployment of sea surface drifters. Further information on the survey is available in the post-survey report published as Geoscience Australia Record 2013/38 (Nichol et al. 2013).<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • This dataset contains the processed bathymetric dataset from the Lord Howe and Lord How Island survey area held by Geoscience Australia. This dataset includes multibeam echosounder data and was gridded at 50m resolution of the Lord Howe survey area and a 10m resolution of Lord Howe Island, based on the optimal resolution for the depth range encountered. The objective of the survey on the Lord Howe Island shelf (NSW) in 2008 (SS062008) was to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments and infauna, rock coring, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Subbottom profile data was also collected to map sediment thickness and shelf stratigraphy. Data and samples were acquired using the National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia. Not to be used for navigational purposes.

  • Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Carnarvon shelf (WA) in 2008 (SOL4769) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through colocated sampling of surface sediments and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Vessel Solander. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and video transects were completed in three survey areas that extended seaward from Ningaloo Reef to the shelf edge, including: Mandu Creek (80 sq km); Point Cloates (281 sq km), and; Gnaraloo (321 sq km). Additional bathymetric mapping (but no sampling or video) was completed between Mandu creek and Point Cloates, covering 277 sq km and north of Mandu Creek, covering 79 sq km. Two oceanographic moorings were deployed in the Point Cloates survey area. The survey also mapped and sampled an area to the northeast of the Muiron Islands covering 52 sq km. The dataset contains 6 bathymetry grids of the Carnarvon Shelf study area produced from the processed EM3002 bathymetry data using the CARIS HIPS and SIPS software. Please see the metadata for detailed information.<p><p>This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.