During 1969, the Mundaring Geophysical Observatory collected seismic refraction data from explosions used by the Bureau of Mineral Resources No. 2 seismic party in the southwest of Western Australia. The seismic party exploded 37 charges up to 4,500 kilograms on a traverse from Balladonia through Kalgoorlie to Perth. Two mobile Willmore seismographs and permanent seismographs at Mundaring and Kalgoorlie recorded the resultant seismic waves. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 76503

In October and November 1959 a seismic party from the Bureau of Mineral Resources carried out a seismic survey in the Surat Basin, Queensland at the request of Australian Oil and Gas Corporation Ltd. A traverse extending from Surat eastward to within 10 miles of Tara was shot in five-mile sections of continuous reflection profiling with approximately five-mile intervals between the sections.^In addition two refraction traverses were shot near Surat to record velocities and depths of as many horizons as possible. Reflections were of fair to good quality throughout the survey and it was possible to correlate bands of reflections from one five-mile section to the next with considerable certainty. Over most of the traverses four reflecting horizons were followed, and in a few places reflections were obtained from a still deeper fifth horizon. The reflection survey revealed a wide basin between Surat and Cabawin (about 70 miles east of Surat), with its maximum thickness of sediments under Meandarra. The sediments there appear to be at least 19,000 ft thick. A marked anticline was discovered near Cabawtin. The refraction survey, using the "Depth Probing" method, revealed a refractor with a calculated velocity of 20,180 ft/sec situated about 1000 ft below the fourth reflecting horizon.

A seismic reconnaissance, traverse was surveyed for 20 miles along an east-west line,. 10 miles 'north of -Carnarvon, as part of a regional investigation of the southern part of the Carnarvon Basin, W.A. Both reflection and refraction techniques were used, and the results were Correlated, where possible, with the known formations in the Pelican Hill bore. Several reflecting horizons could be followed although reflections from below the level of the Cretaceous/Palaeozoic unconformity were badly interfered by multiples. The refraction method was successful, and recorded three main refractors with velocities of 14750.ft/sec, 18400 ft/sec, and 20,280 ft/sec. The main feature of the section obtained is a broad antiform within the Palaeozoic sediments, shown particularly by the 20 2 280 ft/sec refractor, which is_a good marker. for structural mapping. This marker has been tentatively correlated with the Dirk Hartog Dolomite, which would suggest that the strata underlying the Gneudna Formation in the Pelican Hill bore belong to the Nanyarra Greywacke rather than the Tumblagooda Sandstone. Overall the profile of the 20 2 280 ft/sec marker has a slight west dip from about 4000 feet at the eastern end to about 5000 feet at the western end of the traverse. The Cretaceous/Palaeozoic unconformity was fairly flat at a depth of about 1500 feet. Indications from the reflection cross-section and from the profile of the 18,400.ft/sec refractor are that the sediments between the two above horizons are similar in structural attitude to the deeper horizon.

The term 'modelling while interpreting' refers to the use of 3D models during the interpretation of reflection seismic data in order to inform that process. Rather than using 3D models at a final stage of the project just to display results, new software tools are emerging to enable development of 3D models in parallel with the seismic interpretation work. These tools provide additional means to help interpreters make informed decisions such as where to pick basement and to check the 3D integrity of their geological models. Applications of this new workflow are illustrated through a recently completed petroleum prospectivity assessment of the Capel and Faust frontier deep-water basins located 800 km to the east of Brisbane. Geoscience Australia acquired 2D geophysical data across these basins in 2007 and subsequently mapped the complex distribution of sub-basins by integrating 2D time-domain seismic interpretation with 3D gravity modelling. Forward and inverse 3D gravity models were used to inform the seismic interpretation and test the seismic basement pick. The identification of basement was problematic due to a lack of wells and the likelihood that acoustic basement represented older sedimentary material intruded by igneous rocks. Sonobuoy refraction data were modelled to achieve conversion of travel times to depth and estimate densities. Modelling gravity while interpreting reflection seismic data improved confidence in the mapping of the extent and thickness of sediments in these basins, and has potential to be used more widely in mapping projects to reduce exploration risk.

At the request of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria, seismic tests using the refraction method were conducted over six well locations near Cobram in the Murray Valley Irrigation District of Central Northern Victoria. The purpose of the tests was to determine whether the depth of the water table in that area could be measured by seismic refraction methods. The problem of rising water tables is one which occurs commonly in irrigation districts. In some areas the problem is purely a local one in which only perched water tables, any within ten feet of the surface, are involved, but it is also possible that the level of the general water table over a large are may be raised by deep percolation. The State Rivers are Water Supply Commission have maintained a check on the water table depth in the Murray River Valley Irrigation District for some time by measurement in existing wells. These wells are not necessarily in the best positions, and some are falling in. The seismic method was considered as an alternative to expensive test boring for ground water measurement.

A hybrid high-resolution seismic survey was undertaken adjacent to the Eurabba State Forest near Quandialla, Western NSW between June 29 and July 3 2003 acquiring both refraction and reflection data. The Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR) carried out the field work in conjunction with University of Canberra and Dryland Salinity Hazard Mitigation Program (DSHMP) research staff and students. Processing of the acquired refraction information was performed with the assistance of ANSIR staff. This survey was designed to collect and compare a shallow, high-resolution seismic dataset against nearby regional scale seismic datasets and other complementary sources of spatial information including NanoTEM, drill hole data, satellite imagery and regolith-landform mapping. The multi-disciplinary approach is designed for imaging shallow sedimentary structures and determining depth to bedrock. The combined aim of utilizing the multidisciplinary approach is to understand shallow fluid flow within the Booberoi-Quandialla Transect area and how this relates to observed outbreaks of dryland salinity. These observations will aid in the development of a shallow fluid flow model for the Bland catchment, especially over the Booberoi-Quandialla Transect area.

Geoscience Australia conducted a seismic survey to discover ore bodies in the Broken Hill region in 1996. Seventy eight artefact locations were recorded during the survey, none of which will be impacted upon by the seismic line route which was realigned to avoid them.

An experimental seismic survey was conducted at Surat, Queensland, on behalf of the Australisa Oil and Gas Corporation Limited during a five week period from May 28th to July 2nd. 1958. The area lies within the southeastern portion of the Great Artesian. Basin on Authority to Prospect No. 36P and, sel the evidence of numerous bores near Roma, and a few other scattered bore logs, is considered to contain sediments suitable for the generation and accumulation of hydrocarbons in possible, economic vantities. A local geological survey by the Australian Oil & Gas Corporation suggested a structure of considerable dimensions - the 'Weribone Uplift' - which, if substantiated, would provide a promising location for a stratigraphic test bore. The experimental survey conducted by the Bureaushowed that useful results could be obtained throughout the area by conventional methods of reflection and refraction shooting. The reflection shooting indicated a fairly uniform sedimentary section with generally flat-lying beds and a probable total thickness of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. The refraction work recorded several velocities: including one near 19,000 f/s which is assumed to be a basement velocity. Depths measured to this high Velocity refractor support the estimate of the thickness of sediments made from the reflection cross-section and indicate 4 south component of dip of about 40 ft. per mile across the area surveyed. Neither the reflection nor the refraction work gave any evidence for the existence of the 'Weribone Uplift'. However, the more northerly refraction traverse indicated a local component of north dip at basement depth, and a single reflection record shot along that traverse suggested a substantial thickening of the deeper sediments towards the north. Insufficient seismic work was done to estimate the northwards extent of this dip. Such limited evidence might well indicate a purely local irregularity in basement topography. On the other hand, the north dip could be extensive, and therefore structurally significant. Any further seismic work contemplated in this area should be directed, in the first instance, towards checking this possibility.

The seismic survey made by the Geophysical Section of the Bureau of Mineral Resources to assist in the search for oil in the Carnarvon (North-West) Basin of Western Australia. The seismic field work in the Carnarvon Basin was confined to one field season, i.e., from April to December 1951, and consisted of surveys on the Capa Range and Giralia Anticlines. Both refraction and reflection methods were used. The purpose of the seismic work was to determine if the structures at surface extended to depth and thus establish if a suitable site for a deep exploration drill hole exist. The seismic work has shown that seismic methods are applicable in the investigation of possible oil-bearing struotures in the Carnarvon Basin. It is clear from the results obtained on the Giralia Anticline, that investigation with a view to tile selection ot deep drilling sites cannot be carried out thoroughly without seismic surveys of selected areas.

This report contains the results of a seismic survey on the Nerrima Dome, a major structure within the Fitzroy Basin and near its south-western boundary. The dome is situated near the Fitzroy River about 100 miles south-east of Derby in the West Kimberley district of Western Australia. The Nerrima Dome has been mapped at the surface in Permian sediments and is a complex structure. It was desired to determine if the dome existed at depth and, if not, the structure at depth, with a view to locating a site for a deep drilling test. The target beds for such a test are Devonian and/or Ordovician sediments over which the Permian sediments are believed to lie unconformably. Reflection methods were tried and proved unsuccessful and the survey was carried out using refraction methods. Although the structure underlying the dome has not been clearly shown, the refraction method has indicated that it is complex and does not conform with the domal structure at the surface. There appears to be a major unconformity at comparatively shallow depth (2000 ft). The deep structure (7000 ft) although apparently less complex than that immediately below the unconformity, also bears no obvious relation to structure at surface. The results so far obtained are reasonably conclusive in showing that no simple dome-like structure of large magnitude exists under the Nerrima Dome.