Many of the onshore sedimentary basins in Australia are underexplored with respect to hydrocarbons. The Onshore Energy Security Program was funded by the Australian Government over five years (2006-2011) for Geoscience Australia to provide precompetitive geoscience data and assessments of the potential of some frontier onshore sedimentary basins for energy resources, including hydrocarbons, uranium, thorium and geothermal energy. The basins studied in this project include the Burke River Structural Zone of the Georgina Basin (northwest Queensland), the Yathong Trough in the eastern Darling Basin (western New South Wales), and the Arrowie Basin (South Australia). The interpretation of deep seismic reflection profiles and petroleum systems maturation modelling was undertaken in these basins to increase the understanding of their petroleum potential. The Arrowie Basin seismic data shows an asymmetrical basin architecture, with the basin fill being ~3800 m at its thickest. Several sequence boundaries are mapped in this seismic section, and are correlated with the sequence boundaries between the major Neoproterozoic stratigraphic groups in the Adelaide Rift System. In the easternmost part of the seismic section, a series of east-dipping thrust faults disrupt the stratigraphic section. The petroleum systems maturation modelling shows that potential Cambrian source rocks are likely immature to mature for oil generation. In contrast, potential Neoproterozoic source rocks are likely to be mature to overmature for oil generation, and immature to mature for gas generation. With hydrocarbon systems clearly present in the Arrowie Basin as shown by bitumen in shallow exploration wells drilled in the 1950's, future work, possibly with a focus on unconventional hydrocarbons, would be warranted. The Burke River Structural Zone of the Georgina Basin seismic data shows the basin is ~65 km wide, with a half-graben geometry, being bounded in the west by a rift border fault. The succession in the basin has a maximum thickness of ~2800 m, with the stratigraphy being relatively flat lying, and thickening towards the west. The petroleum systems maturation modelling shows potential Cambrian source rocks are likely to be oil mature. Significant generation and expulsion probably occurred early in the burial history, in response to Cambrian-Ordovician loading. Expulsion occurred after trap formation in the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian, but before later trap formation in the Devonian. The required long preservation time and unroofing are the major risk factors within the basin. The Yathong Trough of the Darling Basin seismic data interpretation shows that the basin fill consists of a thick succession characterised by alternating high and low amplitude seismic reflections, interpreted to represent the expected Devonian succession mudstones and sandstones. The basement units below the Yathong Trough are interpreted to be Ordovician turbidites and Ordovician-Silurian granites, considered to be part of the Lachlan Orogen. The petroleum systems maturation modelling shows that potential Lower and Middle Devonian source rocks are likely to be overmature for oil generation and mature for gas generation. Generation and expulsion from Lower and Middle Devonian potential marine source rocks occurred early during their burial history, prior to Carboniferous uplift and erosion, and thus, major trap formation. Later burial during the Permian and/or Cretaceous may have resulted in minor gas generation and expulsion from a Middle Devonian potential source rock.

The Tanami region of the Northern Territory is a major Australian gold province and contains the world class Callie gold deposit. Shallow sediments largely obscure basement host rock, so the application of geophysical techniques has become an important mapping tool for the further exploration and development of the mine. Acquisition of seismic data along a single line across the deposit will test the understanding of key structures, some of which are related to mineralisation. By extending the line beyond the boundaries of the currently well understood mine area, we hope to illuminate continuations of stratigraphic and structural trends. These structures include: fault geometries, relationships of stratigraphic packages to controlling structures and stratigraphic thickness. The survey is designed to provide data to image to approximately 2km depth. Integration the data from this project with that of the Tanami Seismic Reflection Acquisition Project will provide a broader understanding of the structural and stratigraphic frame work of both the mine area and the Tanami region. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

The 2005 Broken Hill High Resolution 2D Seismic Survey, contracted to Terrex Seismic Pty Ltd for ANSIR (Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource) and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries - Mineral Resources. The survey operation was located approximately 6km north east of the town of Broken Hill in western New South Wales. The high resolution 120 fold seismic reflection survey was carried out in August 2005 along a 12 km portion of the seismic line 96AGS-BH1B in the Broken Hill region that was recorded by the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) in 1996-97. The purpose of the new survey was to compare high resolution seismic data with low fold explosive seismic data along the same line and to image geological structures at shallow crustal levels. Two HEMI-60 Vibroseis trucks were used as sources. A total of 12.2 km of 120 fold seismic reflection data were acquired to 16 s TWT, except for the last 2 km of the profile where the fold was decreased to 60. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

A seismic survey using the Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR) Hemi 60 Vibroseis vehicles, ARAM24 acquisition equipment and Pelton controllers was carried out in the Curnamona Province of South Australia. A total of 197.6 km of 2-D seismic reflection data were collected to 18 seconds two way time over a single line at a nominal 60 fold CDP coverage. These data were acquired under contract by Trace Energy Services (2003) and by Terrex Seismic (2004). The survey commenced in August 2003 but was abandoned due to wet weather. Survey operations were recommenced and completed in July 2004. The project was undertaken to meet the objectives of ANSIR proposal 03-02R as lodged by researchers from PIRSA, Office of Minerals, Energy and Petroleum, SA. The principal scientific objective of this survey was to provide a regional crustal seismic image of the Curnamona Province. This dataset will assist in the understanding of the geological architecture and resource potential of the region particularly in areas under cover. This line links with a seismic transect in the Broken Hill Block undertaken by Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO, now Geoscience Australia) in 1996 and provides a future opportunity for an eventual east-west continuation across the Adelaide Geosyncline and the Gawler Craton. The survey was funded by PIRSA, Office of Minerals, Energy and Petroleum, SA and the pmd*CRC with project supervision undertaken by ANSIR and in-kind support from Geoscience Australia (GA). Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

A multicomponent seismic survey using an IVI MiniVib as a source was carried out to assist in mapping of fracture porosity in shear zones in areas of dryland salinity for the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (UNSW). The survey obtained a set of three dimensional, three component data at two sites near Spicers Creek, some 45km east of Dubbo. The acquisition was undertaken by Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR) from the 5th to the 12th April 2003 with the assistance of staff from UNSW. The objectives of this seismic survey are: 1. Develop quantitative measure of azimuthal anisotropy of P- and S-waves using refracted head wave amplitudes. 2. Determine the relative effects of lithological fabric and fracture porosity on P- and S-wave anisotropy factors. 3. Determine quantitative relationships between azimuthal anisotropy and fracture porosity. 4. Measure the horizontal and vertical variability of the fracture porosity in the fracture zones which control the discharge of saline groundwater and the occurrence of dryland salinity at the three experimental sites in the Spicers Creek Catchment. 5. Develop cost-effect field techniques for 3D - 3C (three dimensional - three component) shallow seismic refraction surveys for geotechnical, environmental and groundwater applications. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

In September 2002 a medium resolution seismic reflection survey was undertaken at the St Ives gold field, Western Australia. Trace Energy Services was contracted by the Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR) to conduct the St Ives Victory Survey. The survey uses two Hemi60 vibrators and an ARAM24 acquisition system. The data were processed, and correlated with drillhole geology and drillhole geophysics to facilitate interpretation. The seismic sections demonstrate that seismic reflection is effective at imaging stratigraphy and structure in Archaean terrains, even at relatively shallow depths (less than 500m). A package of strong reflections is associated with the mafic stratigraphy at St Ives. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

The survey 1999 CABGAS 2D seismic Survey was contracted to Terracorp Pty Ltd for Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource (ANSIR). The survey operation consisted of 160 kilometres of seismic line in the unassigned acreage of the Darling Basin area, located approximately 150 kilometres north east of Broken Hill in western New South Wales. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

<p>In preparation for a National Geoscience Mapping Accord project involving a seismic survey planned for 1993, seismic tests were conducted on the Nullarbor Plain south of Cook to investigate the feasibility of imaging the sedimentary sequences and basement beneath the platform carbonates of the Eucla Basin, and to anticipate scientific and logistic difficulties associated with seismic acquisition on the Nullarbor Plain.<p><b>Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 74950</b>

<p>Geoscience Australia conducted equipment tests at Millmerran, Queensland, using the newly acquired Sercel SN368 data acquisition seismic system. The equipment operated satisfactorily and proved to be versatile.<p><b>Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 74967</b>

<p>Geoscience Australia conducted a seismic reflection, seismic crustal refraction and gravity survey in southeastern Queenland from August to November 1986. The primary objective of the survey was to complete seismic reflection coverage in the Dalby-Toowoomba area between Traverse 14 and Traverse 16 recorded during the BMR S.E. Queensland seismic survey in 1984. Secondary objectives, subject to survey progress included recording additional seismic reflection data east of Traverse 16 (1984). Overall the survey objectives would allow the completion of a continuous deep crustal seismic reflection profile of 1110 km length across southern Queensland, the basis of a lithospheric transect study in the southern region of Queensland. The survey obtained a total of 181 km of six-sixteen fold Common-Middle-Point (CMP) seismic reflection data in the Beenleigh, Darling Downs and Mitchell areas, using the Sercel SN368 seismic acquisition system.<p><b>Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 74962</b>