A newsletter to Project Stakeholders to inform of progress and future events

Currently it is difficult to assess the quality of Australian geothermal exploration targets, particularly for those with differing amounts of geological data. To rectify this, Geoscience Australia is developing a tool for evaluating geothermal potential across the continent and for identifying areas that warrant additional investigation. An important first step in the development of this tool is synthetic thermal modelling. Synthetic modelling has been used to perform a sensitivity analysis, determine the importance of different geothermal parameters and the values necessary to produce specific temperatures at depth. The results of this work are presented in this abastract.

This report has been prepared at the request of Engineers of the Department of Works and Housing. The writer spent a day with Mr. Crotty examining the site, and another day alone studying general geological conditions relevant to the proposed scheme. The visit and its findings are outlined in this report.

Precompetitive AEM data and associated scientific analysis assists exploration under cover by reducing risk, stimulating investment and promoting exploration for commodities. In recent years, Geoscience Australia has flown three regional Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys covering three percent of Australia. Data and associated interpretations from regional surveys in the Paterson, Pine Creek and Lake Frome regions have led to tenement take up, stimulated exploration for a number of commodities and have given rise to many Eureka moments. This presentation will outline significant results from the use of Geoscience Australia AEM data and interpretations, results that have been announced by industry via the Australian Stock Exchange and other publications.

At the request of the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Commission a geophysical survey was carried out along a tunnel line at Trevallyn, a suburb of Launceston, North Eastern Tasmania. The excavation of the Trevallyn tunnel is part of the Hydro-Electric Trevallyn Power Development project to utilise the water of the South Esk river for generation of electric power. The construction works are already well advanced. A dam is being built on the river at the Second Basin. Water from the catchment will be diverted through a tunnel two miles long to a power station situated at sea level on the Tamar River. A locality map is given in Plate 1. Three geophysical exploration methods, electrical, seismic and gravitational, were used to locate deeply weathered and fractured zones in the dolerite bedrock, through which the tunnel is being driven.

This point dataset contains the major airport fuel storage and supply facilities in Australia.

The purpose of The Energy Infrastructure Australia Map, is to provide an overview of the location of Energy Infrastructure facilities in Australia.

High voltage transmission towers are key linear assets that supply electricity to communities and key industries and are constantly exposed to wind effects where they traverse steep topography or open terrain. Lattice type high voltage transmission towers are highly optimised structures to minimise cost and reserve strength at design wind speeds (Albermani and Kitipornchai, 2003). The structures are tested under static loading conditions for specified load cases at the design stage. However, the interconnected nature of the lattice towers and conductors present a complex response under dynamic wind loading in service (Fujimura, el.al., 2007). The transmission tower's survival under severe wind and additional load transfer due to collapse of its neighbours is difficult to assess through modelling. Furthermore, the lack of data in the industry doesn't allow for a probabilistic analysis based on history (Abdallah, et.al., 2008). Hence, there is a need for developing an alternative methodology for analysing transmission tower collapse and survival of transmission lines subjected to cyclonic winds utilising design information, limited field data and industry expertise.

The Paterson airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey is Australia's first regional AEM survey, flown between September 2007 and August 2008 under the auspices of the Australian Government's Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP). The survey was flown over the Archean eastern Pilbara, the Palaeoproterozoic Rudall Complex and the Neoproterozoic Yeneena Basin (both of which comprise the Paterson Orogen) and on-lapping sediments of the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic Officer Basin and Palaeozoic-Mesozoic Canning Basin. The survey was flown at line spacings of 6, 2 and 1 km and 200 m for a total area of 45,330 km2 targeting known mineral deposits and other highly prospective rocks under cover. The survey was designed to provide pre-competitive data to reduce exploration risk primarily for uranium but also for other metals as well as groundwater resources for local indigenous communities and mineral exploration.

<div>GeoInsight’s vision is to be an accessible experience that curates information and data from across the Geoscience Australia ecosystem, helping users make decisions and refine their research approach, quickly and confidently.</div><div><br></div><div>The purpose of the GeoInsight website is to communicate geological information to non-geoscience professionals. The website presents regional geological insights about minerals, energy and groundwater, as well as contextual geographic, societal and infrastructure information. The website delivers this information in a simple and fast, plain-language interactive experience which provides basic information and additional pathways for further research.</div><div><br></div><div>The GeoInsight began as a 18-month pilot project in the latter part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future Program (2016–2024) with a working title of GeoWRAPA. Technical details about the build and content are available as a series of Geoscience Australia Records (refer to associated documents list). Future development is envisaged to take two forms: 1) small but regular improvements to maintain the product (business as usual) and major development milestone goals driven by project-based funding and resources.</div>