Processed seismic data (SEG-Y format) and TIFF images for the 2007 Isa-Georgetown Deep Crustal Seismic Survey (L184), acquired by Geoscience Australia (GA) under the Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP), in collaboration with the Queensland Geological Survey. Stack and migrated images and data are included for lines 07GA-IG1 and 07GA-IG2 as well as CDP coordinates and maps. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

Processed seismic data (SEG-Y format) and TIFF images for the Curnamona line acquired as part of the 2008 Curnamona-Gawler-Arrowie Deep Crustal Seismic Survey (L189), acquired by Geoscience Australia (GA) under the Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP). Stack and migrated data for line 08GA-C1 as well as CDP coordinates and gravity data. The Curnamona line is 262km in length and runs north-south, east of Lake Frome in South Australia. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au

This presentation was delivered at the Geothermal Energy Industry Roundtable at Parliament House in March 2007.

The geothermal industry has expanded rapidly in Australia, with 48 companies holding 385 license areas as of August 2009, with 10 listed on the ASX and with work programs excluding upscaling valued at ~AU$1.5B to 2013. Projects range from early to advanced exploration, proof-of-concept and pilot stages. Targets are for Hot Rock and Hot Sedimentary Aquifer resources, for the purposes of electricity generation or direct use applications. Ground source heat pump technology continues to struggle to attain the recognition it deserves.

Deep crustal seismic data collected in 2006 and 2007 highlight prospectivity for geothermal and energy mineral systems in north Queensland as well as providing insight into geodynamic controls on IOCG(U) and metasomatic U deposits. IOCG deposits in the eastern Mt Isa Inlier are located in the hanging wall of a major crustal discontinuity that is imaged at surface as a gravity high. At a broader scale these deposits are spatially associated with the Carpentaria conductance anomaly, which can be traced south to the Olympic IOCG(U) deposit. The surveys also identified the previously unknown Millungera Basin which appears to overlie granitic bodies. This architecture is favourable for the presence of geothermal systems, with the granites providing heat beneath the basin insulator and heat trap. This basin has unknown potential for petroleum and energy minerals. Metasomatic deposits in the western Mt Isa Inlier appear to be associated with inverted extensional faults that bound major troughs. Inversion of these faults during the Isan Orogeny allowed fluid flow to suitable U traps.

Like many of the basins along Australia's eastern seaboard, there is currently only a limited understanding of the geothermal energy potential of the New South Wales extent of the Clarence-Moreton Basin. To date, no study has examined the existing geological information available to produce an estimate of subsurface temperatures throughout the region. Forward modelling of a basin structure using its expected thermal properties is the process generally used in geothermal studies to estimate temperatures at depth in the Earth's crust. This process has been validated for one-dimensional models such as a drill hole, where extensive information can be provided for a specific location. The process has also seen increasing use in more complex three-dimensional (3D) models, including in areas of sparse data. The overall uncertainties of 3D models, including the influence of the broad assumptions required to undertake them, are generally only poorly examined by their authors and sometimes completely ignored. New methods are presented in this study which will allow estimates and uncertainties to be addressed in a quantitative and justifiable way. Specifically, this study applies Monte Carlo Analysis to constrain uncertainties through random sampling of statistically congruent populations. Particular focus has been placed on the uncertainty in assigning thermal conductivity values to complex and spatially extensive geological formations using only limited data. These geological formations will typically consist of a range of lithological compositions, resulting in a range of spatially variable thermal conductivity values. As a case study these new methods are then applied to the New South Wales extent of the Clarence-Moreton Basin. The structure of the basin has been built using Intrepid Geophysics' 3D GeoModeller software package using data from existing petroleum drill holes, surface mapping and information derived from the FrOGTech SEEBASE study. A range of possible lithological compositions was determined for each of the major geological layers through application of compositional data analysis, using data from deep wells only (>2000 m). In turn, a range of possible thermal properties was determined from rock samples held by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and analysed at the Geoscience Australia laboratories. These populations of values were then randomly sampled to create 120 different forward models which were computed using SHEMAT. The results of these have been interpreted to present the best estimate of the expected subsurface temperatures of the basin, and their uncertainties, given the current state of knowledge. These results suggest that the Clarence-Moreton Basin has a moderate geothermal energy potential within an economic drilling depth. The results also show a significant degree of variability between the different thermal modelling runs, which is likely due to the limited data available for the region.

Hot Rock exploration and development has progressed rapidly in Australia in the last decade. A wealth of pre-competitive geological data acquired by government surveys and mineral and petroleum explorers is available in Australia, but heat flow data specific to geothermal exploration is sparse. A methodology is presented that sets out the key parameters required in Hot Rock exploration. Mappable practical proxies corresponding to these parameters can utilise existing geological datasets. Australia has an enviable amount of geological data that is publicly available, and this can be used to show that many parts of the continent are attractive Hot Rock exploration areas.

This volume is a compilation of Extended Abstracts presented at the 2008 Australian Geothermal Energy Conference, 19-22 August 2008, Rydges Hotel, Melbourne, organised by the Australian Geothermal Energy Association and the Australian Geothermal Energy Group. This Conference is the first dedicated conference organised by the geothermal energy community in Australia and has been made possible by the seed funding from the Australian Government under the Sir Mark Oliphant Conference funding scheme with additional sponsorship of the companies acknowledged earlier and paying delegates. This Conference is being held at a time of rapid growth in all sectors of the geothermal community. The number of companies engaged in exploration stands at 33, the number of leases held or applied for is 320, and the value of the work program for these companies exceeds $850 million between 2002-2013. The Australian Geothermal Energy Association has been incorporated to serve as the peak industry representative body. The Universities of Queensland, West Australia, Adelaide and Newcastle have new funding specifically for geothermal research programs. The Australian Government has continued its strong support of the sector through the Geothermal Industry Development Framework and Technology Roadmap, the Geothermal Drilling Program, and the Onshore Energy Security Program. All of the States now have legislation regulating geothermal exploration activity in place, and the Northern Territory has drafted legislation for presentation to parliament. This volume of Extended Abstracts starts with a summary snapshot of the global and national geothermal energy sectors. The rest of the volume is organised under three headings: Underground Science and Technology Power Conversion Technologies Legislation, Policy and Infrastructure

Geoscience Australia's $58.9M 5-year Onshore Energy Security Program began in 2006 and includes a new Geothermal Energy Project. The Project aims to assist in the development of a geothermal industry in Australia by: providing precompetitive geoscience information, including acquisition of new data; informing the public and government about Australia's geothermal potential; and partnering with industry in international promotional events for the purpose of attracting investment. This abstract gives a brief summation of activities undertaken by Geoscience Australia within the Onshore Energy Security Program, principally those of the Geothermal Energy Project.

Processed seismic data (SEG-Y format) and TIFF images for the 2009 Rankins Springs Extension Seismic Survey (L188), acquired by Geoscience Australia (GA) under the Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP), in conjunction with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI). Stack and migrated data are included for line 09GA-RS2, as well as CDP coordinates. Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au