<p>Geoscience Australia conducted the Bowen Basin Seismic Survey during July to October 1989. The major aim of the seismic survey was to record deep seismic reflection data across the northern part of the Bowen Basin, to test geological (extensional) models for the formation of the Bowen Basin. The deep seismic reflection survey by the BMR recorded 254 km of eight-fold Common-Depth-Point (CDP) seismic data, along three seismic lines.<p><b>Raw data for this survey are available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 74954</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>

The Oaklands-Coorabin Coalfield in the Riverina Division of New South Wales has been known for many years. Seismic refraction tests were carried out on a number of sections to assist in the interpretation of the gravity results during July and Sepetember, 1949.

Seismic reflection survey has been conducted to help identify the possible oil-bearing structures, which were revealed by two residual gravity anomalies in a geophysical survey made by the Bureau of Mineral Resources. Good reflections were obtained in some parts of the area, but the quality was not consistent. The seismic results appear to confirm a small closure near one of the gravity anomalies. No definite closure is shown near the other anomaly.

The Bureau of Mineral Resources made an experimental seismic survey in the Otway Basin, Victoria and SA, and in the Sydney Basin, NSW, from April to November 1965 and from mid February to mid March 1966. The survey used explosives as an energy source to obtain seismic reflection data for comparison with the results from an experimental 'Vibroseis' survey carried out for the Bureau by Seismograph Service Ltd during 1964.

A reconnaissance seismic reflection and refraction survey in the East Otway Basin, Victoria, was carried out by the Bereau of Mineral Resources from mid-February to mid-June 1967. The objective of the survey was to determine whether the gravity low areas of the Torquay Embayment and Port Phillip Sub-Basin in the eastern part of the Otway Basin contain thick Cretaceous sediments like those which has shown potential hydrocarbon source and reservoir characteristics in the western part of the Otway Basin. Nine reflection and five refraction traverses were recorded in the gravity low areas of the Barwon Trough and Port Phillip Sub-basin. Single-coverage reflection results of variable quality were obtained. Evidence for the presence of Tertiary section is provided by shallow reflections of good to fair quality, but the evidence for Cretaceous sediments is tenuous because of the poor quality of the deeper reflections, some of which may be multiples. The presence of several faults, onlappings and pinch-outs is also indicated. The refraction results are considered unreliable because of the difficulty of interpreting the discontinuous profiles and because of the mapped and suspected faults and pinch-outs in the sections.

A seismic reflection traverse was surveyed across the Perth Basin, Uestern Australia, between the townships of Rockingham and Mundijong. It was planned in order to give information regarding the depth of the Basin and its structure adjacent to the Darling Scarp. Seismic refraction traverses were surveyed to give the longitudinal velocities in the near surface granitic gneisses on the Precambrian Shield, and in the Cardup Series (Proterozoic) abutting the Darling Scarp. At least 14,000 ft of sediments are indicated in the deepest part of the Basin but there is no clear seismic evidence of what a maximum thickness might be. Seismic reflection results indicate that the sediments on the west of the Darling Scarp abut the older rocks on a plane that dips at about 60 degrees to the west and that cuts the surface some distance in front of the present position of the scarp. This suggests that the Darling Scarp at Eundijong is the surface expression of a normal fault. However, the presence of reflection alignments east of this postulated fault plane, and thus apparently arising within the granitic gneisses, is contrary to the fault hypothesis. The true nature of the tectonic features is thus unresolved. Seismic results indicate that faulting occurred within the Basin and such faulting may have completed closure of possible oil traps. Further seismic investigation of the faults and associated structures is recommended.

In July and August 1957 an experimental seismic survey was done in the Oodnadatta area of the Great Artesian Basin. The purposes of the survey were to find whether reflections could be recorded from beneath duricrust, a siliceous surface deposit, and whether structures mapped by surface geological methods persist with depth. Reflections were recorded from beneath the duricrust using shallow pattern holes and six geophones per trace; the sub-surface structure was mapped with reasonable accuracy. In areas where the duricrust is eroded, reflections of fair quality were obtained using a single shot-hole and six geophones per trace. A seismic reflection traverse across the Oodnadatta anticline indicated that the structure was present in a horizon which corresponds to the top of the artesian aquifer at a depth of about 1000 ft below datum (400 ft above MSL). The seismic results indicated that the anticline was of smaller relief than had been e stimated from surface mapping. There was a change from fair-quality persistent reflections at shallow depths to poor-quality less numerous reflections with sporadic dips at greater depths; this probably represents the base of the Cretaceous. The greatest depth from which Cretaceous sediments were recorded was about 2350 ft below datum. Reflection depths computed by seismic methods correspond closely with lithological boundaries, and in particular the base of the Cretaceous sediments, encountered in the Santos No. 1 bore. The results of a refraction traverse on the crest of the Oudnadatta anticline show the presence of a 'basement' refractor with a velocity of 13,900 ft/sec at a depth of about 1245 ft below datum. There is slight evidence of a refractor with a substantially higher velocity at about twice this depth. The 'basement' velocity of 13,900 ft/sec is consistent with the assumption that there is a pre-Cretaceous layer between the Cretaceous sediments and the Precambrian basement complex.

A reconnaissance seismic survey was made in the area of Quilpie and Et.omanga in south-western Queensland. Traverses crossed the Harkaway, Pinkilla, and Tallyabra Domes. Reflection horizons were correlated with horizons within the Mesozoic sediments, and one persistent reflection was correlated with a horizon near the top of the Palaeozoic sediments. A thickness of sediments of up to 15,000 ft, including up to 11,000 ft of Palaeozoic rocks, was indicated on the flanks of the Harkaway and Pinkilla Domes. Results were compared with existing gravity data. Suggestions of faulting are based on seismic and gravity evidence taken together and also on gravity evidence alone in locations not covered by the seismic work.

On 30th March 1960, a seismic velocity survey was made in the A.A.O. Timbury Hills No. 2 bore, jointly by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and Associated Australian Oilfields N.L. The bore had been drilled to a depth of 4400 ft and was surveyed to a depth of 4304 ft below the rotary table. There remains a doubt whether the breaks recorded on the well geephone were, in fact, cable breaks, particularly between 2300 and 3305 ft below the rotary table. The interpretation has boon made with the belief that true breaks wore recorded. Average and interval velocities were computed and are acceptable geologically. Sandstones, particularly cemented ones, have Renerally higher velocities than shale. The average velocity of the Mesozoic sequence is about 9800 ft/sec. A velocity of 17,980 ft/sec was measured at the bottom of the bore and corresponds to the Timbury Hills Formation of unknown age. The Moolayember Shale has a low velocity calculated as 8360 ft/sec.