Between 3 May 2012 to 24 June 2012 Geoscience Australia undertook two major surveys off the coast of the Northern Territory in the Petrel Sub-Basin. The data acquisition was funded through the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) and the Petrel Sub-basin was selected in particular as it has been identified as a prospective area for CO2 storage. One of these surveys, GA336 acquired 4091 kilometres of 2D seismic reflection data. Following on from the completion of the seismic processing of this data was further investigative work investigative work such as this analysis. Four prime lines, GA336-107, 110, 205 and 207 along with the well logs, Flat-Top1, Petrel 1A and Petrel 4 were selected for further 2D Simultaneous Inversion and Rock Physics Modelling. Previous Pre Stack Depth Migration had been undertaken on these lines and the PSDM Angle Stacks were imported along with the relevant horizon interpretation into the Jason integration algorithms.

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Environmental Survey GA-0335, (SOL5463) was undertaken using the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. This 10 sample data-set comprises specific surface area and bulk (%) carbonate data from surface seabed sediments (~0-2 cm) in the Timor Sea.

There are numerous isotopic tracers that have the potential to track the movement of CO2 as it is sequestered underground. Their primary role is in verifying the presence of sequestered CO2. These tracers range from CO2 to 3He to PFT?s to SF6. With such a variety of possible tracers, it is important to identify which tracer(s) are (a) economically viable, (b) can be measured appropriately, (c) fit with the specifics of the geological site, and (d) meet the concerns of the public. Tracers can be used either in a continuous mix with the whole body of sequestered gas as an ownership label or in a pulse to monitor changes in the reservoir characteristics of the body of rock hosting the sequestered gas. Rather than going to the expense of adding a tracer to the stream of sequestered CO2 there may be the opportunity to use natural tracers, such as the very CO2 being injected. In the Weyburn Project, the CO2 injected was isotopically distinct from any CO2 that might have been present in the geological system to which it was being added. The CO2 piped from a gasification plant in North Dakota had an isotopic signature quite depleted in 13C (approx. ?13C -20 to -30?; ref Hirsche et al., 2004). This contrasted with the carbonate minerals and any CO2 present in the hydrocarbon reservoir to which the gas was being sequestered as part of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project. Unfortunately, the sequestered CO2 may not be as isotopically different as background sources, for example separating CO2 from natural gas prior to re-injection in the same formation. Costs of tracers per litre can range in orders of magnitude; however the cost should be measured as amount per metric tonne CO2 in order to obtain the true cost. Amounts required tend to be controlled by the background atmospheric presence of any tracer and by the sampling methods and locations. For example, the amount of tracer used to monitor subsurface movement of CO2 from an injection to a monitoring well would potentially be very low if that tracer is not present in deep saline aquifers. However, if shallow water bores or soil or atmospheric level measurements are also being taken, then the presence of the tracer in the soil or atmosphere will strongly control how much additional tracer is required to see changes above background. Addition of 14CO2 to sequestered CO2 may be regarded as a cost effective tracer that will closely mimic CO2. However, it will not advance ahead of the sequestered CO2, it will mask natural differences in 13C/14C variations in the soil and atmosphere, and of course is radiogenic and therefore less favored by the public. By contrast, SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) is also inexpensive, and has been used in a variety of tracer experiments (Tingey et al., 2000 and references therein). However, SF6 is required in larger volumes (engineering issue for mixing), is increasing in presence in the atmosphere (Maiss and Brenninkmeijer, 1998) and is a highly potent greenhouse gas. As an example of its global warming potential (GWP), 5500 tonnes SF6 is the equivalent of releasing 132 million tons of CO2 (Maiss and Brenninkmeijer, 1998).

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Environmental Survey GA-0335, (SOL5463) was undertaken using the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. This 10 sample dataset comprises chlorophll abc measurments from surface sediments (0-2 cm) in the Timor Sea.

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Survey GA-0335 (SOL5463) was acquired by the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. The survey mapped two targeted areas of the Petrel-Sub-basin located within the Ptrl-01 2009 Greenhouse Gas acreage release area (now closed). Data acquired onboard the AIMS research vessel, Solander included multibeam sonar bathymetry (471.2 km2 in Area 1 and 181.1 km2 in Area 2) to enable geomorphic mapping, and multi-channel sub-bottom profiles (558 line-kilometres in Area 1 and 97 line-kilometres in Area 2) to investigate possible fluid pathways in the shallow subsurface geology. Sampling sites covering a range of seabed features were identified from the preliminary analysis of multibeam bathymetry and shallow seismic reflection data. Sampling equipment deployed during the survey included surface sediment grabs, vibrocores, towed underwater video, conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profilers and ocean moorings. A total of 14 stations were examined in Area 1 (the priority study area) and one station in Area 2. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the survey activities and preliminary results from survey SOL5463. Detailed analyses and interpretation of the data acquired during the survey will be integrated with new and existing seismic data. This new information will support the regional assessment of CO2 storage prospectivity in the Petrel Sub-basin and contribute to the nation's knowledge of its marine environmental assets.

The greater Eromanga Basin is an intracratonic Mesozoic basin covering an area approximately 2,000,000 km2 in central and eastern Australia. The greater Eromanga Basin encompasses three correlated basins: the Eromanga Basin (central and western regions), Surat Basin (eastern region) and the Carpentaria Basin (northern region). The greater Eromanga Basin hosts Australia's largest known reserves of groundwater and onshore hydrocarbons and also contains extensive geothermal and uranium systems. The basin has also demonstrated potential as a greenhouse gas sequestration site and will likely play an intrinsic role in securing Australia's energy future. A 3D geological map has been constructed for the greater Eromanga Basin using publicly available datasets. These are principally compiled drilling datasets (i.e. water bores; mineral and petroleum exploration wells) and 1:1,000,000 scale surface geology map of Australia. Geophysical wireline logs, hydrochemistry and radiometrics datasets were also integrated into the 3D geological map

The CO2CRC Otway Project in southwestern Victoria is the Australian flagship for geological storage of CO2. Phase 1 of the project involved the injection of a CO2-rich supercritical fluid into a depleted natural gas field at a depth of ~2 km. The project reached a major milestone late last year with the cessation of injection and the emplacement of around 65,000 tonnes of the supercritical fluid. Phase 2 of the project is set to commence in early 2011 with the injection a few 100 tonnes of pure CO2 into a saline aquifer at ~1.5 km depth. Critical to the project was the drilling of the CRC-1 and CRC-2 wells, with both being used as injection wells. During drilling of each well, fluorescein dye was added to the drilling mud with the intention to maintain a concentration of 5 ppm w/v. The role of fluorescein was to 1) quantitated the degree of drilling fluid contamination that may accompany autochonthous formation waters recovered with the multiple dynamic testing (MDT) tool, and 2) provide a measure of the depth of drilling mud penetration into the recovered cores in order to provide pristine material for microbiological studies.

Australia's coal-based power-stations produce about 70% of its energy needs and consequently have led, to the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach to instigating low emission technologies, which include CO2 capture, injection and storage. The onshore Bowen Basin could provide potential multi-scale storage site projects. Storage potential was demonstrated within a 256 square kilometer area on the eastern flank of the 60-km by 20-km Wunger Ridge using a regional model pertaining to a potential commercial-scale 200 megawatt power-station with emission/injection rates of 1.2 million ton/year. Palaeogeography interpretations of the targeted reservoir indicate a dominantly meandering channel system with permeabilities of up to 1 darcy on the ridge's eastern flank, waning to a deltaic system downdip. Seismic interpretation indicates a relatively unfaulted reservoir-to-seal section on the flank with low-relief structures. Depth to reservoir ranges from 2100 to 2700-m. Simulation from a simplified 3-D block model indicates at least two vertical wells are needed to inject at 1.2 million ton/year in permeabilities of 1 darcy, and reservoir thicknesses of about 5-m. The presence of intra-reservoir baffles reduces the injection rate possible, with a subsequent increase in the number of wells required to maintain the project injection rate, also true for a low-permeability trapping scenario. Long-term storage of acceptable volumes would involve intra-reservoir baffle, stratigraphic, residual, and potentially depleted field trapping scenarios along a 10 to 15-km migration route. Trapping success is ultimately a function of optimal reservoir characteristics both estimated from more complex modeling and, ultimately, collection of infill seismic and new wells.

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Survey GA-0335 (SOL5463) was acquired by the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. Underwater video footage and still photographic images (12 megapixel resolution) from towed-video were acquired from 11 stations. The quality of imagery varies among transects and some still images were not of suitable quality for analysis. No still images are available for stations 2, 4 and 7 due to system malfunction. Video and still image files and associated parent folders are named by station number, gear code (CAM = underwater camera system) and then the deployment number. For example 'STN08CAM06' would represent a video transect from Station 08 that was the 6th video transect of the survey. Please note that the Ultra-short Baseline (USBL) acoustic tracking system used to track the towed-camera system failed early in the survey; hence geo-location of video transects and stills could only be linked to the R.V. Solander's ship navigation.

The GEODISC Geographic Information System (GIS) Overview and Demonstration With the understanding that "better information leads to better decisions", Geoscience Australia has produced a Geographic Information System (GIS) that showcases the research completed within Projects 1, 2, and 8 of the GEODISC Program (Geological CO2 storage program in the Australian Petroleum Cooperative Research Centre, 1999-2003). The GIS is an interactive archive of Australia-wide regional analysis of CO2 sources and storage potential, incorporating economic modelling (Projects 1 and 8), as well as four site specific studies of the Dongara Gas field, Carnarvon Basin, Petrel Sub-basin and Gippsland Basin (Project 2). One of the major objectives of a collaborative research program such as GEODISC is to share results and knowledge with clients and fellow researchers, as well as to be able to rapidly access and utilise the research in future technical and policy decisions. With this in mind, the GIS is designed as a complete product, with a user-friendly interface developed with mainstream software to maximise accessibility to stakeholders. It combines tabular results, reports, models, maps, and images from various geoscientific disciplines involved in the geological modelling of the GEODISC site specific studies (ie geochemistry, geomechanics, reservoir simulations, stratigraphy, and geophysics) into one media. The GEODISC GIS is not just an automated display system, but a tool used to query, analyse, and map data in support of the decision making process. It allows the user to overlay different themes and facilitates cross-correlation between many spatially-related data sources. There is a vast difference between seeing data in a table of rows and columns and seeing it presented in the form of a map. For example, tabular results such as salinity data, temperature information and pressure tests, have been displayed as point data linked to well locations. These, in turn, have been superimposed on geophysical maps and images, to enable a better understanding of spatial relationships between features of a potential CO2 injection site. The display of such information allows the instant visualisation of complex concepts associated with site characterisation. In addition, the GEODISC GIS provides a tool for users to interrogate data and perform basic modelling functions. Economic modelling results have been incorporated into the regional study so that simple calculations of source to sink matching can be investigated. The user is also able to design unique views to meet individual needs. Digital and hardcopy map products can then be created on demand, centred on any location, at any scale, and showing selected information symbolised effectively to highlight specific characteristics. A demonstration of the GIS product will illustrate all of these capabilities as well as give examples of how site selection for CO2 sources and storage locations might be made.