New insights into the Exmouth Sub-basin: tectono-stratigraphic evolution

Abstract

Summary The Exmouth Sub-basin forms one of several Jurassic depocentres in the greater Carnarvon Basin and has been prolific in terms of hydrocarbon production with approximately 1 Bbbls of oil and over 1 Tcf of gas discovered/produced to date. The sub-basin was recently covered for the first time with a contiguous, high quality, deep-record 3D seismic survey that has enabled detailed structural and stratigraphic mapping over its full extent, providing new insights into the tectono-stratigraphic history of the area. These interpretations along with those incorporating the sub-basins thermal history and gross depositional environments were used to constrain an integrated petroleum systems model with the ultimate aim of representing hydrocarbon distribution and future exploration potential.