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Light Hydrocarbon Geochemistry of the Vulcan Sub-Basin, Timor Sea : Rig Seismic Survey 97 : Project 121.19

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

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In October/November 1990 the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) carried out an 18 day combined water column geochemical and high resolution seismic survey on the Vulcan Sub-basin region of the Timor Sea. This report presents the results of the water column geochemical (direct hydrocarbon detection or DHD) aspects of that program. During the program, 2730 km of DHD data were obtained along 44 lines over the Vulcan Sub-basin, the Ashmore Platform and the Londonderry High. Ten water bottom hydrocarbon anomalies were detected during the program. Seven of these anomalies fell into two distinct groupings, which were associated with: - the Skua field and surrounding fault blocks, - the intersection of the NE-trending Vulcan Sub-basin/Londonderry High Boundary Zone with a prominent NW-trending transfer fault zone. The composition of the hydrocarbon anomalies within the Skua grouping was generally consistent with them having an oil-prone, Late Jurassic source,, and is thus compatible with the known composition of the hydrocarbons in the Skua accumulation. The composition of the other grouping was more consistent with a gas/condensate source; they may have originated from more gas prone Permo-Triassic source rocks on the edge of the Londonderry High. The remaining anomalies were all very weak, and may have been due to biogenic activity. The data indicate that the DHD technique can be useful at a prospect level within the Timor Sea (for example, it did remotely detect the Skua accumulation). The types of accumulations which are most easily detected using DHD are those with a significant gas cap, a relatively shallow (<2000 m) reservoir, and faulting which extends from the reservoir horizon to near the seafloor. Furthermore, the data suggest that transfer fault zones provide important pathways for hydrocarbon migration in this region.

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Field Value
Title Light Hydrocarbon Geochemistry of the Vulcan Sub-Basin, Timor Sea : Rig Seismic Survey 97 : Project 121.19
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/caddc9c8-5f6f-43cb-b3f8-199c93be173b
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage Australia
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Light Hydrocarbon Geochemistry of the Vulcan Sub-Basin, Timor Sea : Rig Seismic Survey 97 : Project 121.19". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/light-hydrocarbon-geochemistry-of-the-vulcan-sub-basin-timor-sea-rig-seismic-survey-97-p-121-19