Deep-dive projects Officer–Musgrave–Birrindudu

In the Officer–Musgrave project region, groundwater is the only water supply for communities, pastoral use and industry. Palaeovalley groundwater systems are known to occur in the region and are a valuable resource. The Officer-Musgrave Palaeovalley study seeks to map and model the distribution of palaeovalley systems using new airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data acquired across the region to develop and refine the hydrogeological conceptual models of these groundwater systems. This work also involves acquiring additional hydrogeophysical and hydrochemical data, and compiling and interpreting pre-existing geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data, to provide valuable information on water resources for remote communities, water managers and industry. 

Map showing Musgrave Palaeovalley study area and AEM derived conductivity grids for approximately 34 metres below the ground. This grid used AEM data acquired as part of the Officer-Musgrave palaoevalley project and reprocessed AEM data acquired for minerals exploration

Little is known about the energy resource potential of the Officer Basin. Geoscience Australia is providing new data to improve the geological knowledge of the basin and its geological constraints. Stratigraphy and resource potential studies that analyse existing and newly acquired field samples, have been designed to systematically investigate energy potential.

Map showing the Officer–Musgrave region across Western and South Australia (Raymond et al, 2009 and 2018)

The Birrindudu Basin is a frontier basin for energy resource. While it contains rocks of a similar age to the prospective for energy systems in McArthur Basin, South Nicholson region and Mount Isa Province to the east, it remains comparatively poorly understood in terms of energy resource potential.

Geoscience Australia is acquiring a range of new datasets, including geophysical data and undertaking analysis on selected existing drill holes to provide an improved understanding of the stratigraphy and resource potential of the Birrindudu Basin and surrounding region.

Provisional outline of the Birrindudu Basin, showing existing drill holes sampled for analysis

Officer Musgrave Palaeovalley Groundwater Systems

• 2021. Officer Basin South Australia 2021 Seismic Reprocessing Processed data Package. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Leven, J.H., Owen, A.J., Hossain, M., Costelloe, R., Fomin, T. 1994. L137 Officer Basin seismic survey, SA, 1993 Stacked and migrated seismic data for lines 93AGS-01, 93AGS-03, 93AGS-04, 93AGS-05, and 93AGS-06. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Halas, L., Symington, N., LeyCooper, Y. 2023. West Musgrave airborne electromagnetic conductivity grids. Geoscience Australia, Canberra 
• Symington, N., LeyCooper, Y., Smith, M. 2022. West Musgrave AEM conductivity models and data release. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. 

Officer Basin Geology and Stratigraphy Studies

• 2021. Officer Basin South Australia 2021 Seismic Reprocessing Processed data Package. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Bailey, A., Wang, L., Dewhurst, D., Anderson, J., Carr, L.K. and Henson, P. 2022. Geomechanical rock properties of the Officer Basin. The APPEA Journal 62, pp. S385-S391
• Bailey, A., Wang, L., Dewhurst, D., Esteban, L., Kager, S., Monmusson, L., Anderson, J., Jarrett, A.J.M., Henson, P. 2021. Exploring for the Future – petrophysical and geomechanical testing program data release, Officer Basin, Australia. GA record: 2021/028. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Carr, L.K., Henson, P., Wang, L., Bailey, A., Fomin, T., Boreham, C., Edwards, D., Southby, C., Symington, N., Smith, M., Halas, L., Jones, T. 2022. Exploring for the Future in the Officer Musgrave region. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Cowan, S., Boreham, C., Hall, D., Chao, J., Phiukhao, W., Lishansky, R., Moore, R., Groves, D., Edwards, D. 2023. A Stratigraphic Reconstruction of Bulk Volatile Chemistry from Fluid Inclusions in: Birksgate 1. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Edwards, D., Munday, S., Wang, L., Riley, D., Khider, K. 2022. Neoproterozoic and Cambrian chemostratigraphic mega-sequences of the Officer Basin; a regional framework to assist petroleum and mineral exploration. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Madden, R.H.C., Tilbury, R.D. 2022. Exploring for the Future: Petrology of the Officer Basin. Record 2022/035. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Munday, S., Edwards, D.S., Chandra, J., Wang, L., Forbes, A., Riley, D., Anderson, J., Grosjean, E., Bailey, A., Boreham, C.J. 2022. Defining a chemostratigraphic framework for the Officer Basin. Inorganic and stable isotopic analyses of ten petroleum wells from Western Australia and South Australia. GA record: 2022/007. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Wang, L., Bailey, A., Carr, L.K., Edwards, .S., Khider, K., Anderson, J., Boreham, C.J., Southby, C., Dewhurst, D.,  Esteban, L., Munday, S. and Henson, P. 2022. Petrophysical characterisation of the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian successions in the Officer Basin. The APPEA Journal 62(1), pp. 381-399.

Birrindudu Regional Basin Studies

• Anderson, J., Klaebe, R., Carson, C., Hall, T., Farkas, J. 2023.  Exploring for the Future, Strontium, Oxygen and Carbon Isotopes from the Birrindudu Basin, Australia. Geoscience Australia, Canberra 
• Madden, R.H.C., Carson, C., Carr, L., Anderson, J. 2023. Petrography of the Birrindudu Basin. Record 2023/12. Geoscience Australia, Canberra
• Ranasinghe, S.P., Crosdale, P.J. 2023. Source rock type, maturation levels and hydrocarbon potential in a suite of samples from the Birrindudu Basin, Northern Territory. Geoscience Australia, Canberra.