THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE PERMIAN OF THE NORTHERN PERTH BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1966 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
M. H. Johnstone ◽  
S. P. Willmott

The Perth Basin is a narrow, deep graben flanking the lower 400 miles of the west coast of Western Australia. It attains a maximum width of 60 miles and may contain more than 40,000 feet of sediments.Permian rocks crop out around the northern margin of the basin, between the Greenough Precambrian Inlier on the west and the Darling Fault on the east. Bores near the northern margin of the basin and down the west coast for some 120 miles south of Geraldton have encountered Permian rocks. Because of the limited nature of the outcrop, most of our information concerning variations of stratigraphy within the Permian comes from these bores.As in other basins in Australia, the Permian sedimentation in the Perth Basin started with a cycle of intense glaciation. Two units were deposited: the lower one is a submarine tillite consisting of boulders set in a sandstone and siltstone matrix; the upper unit is a fossiliferous marine shale. The thickest development of these units is adjacent to the eastern boundary fault of the basin. They thin rapidly to the west by sedimentary onlap on to the Beagle Ridge.The glacial cycle is followed by a continual cycle in which coal measures predominate. This unit shows a remarkable constancy of thickness, indicating very stable tectonic conditions during its deposition.The coal measures are followed by a monotonous marine siltstone unit which completes the Lower Permian (Artinskian) sequence in this basin.After a hiatus in which both tectonism (faulting and tilting) and erosion occurred, a series of estuarine lakes developed in uppermost Permian times, and the Wagina Sandstone was deposited. These rather restricted lakes were then followed by the more widespread Lower Triassic transgression in which the Kockatea Shale blankets most of the Permian.Significant signs of oil are seen in several of the Permian units-oil in the Coal Measures, oil and gas in the overlying marine strafes, and oil and gas associated with the Wagina Sandstone. Thus the Permian ranks as one of the best potential source and reservoir sequences for hydrocarbons in the Perth Basin.

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ameed R. Ghori

Petroleum geochemical analysis of samples from the Canning, Carnarvon, Officer and Perth basins identified several formations with source potential, the: • Triassic Locker Shale and Jurassic Dingo Claystone of the Northern Carnarvon Basin; • Permian Irwin River Coal Measures and Carynginia Formation, Triassic Kockatea Shale and Jurassic Cattamarra Coal Measures of the Perth Basin; • Ordovician Goldwyer and Bongabinni formations, Devonian Gogo Formation and Lower Carboniferous Laurel Formation of the Canning Basin; • Devonian Gneudna Formation of the Gascoyne Platform and the Lower Permian Wooramel and Byro groups of the Merlinleigh Sub-basin of the Southern Carnarvon Basin; and • Neoproterozoic Brown, Hussar, Kanpa and Steptoe formations of the Officer Basin. Burial history and geothermal basin modelling was undertaken using input parameters from geochemical analyses of rock samples, produced oil, organic petrology, apatite fission track analysis (AFTA), heat flows, subsurface temperatures and other exploration data compiled by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA). Of these basins, the Canning, Carnarvon, and Perth basins are currently producing oil and gas, whereas the Southern Carnarvon and Officer basins have no commercial petroleum discovery yet, but they do have source, reservoir, seal and petroleum shows indicating the presence of petroleum systems. The Carnarvon Basin contains the richest identified petroleum source rocks, followed by the Perth and Canning basins. Production in the Carnarvon Basin is predominantly gas and oil, the Perth Basin is gas-condensate and the Canning Basin is oil dominated, demonstrating the variations in source rock type and maturity across the state. GSWA is continuously adding new data to assess petroleum systems and prospectivity of these and other basins in Western Australia.


1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Gales ◽  
AJ Cheal ◽  
GJ Pobar ◽  
P Williamson

The Australian sea-lion, Neophoca cinerea, has a 17-18-month breeding cycle on islands off the west coast of Western Australia. Buller, North Fisherman and Beagle Is are the main pupping sites, with several very small colonies (n> 3) at the Abrolhos Is. The 4-5-month pupping seasons are synchronised at North Fisherman and Beagle Is, but the sea-lions from Buller I. breed one month later and those from the Abrolhos Is two months earlier. Pup production and pup mortality were highly variable between seasons over which observations were recorded: 129 pups were born at the main breeding sites in early 1988, the mortality in the first five months was 7.1%, whereas 181 pups were born in late 1989 of which 24.3% died. Pups remain in the vicinity of their natal islands for the first 4-5 months of life before leaving, perhaps on foraging trips, with their mothers. Most return to their natal island, although others haulout on islands up to 27 km away. Some male N. cinerea congregate in bachelor colonies on islands adjacent to the Perth metropolitan region during the non-breeding season and migrate up to 280 km north each breeding season. The status of the isolated, west-coast N. cinerea population is unknown. The current high level of human pressure on sea-lion terrestrial habitats and their food resources indicate a need for further monitoring of this species.


Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1304 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADRIAN M. PINDER ◽  
S. M. EBERHARD ◽  
WILLIAM F. HUMPHREYS

Four species of phallodriline tubificids (Clitellata: Tubificidae) from karst aquifers and caves along the west coast of the state of Western Australia are the first records of this subfamily from nonmarine waters in the southern hemisphere. Aktedrilus parvithecatus (Erséus 1978) and Pectinodrilus ningaloo n. sp. occur in anchialine groundwater of Cape Range, along with other taxa of marine affinity. Aktedrilus leeuwinensis n. sp. and Aktedrilus podeilema n. sp. occur in caves of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and Perth Basin respectively and are the first taxa of marine lineage to have been collected from these systems.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3507 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
ELENA K. KUPRIYANOVA ◽  
HARRY A. TEN HOVE ◽  
EJIROH NISHI

This study is a revision of the poorly known genus Pseudochitinopoma Zibrowius, 1969 (Annelida, Serpulidae), erected for Hyalopomatopsis occidentalis Bush, 1905 from the West Coast of North America. Subsequently, an unnamed Pseudochitinopoma sp. nov. from the Seychelles (ten Hove 1994) (described herein as P. amirantensis sp. nov.) and P. pavimentata Nishi, 1999 were added to the genus. Ficopomatus capensis Day, 1961 is herein referred to Pseudochitinopoma, based on examination of the type material. Finally, Pseudochitinopoma beneliahuae sp. nov. was described from Western Australia and the Red Sea. Reproductive patterns and phylogenetic affinities of Pseudochitinopoma spp. are discussed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
P. Hosemann

The Basal Triassic Sandstone is the basal member of the Lower Triassic Kockatea Shale. It is widely distributed adjacent to, and on the Precambrian Greenough Block in the northern Perth Basin, Western Australia. This member is lowermost Lower Triassic in age in the subsurface of the Don-gara gas field. In outcrop on the Greenough Block, the member is represented by a thin basal conglomerate, conformably overlain by upper Lower Triassic Kockatea Shale. In this stratigraphic study, detailed well-to-well correlations and lithologic studies were integrated to reconstruct the depositional history of the interval encompassing the Basal Triassic Sandstone. This sandstone is a composite of near-shore marine, and strand line accumulations deposited around the flanks and on the Greenough Block during a Lower Triassic marine transgression. The sandstone bodies were deposited on a drowned, topography of low relief, on progressively truncated Permian formations and Precambrian basement. The topography was formed following uplift and tilting of the Greenough Block and the overlying Lower Permian formations during mild Upper Permian tectonism.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. Warris

The Mount Horner oilfield is located 30 km east of the town of Dongara, some 360 km north of Perth, Western Australia. It was discovered by WAPET in 1965 but it was not until 1980-81 that a further four appraisal wells were drilled on the field. One additional appraisal well was drilled in 1987.The structure consists of a tilted fault block downthrown to the east with a roll-over anticline on the downthrown side of the fault. Sandstones within the Lower Triassic Kockatea Shale produced oil in 1965 from Mount Horner No. 1 on the upthrown tilted fault block. This well was eventually plugged and abandoned due to the low productivity of the reservoirs and the then prevailing low oil price. Production also occurred in the Basal Triassic Sandstone on the downthrown side of the fault. Mount Horner Nos 4 and 5 produced from this horizon from 1984 to 1986, when they were shut in due to increasing water cut.At the top of the Lower to Middle Jurassic Cockleshell Gully Formation, a complex transition zone exists between the fluvial sandstones of the Cattamarra Coal Measures Member and the marine sediments of the Champion Bay Group. Sandstones in this transition zone produce oil from Mount Horner No. 5 which was re-completed in 1986 and from No. 7 which was drilled in 1987.There are four distinct oil pools on the Mount Horner structure. Geochemical and maturation studies have shown that the bulk of the reserves was generated from the basal part of the Kockatea Shale and has migrated up the main fault and into the Jurassic reservoirs.Recent workover and appraisal drilling programs on the field have established the first commercial oil production from Jurassic sediments in the Perth Basin. This opens up an exciting new exploration play in the northern Perth Basin.


1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Bannister

Objectives, methods, and results of a two-year aerial survey for sperm whales off the coast of Western Australia, 1963-65, are described. Data from commercial whaling operations have been included where appropriate. Sperm whales were found well off the west coast, but only in a narrow strip along the continental slope off the south coast. On both coasts, the main direction of movement was parallel to the coastline and towards Cape Leeuwin. Unexpectedly, whales off the west coast were heading mainly southwards throughout the year. Densities in the offshore area north of Perth were significantly higher than along the continental slope in the same region but similar to those along the continental slope from Perth to Cape Leeuwin. The situation was reversed on the south coast with whales being found, in high densities, only along the continental slope. Off the west coast, there were marked decreases in abundance in winter, with peaks in spring-early summer and autumn; no change in direction of movement could be related to the peaks. Average numbers calculated as present in the survey area at one time were: west coast, c. 1000 whales; south coast, c. 200 whales. South coast data indicate the passage of about 40 whales in one 24 hr period, very similar to results from whaling company aerial spotter data off Albany. The hypothesis of two separate populations of sperm whales off Western Australia is discussed and thought to be unlikely. A small amount of data on baleen whale sightings is recorded.


2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Al Hudec ◽  
Van Penick

This article addresses the current debate over lifting a thirty-five year moratorium on offshore resource development in British Columbia. It describes the three primary offshore basins and the history of the various moratoriums, as well as the current legal backdrop under which development could occur. The authors review unique jurisdictional, Aboriginal and environmental considerations relating to the west coast, and conclude that the east coast regulatory regime provides a useful regulatory template for the west coast, appropriately updated for technological changes in the offshore industry and changes in regulatory philosophies since the 1980s.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Yung ◽  
Kieran Rafferty

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the statutory adjudication legislation in Western Australia against its stated aims. Design/methodology/approach – The four objectives of the Western Australia Construction Contracts Act 2004 were identified. For each objective a number of criteria has been devised. In total, 22 registered adjudicators were interviewed, representing 28 per cent of all adjudicators in Western Australia. The interviewees were divided into two groups, one with legal background (being both lawyer and adjudicator), the other without (construction professionals). They were asked to evaluate the criteria against a five-point Likert scale in addition to open ended comments. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine whether there were significant differences between the two groups. Annual reports of Building Commissioner, database of the WA State Administrative Tribunal and some law cases were also referred to. Findings – It is found that the West Coast Model is fair to both parties, the adjudications are generally completed speedily according to the prescribed timeframe, and they have been conducted in various levels of formalities. Adjudications are very cost effective for larger claims. However, they are not so for smaller claims. The increasing uptake rate shows that adjudication is getting more popular, while the low appeal rate shows that decisions on dismissal are fair. Research limitations/implications – The adjudicators’ opinions are only part of the overall picture and that more research on this topic needs to be done. Originality/value – There have been two distinct legislative models in Australia, commonly known as East Coast Model and West Coast Model. A number of authors have called for a national dual model incorporating both current models. However, it might be too early to discuss the national dual model when there have been very few evaluations on the West Coast Model and among the few there have been problems in the research design. This paper seeks to bridge the gap by evaluating the West Coast Model against its stated aims.


1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
BF Phillips ◽  
DW Rimmer

A net capable of catching the larval stages, including the puerulus of Panulirus longipes* (MilneEdwards) in the surface plankton is described. The sampler has a square 0.25 m2 mouth, an overall filtering length of 140 cm and a 10 cm diameter PVC cod-end bucket. Towed from a short boom from the side of a small boat or from a longer boom out from the side of a larger vessel, the sampler has a bridle attached to two opposite corners and a weight at the bottom corner so that in operation it presents a relatively unobstructed diamond shaped opening to the water. A total of 112 puerulus stage larvae were caught with this sampler (fitted with a 2.5 mm mesh net) during five nights of sampling within the reef at Seven Mile Beach. The greatest number of larvae were found to be present in the surface plankton prior to midnight. Modified versions of this sampler with either 2.5 mm or 1.0 mm mesh net have been successfully used to sample puerulus and phyllosoma stages of western rock lobster larvae in the surface waters off the west coast of Western Australia.


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