THE PETROLEUM PROSPECTS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
D.D. Benbow
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Petroleum Potential ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Late Tertiary ◽  
Shelf Sediments ◽  
Exploratory Wells

The Great Barrier Reef Region covers some 207 000 sq. km of Queensland continental shelf between 9° 30'S and 24°S. The Reef ranges from Late Tertiary to Recent age with reefal growth mainly over platform areas of shelf sediments or basement rocks.The Reef area is underlain in part by seven basins which are either wholly or in part offshore; these basins are from north to south, the Peninsula Trough (Jurassic to Recent), Laura Basin (Permian to Cretaceous), Halifax Basin (Cretaceous to Recent), Hillsborough Basin (Early to Middle Tertiary), Styx Basin (Cretaceous), Capricorn Basin (Cretaceous to Recent and the Maryborough Basin (Jurassic to Tertiary).The geophysical coverage of the area is regional and only small areas of several of the basins have been covered by detailed seismic. During 1973 the Bureau of Mineral Resources conducted a seismic survey over the Queensland Plateau and adjacent Barrier Reef region: the results of this survey provide the geophysical basis for the basin evaluation.Four petroleum exploratory wells have been drilled in Queensland waters; these include Anchor Cay at the northern extremity of the Reef, and three wells in the Capricorn Basin.The petroleum potential of the region will remain speculative until further drilling is carried out to assess the stratigraphic section.

Continental shelf waves and their influence on the circulation around the Great Barrier Reef

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Wolanski ◽  
AF Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Longshore Current ◽  
Shelf Waves

Winds and atmospheric pressure, sea level and water currents were measured at several locations over the continental shelf, both east and west of the Great Barrier Reef, between 14.5�s. and 20�S., from June to November 1980. The dominant wind direction changed from westward over the Coral Sea to north- westward (roughly parallel to the shore) over the shelf. A strong non-tidal low-frequency signal in all sea- level and longshore current data was found, highly coherent from site to site and strongly correlated with the longshore wind component over the shelf, though not with the atmospheric pressure. A model of wind- driven barotropic shelf waves is used to explain a number of observations, such as the invariance of temporal fluctuations of longshore current with distance from shore, and the northward longshore propagation of oceanic disturbances at a speed equal to twice that of the first-mode barotropic free shelf wave, a speed one order of magnitude smaller than that of the wind system. The low-frequency current fluctuations resulted in large water displacements, up and down the coast. Low-frequency cross-shelf currents were much weaker and less coherent. Two upwelling mechanisms are internal tides and internal Kelvin waves coupled to the barotropic shelf waves.

scholarly journals Progressive seawater acidification on the Great Barrier Reef continental shelf

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina E. Fabricius ◽  
Craig Neill ◽  
Erik Van Ooijen ◽  
Joy N. Smith ◽  
Bronte Tilbrook
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Seawater Temperature ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
Seawater Acidification ◽  
Seawater Ph ◽  
Seawater Samples

Abstract Coral reefs are highly sensitive to ocean acidification due to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We present 10 years of data (2009–2019) on the long-term trends and sources of variation in the carbon chemistry from two fixed stations in the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Data from the subtropical mid-shelf GBRWIS comprised 3-h instrument records, and those from the tropical coastal NRSYON were monthly seawater samples. Both stations recorded significant variation in seawater CO2 fugacity (fCO2), attributable to seasonal, daytime, temperature and salinity fluctuations. Superimposed over this variation, fCO2 progressively increased by > 2.0 ± 0.3 µatm year−1 at both stations. Seawater temperature and salinity also increased throughout the decade, whereas seawater pH and the saturation state of aragonite declined. The decadal upward fCO2 trend remained significant in temperature- and salinity-normalised data. Indeed, annual fCO2 minima are now higher than estimated fCO2 maxima in the early 1960s, with mean fCO2 now ~ 28% higher than 60 years ago. Our data indicate that carbonate dissolution from the seafloor is currently unable to buffer the Great Barrier Reef against ocean acidification. This is of great concern for the thousands of coral reefs and other diverse marine ecosystems located in this vast continental shelf system.

Upwelling by internal tides and kelvin waves at the continental shelf break on the Great Barrier Reef

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Wolanski ◽  
GL Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Kelvin Waves ◽  
Shelf Break ◽  
Internal Tides ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Tidal Period ◽  
Continental Shelf Break

A time series of 50 days duration was obtained of sea levels and winds and of temperature and currents at six depths from 27 to 104 m at 18�19'S.,147�21'E. on the continental shelf break between the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. The sea-level signal had a predominantly mixed solar and lunar semidiurnal tidal period. The currents consisted of a semidiurnal tidal component oriented primarily cross-shelf, except near the sea floor, superimposed on a low-frequency, predominantly longshore, southward component, coherent with depth, in geostrophic balance, and modulated by the longshore wind component Large fluctuations in temperature were observed, consisting of a low-frequency component, possibly generated by internal Kelvin waves, and iiucruarions of predominantiy solar semidiurnai iidai period. The latter fiiictuations are interpreted as evidence of internal tides of amplitude up to 110 m that may be generated by the interaction of the longshore currents with topographic irregularities in the shelf. It is suggested that, during any long-term studies of water properties near the shelf break, some additional monitoring of short-term temporal variations should be carried out to avoid data aliasing by internal tides. The bottom boundary layer appears to be very active in vertical mixing. Internal tides may be very important in introducing other water components, e.g. nutrients, to the outer Great Barrier Reef.

The Flatback Turtle, Chelonia depressa, in Queensland: Post-Nesting Migration and Feeling Ground Distribution

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Limpus ◽  
CJ Parmenter ◽  
V Baker ◽  
A Fleay
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Inshore Water ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Nesting Beaches ◽  
Feeding Grounds

Between 1968 and 1981, a total of 813 adult female flatback turtles were tagged while nesting on Queensland beaches. Eight have been recovered at a distance, 216-1300 km north of their respective nesting beaches, in waters between the mainland and the Great Barrier Reef. The species' principal feeding grounds seem to be in turbid, shallow inshore water off north-eastern Australia and in the Gulf of Carpentaria; there are no records beyond the continental shelf.

THE STATUS OF HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION, OFFSHORE NORTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA AND THE GULF OF PAPUA

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
A. Sabitay
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Royal Commission ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Hydrocarbon Production ◽  
Offshore Area ◽  
The Status ◽  
Gulf Of Papua ◽  
Made In

Since 1969, geophysical exploration and drilling in the offshore area of northeastern Australia has been at a virtual standstill. In the Gulf of Papua, progress recommenced in late 1973 when Papua New Guinea gained control of its mineral resources. Exploration has been curtailed by the formation of a Royal Commission to study possible adverse effects on the Great Barrier Reef due to oil exploration. The findings of the Royal Commission were delivered on 30th October 1974. Generally considered, the Commission concluded that risks of hydrocarbon spills were small enough and hazards from such spills not detrimental enough (except for dispersants and sinking agents) that drilling in selected areas should take place after improving safety precautions.The Great Barrier Reef National Park Act came into effect on 20th June 1975. Provision is made in the act for allowing or forbidding the recovery of minerals in particular zones of the Great Barrier Reef region. To date neither the zones nor the regulations governing exploration under the Act have been proclaimed.Nine distinct areas of sedimentation having hydrocarbon potential are recognized in the area. These are, in order of interest: the Gulf of Papua, the Maryborough and Capricorn Basins, the Halifax, Laura and Hillsborough Basins, the Queensland Plateau, the Marion Plateau and, lastly the Styx Basin. In these areas, potential hydrocarbon production is indicated by Pasca No. A1 and Uramu No. 1A in the Gulf of Papua, and onshore at Barikewa No. 1, Lehi No. 1, Kuru No. 1, Bwata No. 1 and Puri No. 1. One of three exploration wells in the onshore Maryborough Basin had significant gas shows.

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