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The survey of the Kidson Sub-basin took 52 days and involved a crew of 40 people, a convoy of three vibrator trucks and associated back-up vehicles. Planning the survey took over 18 months in planning alone.
Conducted by the Federal government's dedicated Exploration for the Future initiative, the survey aims to provide pre-competitive data and information ton support and de-risk resource decision making and encourage investment in the regions oil and gas resources.
Minerals and Petroleum Director Deidre Brooks described the record survey run by GSWA in partnership with Geoscience Australia (GA) as a "big adventure with a very successful conclusion".
"Shooting seismic lines up to 50 kilometres deep gives us a big-picture view of the megastructures of the Kidson Sub-basin, which is part of the Canning Basin, the Pilbara Craton and the Paterson Orogen," she said.
Geoscience Australia in collaboration with the WA state Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety commissioned seismic contractor Geokenetics to map geological structures of the region and image the geological features deep below the surface to better understand the location and scale of potential energy, mineral and groundwater resources.
"The survey will deepen the geological understanding of the region, and encourage exploration investment and the creation of jobs for Western Australians, which is the McGowan Government's number one priority," acting mines and petroleum minister Francis Logan said.
Preliminary results show the data are of excellent quality and image a variety of previously unknown features.
The survey cost A$4.75 million and was co-funded by the Federal government's $100.5 million Exploration for the Future program and the Western Australian Exploration Incentive Scheme.
"Although it takes a few months to process the raw data from the survey, the results will be worth the wait," Federal minister for recourses Matt Canavan said.
Raw data will be processed and Geoscience Australia expects to release the results at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association annual Oil and Gas conference in Brisbane next May.
All collected and processed information and data will be made freely available online for oil and gas exploration companies looking to invest in Northern Australia.
