Geological Components of the Cooper Preliminary Assessment Extent (PAE v03)

Abstract

This dataset was derived by the Bioregional Assessment Programme. The parent dataset is identified in the Lineage field in this metadata statement. The processes undertaken to produce this derived dataset are described in the History field in this metadata statement.

The first step in deriving the Cooper Preliminary Assessment Extent (PAE) was geologically-based. This involved assessing the extent of coal seams occurring in the Patchawarra and Toolachee formations in the Cooper Basin. These two units are the most prospective for coal seam gas as a result of their extensively developed coal seams, the depth of these seams and the inferred thermal history of the formations. Depths to the Permian coal measures preclude resource development by mining. Although coal occurs in other shallower formations, such as the Winton Formation, no economic deposits have been defined in the Cooper subregion. Screening criteria used in defining the geological components of the PAE were:

* Patchawarra and Toolachee formation tops at depths less than 2000m; and

* cumulative coal thicknesses in these formations of greater than 0 m

These criteria are used as they represent current maximum depths of extraction for coal seam gas (CSG), and the assumption that CSG will not occur in areas without coal. These also represent areas which do not also have resources of shale, basin centred, tight or conventional gas, which only occur at depths greater than 2000 m.

This resulted in the delineation of "Patchawarra PAE" component and "Toolachee PAE" component polygons. These two polygon features were merged to derive a Geological Components polygon.

Purpose

This dataset was used in the compilation of the Cooper PAE.

Dataset History

This dataset was created by extracting the extent of the Patchawarra and Toolachee formations, from the Cooper Formation Merged Isopach Grids v01 (GUID: 4b1fd4bd-e109-435b-a97d-01fd35ae1b67 ) dataset rasters, where:

The formation tops are at depths less than 2000m; and

The cumulative coal thicknesses in these formations are greater than 0 m

These extents were extracted as polygons and merged to create this dataset.

Dataset Citation

Bioregional Assessment Programme (2014) Geological Components of the Cooper Preliminary Assessment Extent (PAE v03). Bioregional Assessment Derived Dataset. Viewed 27 November 2017, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/23851dee-ce38-4734-891b-7b9cac47240d.

Dataset Ancestors

• Derived From Geological Survey of Queensland Cooper formation thickness grids v01

• Derived From Cooper Basin Seismic Mapping Grids, South Australia

• Derived From Cooper Formations Merged Isopach Grids v01