PESA WA Branch hosted Chris Elders, Curtin University at their September luncheon where Chris discussed some of the findings of recent research into the salt tectonics within the Petrel Sub-basin and the salt structures that these processes have formed over time. Chris mentioned a seismic stratigraphic study that showed the relationship between salt structures and the complex multi-phase evolution of the Petrel Sub-basin. Changes in thickness of the surrounding sediments indicate that the salt was deposited as part of the syn-rift sequence, and a significant phase of mini-basin formation across large areas ensued until the end of rifting.
Alison McLeod
YPP monthly lunch informal networking series
PESA WA’s Young Petroleum Professional Chapter (YPP) launched its new Lunch Social Catch-up Series, with the first catch-up kicked off on Friday 14 September at Cloisters Food Hall in Perth CBD. In attendance there were nine young professionals, who are very aspiring individuals with experience ranging from freshly graduated to over 5 years in the industry, giving a great range of knowledge and opportunities for the new professionals to discuss career progression and gain insight from the more seasoned within the group. Various companies in the industry were represented in this gathering: TGS, Santos, Discover Geoscience, Murphy Oil, Chemostrat and Carnarvon.
PESA – ASEG WA Mentoring Program Session
Simon Molyneux facilitated the September interactive session, reminding participants of the mentoring program objectives. The outcome mid-program tracking session was to check-in, invigorate and energise the mentor-mentee partnerships and the Mentimeter was a great way to assess mentors and mentees' satisfaction. When asked on program satisfaction, mentees scored an average of 4.5/5 out of 15 responses and mentors scored an average of 3.4/5 out of 12 responses. Most mentors and mentees have met 3 to 4 times which includes the kick-off and mid-program tracking sessions. Ideally, mentors and mentees should consider catching-up at least once a month.
PESA WA Branch Evening Lecture Series
In addition to the successful PESA WA Branch Technical Luncheon Series held this year, the Evening Lecture Series has been going very well too. Our Evening Lecture Series is a great platform for networking over canapes and drinks accompanied by a technical talk in a very relaxed environment. The event usually starts around 5.30pm at The Georges Hotel. The first evening lecture that PESA WA hosted this year was on 17 April with Chris Cubitt as the guest lecturer. His topic was on the “Drill cuttings, core, wireline and seismic – a match made in heaven!
PESA WA August Luncheon – Evolution of “Tres Hombres”
PESA WA Branch hosted Chris Hurren from BHB Billiton, with special gratitude to our four technical series sponsors, to talk our members through the evolution of the large mid-crustal “Tres Hombres” structure within the northern Beagle Sub-basin, offshore WA. Three enigmatic circular structures in the outer part of the Beagle sub-basin, known as the three brothers, or possibly named after the album of the same name by ZZ Top, have attracted passing interest and quite a bit of head scratching in the past based on some rather sparse 2D seismic lines.
Semester BBQ event at Curtin University
On Wednesday August 22, PESA WA branch teamed up with the Curtin Geology Society (GEOS) to host a barbeque for students. The aim of the event was to improve understanding between students and PESA in an informal setting accompanied with food and drinks, and generate awareness of the society within the greater Curtin geology cohort. The attendees were predominantly undergraduates who were unaware of PESA but very interactive as they were keen to know more about PESA’s activities.
TGS announces updates to Australian data library
TGS is pleased to announce that the purchase of the Capreolus 3D seismic survey from Polarcus has been completed. The Capreolus, full broadband 3D seismic survey is 22,130 km2 and covers two hydrocarbon provinces with proven, but underexplored, oil and gas plays both in the Beagle and Bedout sub-basins offshore north-west Australia. Capreolus 3D includes modern 3D coverage over the Phoenix South and Roc oil and gas discoveries. Additionally, Capreolus 3D also spans the Dorado-1 exploration well and Phoenix South-3 appraisal well, currently being drilled.
PESA WA Winter Warmer 2018
The PESA Winter Warmer, one of the WA branch's main mid-year social events, was held at Ku De Ta's “The Deck”, courtesy of Chemostrat, who have been sponsoring every winter warmer event since they opened their Perth office in 2013. This year's event also marked the culmination of a month long silent auction of a paddle board sponsored by TGS. The event was well attended by 46 professionals, which is consistent with last year’s numbers of 45 individuals.
Pluto 4D – Australia’s first 4D over a gas field is an outstanding success
It was by far the most successful PESA WA event this year with over 100 PESA members attending our monthly luncheon. Our July guest speaker was a recognizable principal geophysicist Larry Tilbury from Woodside Energy presenting his long-lived contribution into planning and analysis of first Australia’s 4D seismic survey acquired over Pluto gas field, Northern Carnarvon Basin. The branch announcements by Victoria Seesaha, WA Branch Vice-President, included upcoming events such as the Winter Warmer at Ku De Ta, August technical talk by Garry O’Halloran from BHP on evolution of “Tres Hombres” within the Northern Beagle Sub-basin, and many more!
SEG Distinguished Lecturer Entertains at joint PESA Qld-ASEG Qld Evening
The July technical meeting saw PESA Queensland team up with ASEG Queensland to present an evening with SEG distinguished lecturer Dr Kurt Marfurt. Dr Kurt Marfurt serves as the Frank and Henrietta Schultz Professor of Geophysics within the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma. His primary research interests are the development and calibration of new seismic attributes to aid in seismic processing, seismic interpretation and reservoir characterisation. In addition to his work at the University of Oklahoma and with SEG, Dr Marfurt also serves as Editor in Chief of the AAPG/SEG journal Interpretation.