Publication Name: The Cooper & Eromanga Basins Australia
Authors: P. G. Senycia
Date Published: June 1989
Number of Pages: 24
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
Early petroleum exploration in the Simpson Desert region was generally limited because of access problemsimposed by the presence of large and extensive sand dunes. Later detailed seismic field studies required the location of traverse lines in a tight rectilinear grid. Subsequently, seismic was located not only along dune corridors but also perpendicular to the dune field.
Early workers believed that the dunes were simply the product of homogeneous sand development and that a
simple statics model could be utilised to predict their effect on the seismic data. Recent results from uphole velocity proftles conducted in the Northern Territory portion of the Desert indicate dune development to be far more complex. This realisation has led to the reprocessing of significant portions of older data resulting in a major change to the previous interpretation. Research has indicated that a seismically measured geophone static, tied to suitable uphole control, is required to correctly adjust cross-dune data in this region.
The subsequent application of more appropriate weathering statics information during the processing of the
seismic data has provided a superior product for interpretation purposes.