Publication Name: The Sedimentary Basins of WA
Authors: Alan Stein, Keith Myers, Chris Lewis, Theresa Cruse and Steve Winstanley
Publication Volume: 2
Date Published: December 1998
Number of Pages: 22
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
The Cornea Field in the Browse Basin is the first potentially commercial oil discovery in what was previously considered to be a gas-prone basin. The fleld results from drape of Albian sandstones over folded basement. The sands have been charged by long-range migration from Jurassic source rocks in the Browse Basin some 30-40 km to the northwest.The reservoir contains a gas cap underlain by an oil leg which may in places be over 50 m thick. The distribution of sands and reservoir fluids is complex and it is not yet possible to make an accurate estimate of reserves.
The presence of gas within the reservoir causes well-defined direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHis) on seismic data. A quantitative analysis of acoustic impedence inversion {All) over the reservoir was successful in predicting the presence of gas prior to drilling.
The extent of the Cornea play fairway is determined by the distribution of folded basement. The model presented to explain the deformation of the basement enables some predictions to be made about the regional extent of the fairway, and the way in which the basement geology has controlled the geometry and structure of the sedimentary basins surrounding the Kimberley region of northern Australia.