oa Multi-Disciplinary Assessments to Understand the Influence of Structures on Connectivity in Sedimentary Basins in Eastern Australia

As a result of large-scale tectonic processes, geological structures exist in most sedimentary basins around the world where coal, gas or hydrocarbon resources are developed. Geological structures such as faults and igneous intrusions (e.g. dykes or sills) can potentially form preferential pathways from strata hosting these resources to overlying aquifers. To evaluate the potential impacts of resource development on overlying aquifers, a spatial assessment of subsurface geometry, including the identification and characterisation of geological structures and their hydrogeological role, and groundwater dynamics is required.

In this presentation, we provide an overview of how we have assessed the significance of geological structures as potential hydraulic seal bypasses between coal seam gas-bearing formations of the Gunnedah Basin and overlying aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) in the Pilliga Forest area in New South Wales (NSW).