AUGUST 2018 • ISSUE 195 ABN 71 000 876 040 ISSN 1443-2471 Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists PREVIEW NEWS AND COMMENTARY FEATURES ASEG CORPORATE PLUS MEMBER New sea-fl oor data from MH370 search Cooper Basin trial of new The Basin GENESIS Hub extractive technology LIN approximation revisited The fi rst Australian MRR: a better raster storage format exploration seismologist Password hygiene The Leading Exploration Geoscience Conference in Asia-Pacific Enquiries: [email protected] www.aegc.com.au Enquiries: [email protected] www.aegc.com.au Co-Hosted by Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists PREVIEW ADVERTISERS INDEX Alpha Geoscience . 51 Archimedes Financial Planning. 51 CONTENTS CoRMaGeo . 51 Editor’s desk 2 Daishsat/Aerosystems . 41 EMIT. OBC ASEG news Gap GeoPhysics . 51 GBG Australia . 51 President’s piece 3 GEM Geophysics . 3 Table of offi ceholders 4 Geophysical Software Solutions . 51 Executive Brief 5 Groundwater Imaging . 51 New Members 6 Minty Geophysics . 51 Mira Geoscience . 52 Committees: News from the ASEG Young Professionals Network 7 Planetary Geophysics . 52 Branch news 9 Tensor Research . 35, 52 ASEG national calendar 10 Thomson Aviation . 2 Vortex Geophysics. 50 News Zonge. 32 People: Vale: Search Exploration Services 13 Conferences and events: AEGC 2019 13 Geophysics in the Surveys: 14 • ASEG CORPORATE PLUS MEMBER GA: Update on geophysical survey progress 14 • MRT: 3D geophysical model launch 18 Velseis Pty Ltd • GSSA: 20 Tel: +61 7 3376 5544 Email: [email protected] The Woomera Prohibited Area, open for exploration (as always!) 20 New magnetotelluric surveys 21 • GSNSW: Release of new 3D models and statewide seamless geology 22 ASEG CORPORATE MEMBERS Commentary Archimedes Financial Planning Contact: Noll Moriarty Canberra observed: 24 Tel: 1300 387 351 • New sea-fl oor data released from MH370 search area 24 Email: [email protected] • A national disgrace: the decline continues in government Instrumentation GDD Inc. investment in R&D 26 Contact: Pierre Gaucher Education matters: The ARC Basin GENESIS Hub – connecting solid Tel: +1 418 877 4249 Email: [email protected] Earth evolution to sedimentary basins 27 Environmental geophysics: Low induction number approximation revisited 33 Santos Ltd Minerals geophysics: Banes and mantras, learning never stops 36 Tel: +61 8 8116 5000 Seismic window: Rock physics – past and future 37 Web: https://www.santos.com Data trends: MRR – a new, soon to be freely accessible, raster storage format 38 Webwaves: Password hygiene 42 Southern Geoscience Consultants Pty Ltd Tel: +61 8 6254 5000 Features Email: [email protected] Web: http://sgc.com.au/ A new experimental extractive technology trial for Cooper Basin unconventional resources: alignment fl ow technology 44 Edgar H Booth: was he the fi rst Australian exploration seismologist? 46 Business directory 51 International calendar of events IBC Editor ASEG Head Offi ce & Secretariat FRONT COVER Lisa Worrall Alison Forton Email: [email protected] ssociation Specialists Pty Ltd (TAS) AUGUST 2018 • ISSUE 195 The A ABN 71 000 876 040 ISSN 1443-2471 Australian Society of 3D fault model of the Exploration Geophysicists Eastern Lachlan Orogen Associate Editors Tel: (02) 9431 8622 Education: Michael Asten Email: [email protected] PREVIEW with the statewide Website: www.aseg.org.au depth to basement in Email: [email protected] the background. Source: Government: David Denham Geological Survey of Email: [email protected] Publisher CSIRO Publishing New South Wales. See Environmental Geophysics: Mike Hatch Geophysics in the Surveys Email: [email protected] for more information. Minerals Geophysics: Terry Harvey Production Editor NEWS AND COMMENTARY FEATURES ASEG CORPORATE Helen Pavlatos PLUS MEMBER New sea-fl oor data from MH370 search Cooper Basin trial of new Email: [email protected] The Basin GENESIS Hub extractive technology LIN approximation revisited Tel: (03) 9545 8472 The fi rst Australian MRR: a better raster storage format exploration seismologist Password hygiene Petroleum Geophysics: Michael Micenko Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Geophysical Data Management and Analysis: Preview is available online at Advertising www.publish.csiro.au/journals/pv – Tel: (03) 9545 8400 ISSN: 1443-2471 eISSN: 1836-084X Book Reviews: Ron Hackney Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Editor’s desk Editor’s desk exploration seismology? Roger tells me storage and management issues that have that this article is the last in his series on been identified. the origins of Australian geophysics so, enjoy whilst you can! But wait, there is more, Michael Asten (Education matters) treats us to a mini- Our commentators have been feature on the ARC Basin GENESIS particularly busy. David Denham Hub at Sydney University. If you are (Canberra observed) introduces us to not familiar with the work of this hub I the astonishingly detailed data on the can guarantee that you will be intrigued, floor of the Indian Ocean that was and unable to resist the temptation to go acquired during the search for MH370. online and cruise through the group’s This data is now publically available graphical representations of the evolution through Geoscience Australia. David of the Australian continent. Mike Hatch also bemoans the continuing decline (Environmental geophysics), who was of government investment in R&D disappointed by some of his own recent This issue of Preview has something for but, it is difficult to fault state and inversion results, takes another look at everyone, so crack open that bottle of federal governments in terms of their low induction number approximation. red and settle down in your favourite ongoing investment in geophysical Terry Harvey (Minerals geophysics) re- armchair! surveys (Geophysics in the surveys). The evaluates his relationship with sulphides. We feature the trial of a new and management and storage of increasing Mick Micenko (Seismic window) experimental extractive technology for volumes of survey data is a perennial considers the importance of rock physics unconventional resources in the Cooper topic of discussion at the ASEG in seismic interpretation and, finally, Basin. Ray Johnson and his collaborators, Technical Standards Committee meetings. Dave Annetts (Webwaves) warns us to Real Energy Corporation Ltd, are going Tim Keeping is the Chair of the ASEG be mindful of how we use, and misuse, out on a bit of a limb with this one, Technical Standards Committee and, as passwords. and I hope that they will keep Preview guest editor of Data trends, he asked Cheers! readers posted as the trial progresses. Sam Roberts of Pitney Bowes to report We also feature an article by Roger on MRR – a new, soon to be freely Lisa Worrall Henderson that asks the question; was accessible, raster storage format that Preview Editor Edgar H Booth the father of Australian could solve some of the raster data [email protected] CELEBRATING A NEW MILESTONE Fixed wing & helicopter platforms Cutting edge technologies Worldwide deployment Experienced personnel Quality processing Highest quality and resolution MAGNETICS RADIOMETRICS ELECTROMAGNETICS & GRAVITY A proud member of INNOVATIVE EM TECHNOLOGY +61 2 6960 3800 www.thomsonaviation.com.au David Abbott +61 4 9999 1963 ([email protected]) Paul Rogerson +61 4 2768 1484 ([email protected]) 2 PREVIEW AUGUST 2018 President’s piece ASEG news President’s piece who run Conferences, Special Interest attainable reforms to the Australian Groups (SIGs) and other committees resource sector. Each reform will ensure which are listed on our website https:// the sector’s competitiveness and www.aseg.org.au/committees. Most of our sustainability to 2030 and beyond. volunteers have been staunch long term The taskforce, which includes former advocates of geophysics, science Geoscience Australia CEO Chris Pigram, education and, of course, the ASEG will present its findings to the Minister and we thank everyone for their time and by August 2018 and those findings, professionalism. If you would like to which should be of considerable interest volunteer let me know, and we can find a to all ASEG Members, will be used by role that suits you. the Federal Government to develop a National Resources Statement. Marina Costelloe Recently I was surprised and heartened to receive a letter from Senator the Hon. In June I attended a two day MinEx CRC Welcome to a new edition of Preview! Matt Canavan, Minister for Resources meeting and met the CRC’s CEO Andrew and Northern Australia. Matt Bailey. The MinEx CRC is in the early National volunteer week was in May this congratulated me on my election as planning phase and started its ten-year year, and we took the opportunity to President of the ASEG. I share this program officially in July 2018. The CRC celebrate our volunteers in an email. I’d wonderful news with you because this like to again to thank, congratulate and reflects positively on our Society and the will create new opportunities for mineral praise the work of ASEG volunteers, value exploration geophysics has at the discovery by delivering industry led, with a special mention to the Branch highest levels of government. Yes, I have outcome focussed research. It was a good Presidents, Branch Secretaries and Branch framed the letter and have it hanging in opportunity to connect the ASEG and Treasurers. ASEG events, workshops, the study. voice our strengths and possible seminars and the day to day working of collaboration with the CRC, particularly Branches are successful because of our In March, Minister Canavan addressed in the data acquisition and data standards volunteers. If you have not had the the National Press Club on the topic ‘The space. The discussions were intense and opportunity to be on a Branch committee Long Mining Boom’ where he announced delved deeply into where pain points you might not see or fully understand the the establishment of an expert-led exist and solutions can be maximised work that goes on daily to support all our Resources 2030 Taskforce.