Exploration in Bass Strait

Offshore exploration in Bass Strait is conducted with the assistance of specialised seismic surveys.

Seismic surveys use compressed air to bounce low-frequency sound waves off boundaries between different rock layers far below the ocean floor. The sound waves are recorded by long streamers of hydrophone listening devices which are towed behind a specially configured ship. The hydrophone streamers can often be up 5km long and a large seismic survey usually takes several months.

The seismic data collected through this process is analysed and interpreted using extremely powerful computer programs and software. The computers then generate three dimensional (3D) images of the various underground formations.

Studying these images can tell us the geology and properties of the rock within a reservoir and thus allow geoscientists to identify prospective drilling targets as well as effectively and efficiently managing the current resources.

Exploration technology is constantly improving and the introduction of 3D imaging, in particular, now allows us to identify potential oil bearing structures deep inside the earth that would not have been detectable just a few years ago.