A Regional Model for New Zealand's Taranaki Basin: The 4-D Taranaki Project

Abstract

A high resolution 3D geological model of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand's only hydrocarbon producing province, has been completed as part of the multi-phase, multi-disciplinary 4D Taranaki Project at GNS Science. The model covers an area of c. 74,000 km² and is based on interpretation of up to 17 regionally mapped seismic reflection horizons spanning from the Late Cretaceous to the Plio-Pleistocene. Horizons were tied to 42 exploration wells, which were further used to develop a regional velocity model. The result is a digital atlas of the basin complete with time structure maps, depth maps, isopachs and fault surfaces, all of which are available through the GNS Science website. The 3D model and maps have a temporal resolution of ~1–4 Myr since 23 Ma and ~5–10 Myr prior to the Miocene. This provides a significant improvement to the previous Taranaki atlas which comprised only 5 regionally mapped horizons. In turn this gives greater scope for an improved understanding of the area's geological development and petroleum systems, and provides better lateral and vertical geological input for regional-scale thermal and petroleum systems modelling, seismic facies mapping and improved paleogeographical analysis. Here we present results from the model including time structure, depth structure and isopach maps, and illustrate ways in which the model has led to further insight into the evolution of the basin. We present the pitfalls encountered and the solutions applied in this regional scale petroleum systems modelling study.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90217 © 2015 International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-16, 2015