Baseline seismic monitoring of the Canning Basin, WA
This project will establish a long-term baseline of seismic monitoring data that will characterise the current natural seismic activity and cultural seismic noise within the Canning Basin in Western Australia.
Increased seismic activity associated with hydraulic fracturing is an area of community concern and this baseline study will distinguish any potential increase in seismic activity due to planned gas extraction operations from other seismic sources.
This research addresses recommendations from the Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia (2018).
WA Canning Basin valley
WA Canning Basin valley
Key points
- There is a significant information gap about the background seismic activity of the Canning Basin in Western Australia.
- The Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia (2018), recommends a baseline of natural seismic activity be established prior to unconventional gas extraction development.
- This project will establish data processing platforms for baseline seismic monitoring before the start of hydraulic fracturing.
- It will improve discrimination between natural sources such as earthquakes and human activities.
Reports and journals
Baseline seismic monitoring of the Canning Basin
This interim report presents the results of the desktop study of the seismic sources through maps using publicly available datasets, and assesses the capabilities of the data centre with the first batch of seismic monitoring data coming from the seismic network.
Resources
Baseline seismic monitoring of the Canning Basin, WA
This factsheet provides a brief overview of the GISERA research project “Baseline seismic monitoring of the Canning Basin, WA”, which characterises the current natural seismic activity and cultural seismic noise within the Canning Basin, Western Australia.
The more you look, the more you'll find
A general fact sheet on the advancing technologies of seismic monitoring, which is making data on earthquakes and other seismic activities more available globally, including in the Canning Basin of WA.
Project progress
This project is 45% complete
Project proposal
A detailed description of the project, budget and research milestones.
