Skip to main content
 
  • Share this page on Facebook
  • Print this page

Airborne Gravity Survey

SURVEY UPDATE

The airborne gravity survey is now complete. The survey started on 23 November and the last flight occurred on Sunday 11 December 2011. The Department will be reporting on the survey outcomes via this website in early 2012.

Total kms flown: 10,523 kms

The survey was conducted to provide a better understanding of the geology of the region and help provide a consistent picture of the geological structure of the onshore, near shore and immediate offshore area of the Gippsland Basin.

What is an airborne gravity survey?

An airborne gravity survey is when a small plane with onboard equipment measures the earth’s gravity field in the area it is flying over. It is a low impact way of mapping the regional geology. Data collected during such surveys generally provides basic information for mineral and petroleum exploration studies.

Photograph of a light plane used for surveying

Photograph courtesy of Sander Geophysics

Where did it happen?

The survey was carried out over land and sea, over an area approximately 140 km by 70 km between Lakes Entrance and Woodside.

Map showing Gippsland Nearshore Airborne Gravity Survey area which is along the coast starting just above Lakes Entrance and covering Metung, Paynesville, Seaspray and Woodside areas

What was the purpose of this particular survey?

The survey was conducted to provide a better understanding of the geology of the region and help provide a consistent picture of the geological structure of the onshore, near shore and immediate offshore area of the Gippsland Basin.

The survey is part of an investigation by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) into the feasibility of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the Gippsland Basin. CCS is one of a number of techniques that the Victorian Government is looking at to reduce our carbon emissions. This project is looking at the viability of capturing carbon dioxide from power stations and other large scale industrial facilities in the Latrobe Valley, and moving it to secure storage sites in the Gippsland Basin. The Gippsland Basin is a region that has safely stored large volumes of oil and gas for millions of years.

How far advanced is this work?

The CarbonNet Project is still in the feasibility stage of assessing whether the Gippsland Basin has the appropriate geological structure for underground storage of carbon dioxide. A lot more work remains to be done.

Will I be able to see the survey results?

DPI will be reporting on the outcomes of the survey via its website.

Where can I find more information on The CarbonNet Project?

For further information on CCS and The CarbonNet Project, please visit:

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/ccs or email CarbonNet.Info@dpi.vic.gov.au