Extensional basin - forming structures in bass strait and their importance for hydrocarbon exploration

The Bass, Gippsland and Otway Basins of southeastern Australia were initiated by north-northeast to south-southwest lithospheric extension, largely during the Early Cretaceous. The extensional stage was followed by a Late Cretaceous to Pliocene thermal subsidence stage and a late stage of compressional tectonic overprinting. The major extensional structures have had an important influence on all stages of the evolution of these basins. It is contended that a thorough understanding of their extensional framework is an important factor in hydrocarbon exploration of these and other basins.