Peter McCabe

Professor Peter McCabe

Deputy Head of School

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Research interests include: unconventional resources, architecture of sandstone reservoirs for oil and gas, sequence stratigraphy of nonmarine strata, depositional environments of coal and coal-bearing strata, and assessment of fossil fuel resources.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2014 - 2020 South Australian State Chair of Petroleum Geology University of Adelaide
    2012 - 2014 Professor of Applied Sedimentology Queensland University of Technology
    2007 - 2012 Theme Leader CSIRO
    1987 - 2007 Research Geologist US Geological Survey
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    1999 Award Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award American Association of Petroleum Geologists, - -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1971 - 1975 University of Keele U.K. Ph.D.
    1968 - 1971 University of Hull United Kingdom B.Sc.
  • Research Interests

  • Journals

    Year Citation
    2024 Guo, F., McCabe, P., Feng, Z., Zhang, Z., & Peng, W. (2024). Depositional environments of complex lake systems – palaeogeographical evolution and main controls: A case study of the Lower to Middle Permian Roseneath–Epsilon–Murteree strata, Cooper Basin, Australia. Sedimentology, 33 pages.
    DOI
    2022 Wainman, C. C., McCabe, P. J., & Crowley, J. L. (2022). New insights on the age and stratigraphy of the Cisuralian succession in the Cooper Basin, Australia, based on U–Pb CA-TIMS dating of volcanic air-fall tuffs. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 69(4), 497-508.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2021 Guo, F., McCabe, P., Feng, Z., Wu, C., Lyu, X., Peng, W., & Guo, J. (2021). Core-based sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic analysis of shale-dominated gas plays: An example of the early to middle permian Roseneath-Epsilon-Murteree strata in the Cooper basin, Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 129, 21 pages.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS2
    2021 Salmachi, A., Rajabi, M., Wainman, C., Mackie, S., McCabe, P., Camac, B., & Clarkson, C. (2021). History, geology, in situ stress pattern, gas content and permeability of coal seam gas basins in Australia: a review. Energies, 14(9), 2651-1-2651-37.
    DOI Scopus53 WoS24
    2020 Dunlop, E. C., Salmachi, A., & McCabe, P. J. (2020). Investigation of increasing hydraulic fracture conductivity within producing ultra-deep coal seams using time-lapse rate transient analysis: A long-term pilot experiment in the Cooper Basin, Australia. International Journal of Coal Geology, 220, 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS9
    2020 Wainman, C. C., Tagliaro, G., Jones, M. M., Charles, A. J., Hall, T., White, L. T., . . . Holford, S. P. (2020). The sedimentological evolution and petroleum potential of a very thick Upper Cretaceous marine mudstone succession from the southern high latitudes—a case study from the Bight Basin, Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 118, 104441-1-104441-19.
    DOI Scopus13 WoS7
    2020 Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. J. (2020). Correlation of fluvial strata in the subsurface–a review. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 122, 18 pages.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS4
    2019 Wainman, C., Mantle, D., Hannaford, C., & McCabe, P. (2019). Possible freshwater dinoflagellate cysts and colonial algae from the Upper Jurassic strata of the Surat Basin, Australia. Palynology, 43(3), 1-12.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS9
    2019 Wainman, C. C., Reynolds, P., Hall, T., McCabe, P. J., & Holford, S. P. (2019). Nature and origin of tuff beds in Jurassic strata of the Surat Basin, Australia: implications on the evolution of the eastern margin of Gondwana during the Mesozoic. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 377, 103-116.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS16
    2018 Wainman, C., Hannaford, C., Mantle, D., & McCabe, P. (2018). Utilizing U–Pb CA-TIMS dating to calibrate the Middle to Late Jurassic spore-pollen zonation of the Surat Basin, Australia to the geological time-scale. Alcheringa, 42(3), 402-414.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS10
    2018 Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. J. (2018). Evolution of the depositional environments of the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia. Sedimentology, 66(5), 1673-1699.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS14
    2018 Wainman, C., McCabe, P., & Crowley, J. (2018). Solving a tuff problem: Defining a chronostratigraphic framework for Middle to Upper Jurassic nonmarine strata in eastern Australia using U-Pb CA-TIMS zircon dates. AAPG Bulletin, 102(6), 1141-1168.
    DOI Scopus32 WoS27
    2017 Psaltis, S., Farrell, T., Burrage, K., Burrage, P., McCabe, P., Moroney, T., . . . Bednarz, T. (2017). Using population of models to investigate and quantify gas production in a spatially heterogeneous coal seam gas field. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 49, 338-353.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2
    2015 Psaltis, S., Farrell, T., Burrage, K., Burrage, P., McCabe, P., Moroney, T., . . . Mazumder, S. (2015). Mathematical modelling of gas production and compositional shift of a CSG (coal seam gas) field: local model development. Energy, 88, 621-635.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS9
    2015 Wainman, C., McCabe, P., Crowley, J., & Nicoll, R. (2015). U-Pb zircon age of the Walloon Coal Measures in the Surat Basin, southeast Queensland: implications for paleogeography and basin subsidence. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 62(7), 807-816.
    DOI Scopus33 WoS28
    2002 Griffith, L. A., McCabe, P. J., & Williams, C. A. (2002). Foreword - Fluvial systems through space and time: from source to sea. BULLETIN OF CANADIAN PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, 50(1), 1-2.
    DOI
    2002 Ahlbrandt, T. S., & McCabe, P. J. (2002). Global petroleum resources: A view to the future. Geotimes, 47(11), 14-18.
    Scopus14 WoS8
    2001 McCabe, P. J. (2001). Energy resources - cornucopia or empty barrel?: Reply. AAPG BULLETIN, 85(6), 1093-1097.
    WoS2
    2001 McCabe, P. J. (2001). Sizing things up. GEOTIMES, 46(8), 4.
    1998 Qiang, J., & McCabe, P. J. (1998). Genetic features of petroleum systems in rift basins of eastern China. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 15(4), 343-358.
    DOI Scopus41 WoS21
    1998 McCabe, P. J. (1998). Energy resources - cornucopia or empty barrel?. AAPG Bulletin, 82(11), 2110-2134.
    Scopus60 WoS40
    1997 Robinson, J. W., & McCabe, P. J. (1997). Sandstone-body and shale-body dimensions in a braided fluvial system: Salt Wash Sandstone Member (Morrison formation), Garfield County, Utah. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 81(8), 1267-1291.
    WoS65
    1994 Shanley, K. W., & McCabe, P. J. (1994). Perspectives on the sequence stratigraphy of continental strata. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 78(4), 544-568.
    Scopus901 WoS744
    1992 Robinson Roberts, L. N., & McCabe, P. J. (1992). Peat accumulation in coastal-plain mires: a model for coals of the Fruitland Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of southern Colorado, USA. International Journal of Coal Geology, 21(3), 115-138.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS10
    1992 SHANLEY, K. W., McCABE, P. J., & HETTINGER, R. D. (1992). Tidal influence in Cretaceous fluvial strata from Utah, USA: a key to sequence stratigraphic interpretation. Sedimentology, 39(5), 905-930.
    DOI Scopus240 WoS204
    1992 McCabe, P. J., & Shanley, K. W. (1992). Organic control on shoreface stacking patterns: bogged down in the mire. Geology, 20(8), 741-744.
    DOI Scopus43 WoS39
    1992 KIRSCHBAUM, M. A., & McCABE, P. J. (1992). Controls on the accumulation of coal and on the development of anastomosed fluvial systems in the Cretaceous Dakota Formation of southern Utah. Sedimentology, 39(4), 581-598.
    DOI Scopus57 WoS49
    1992 McCabe, P. J., & Parrish, J. T. (1992). Tectonic and climatic controls on the distribution and quality of Cretaceous coals. Special Paper of the Geological Society of America, 267, 1-15.
    DOI Scopus71
    1991 MCCABE, P. J., & SHANLEY, K. W. (1991). AN ORGANIC CONTROL ON SHOREFACE STACKING PATTERNS - FINE TUNING SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC CONTROLS. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 75(3), 632.
    1991 McCabe, P. J. (1991). Tectonic controls on coal accumulation. Bulletin - Societe Geologique de France, 162(2), 277-282.
    Scopus52 WoS50
    1991 Shanley, K. W., & McCabe, P. J. (1991). Predicting facies architecture through sequence stratigraphy - an example from the Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah. Geology, 19(7), 742-745.
    DOI Scopus167 WoS142
    1990 MCCABE, P. J. (1990). COAL GEOLOGY. GEOTIMES, 35(2), 20.
    1989 MCCABE, P. J., & BREYER, J. A. (1989). ON THE SEDIMENTARY AND BOTANICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING PEAT ACCUMULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA - DISCUSSION. JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 146, 877-880.
    WoS7
    1989 McCabe, P. J., Breyer, J. A., Kosters, E. C., Cmura, G. L., & Bailey, A. (1989). Discussion on the sedimentary and botanical factors influencing peat accumulation in the Mississippi Delta: Journal, Vol. 144,1987, pp. 423-434. Journal of the Geological Society, 146(5), 877-880.
    DOI Scopus4
    1988 SANCHEZ, J. D., & MCCABE, P. J. (1988). TIDAL CHANNEL DEPOSITS IN UPPER CRETACEOUS OF NORTHERN KAIPAROWITS PLATEAU, UTAH. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 72(2), 243.
    1987 McCabe, P. J. (1987). Facies studies of coal and coal-bearing strata. Geological Society Special Publication, 32(1), 51-66.
    DOI Scopus82
    1987 MACDONALD, D. E., MCCABE, P. J., & STROBL, R. S. (1987). COALS FORMED IN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN UPPER CRETACEOUS OF ALBERTA BASIN. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 71(8), 1010.
    1986 Breyer, J. A., & McCabe, P. J. (1986). Coals associated with tidal sediments in the Wilcox Group ( Paleogene), south Texas ( USA).. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 56(4), 510-519.
    DOI Scopus28 WoS27
    1985 MCCABE, P. J. (1985). INFLUENCE OF STRIKE-SLIP MOVEMENT ON TERRESTRIAL SEDIMENTATION IN UPPER CARBONIFEROUS OF NOVA-SCOTIA AND NEW-BRUNSWICK. GEOPHYSICS, 50(2), 287.
    1984 MCCABE, P. J. (1984). INFLUENCE OF STRIKE-SLIP MOVEMENT ON TERRESTRIAL SEDIMENTATION IN UPPER CARBONIFEROUS OF NOVA-SCOTIA AND NEW-BRUNSWICK. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 68(4), 505.
    1981 MCCABE, P. J. (1981). TECTONIC EFFECTS ON MEANDERING RIVER DEPOSITS, CARBONIFEROUS, NOVA-SCOTIA, CANADA. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 65(5), 955.
    1980 MCCABE, P. J., MCCARTY, K. L., & PLUIM, S. B. (1980). TERRESTRIAL SEDIMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH STRIKE-SLIP-FAULT MOVEMENT IN MIDDLE CARBONIFEROUS OF NOVA-SCOTIA, CANADA. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 64(5), 747-748.
    WoS1
    1980 Jones, C. M., & McCABE, P. J. (1980). EROSION SURFACES WITHIN GIANT FLUVIAL CROSS-BEDS OF THE CARBONIFEROUS IN NORTHERN ENGLAND. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 50(2), 613-620.
    DOI Scopus27 WoS24
    1978 MCCABE, P. J. (1978). COARSE-GRAINED DEPOSITS BY EPHEMERAL STREAMS IN CARBONIFEROUS OF MARITIME PROVINCES, CANADA. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 62(3), 542.
    1977 McCABE, P. J. (1977). Deep distributary channels and giant bedforms in the Upper Carboniferous of the Central Pennines, northern England. Sedimentology, 24(2), 271-290.
    DOI Scopus68 WoS58
    1977 MCCABE, P. J., & JONES, C. M. (1977). FORMATION OF REACTIVATION SURFACES WITHIN SUPERIMPOSED DELTAS AND BEDFORMS. JOURNAL OF SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY, 47(2), 707-715.
    WoS72
    1976 MCCABE, P. J. (1976). KINDERSCOUTIAN DELTA (CARBONIFEROUS) OF NORTHERN ENGLAND - SLOPE INFLUENCED BY DENSITY CURRENTS. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 60(4), 695.
    1976 CANT, D. J., & MCCABE, P. J. (1976). EFFECTS OF ICE ON SEDIMENTS OF SANDY BRAIDED RIVER. AAPG BULLETIN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS, 60(4), 655.
    1975 McCabe, P. J. (1975). The structure of the viséan limestones between the craven faults, settle, Yorkshire: A discussion. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 40(4), 563-565.
    DOI
    1973 McCabe, P. J., & Waugh, B. (1973). Wenlock and Ludlow sedimentation in the Austwick and Horton-in-Ribblesdale Inlier, North-West Yorkshire. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 39(4), 445-470.
    DOI Scopus10
    1972 McCabe, P. J. (1972). The wenlock and lower ludlow strata of the Austwick and Horton-In-Ribblesdale inlier of North - West Yorkshire. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 39(2), 167-174.
    DOI Scopus3
  • Books

    Year Citation
    1995 Shanley, K., & McCabe, P. (1995). Sequence stratigraphy of Turonian-Santonian strata, Kaiparowits Plateau, southern Utah, USA: implications for regional correlation and foreland basin evolution.
    Scopus52
    1993 Shanley, K. W., & McCabe, P. J. (1993). Alluvial architecture in a sequence stratigraphic framework: a case history from the Upper Cretaceous of southern Utah, USA.
    Scopus224
    1981 Gersib, G. A., & McCabe, P. J. (1981). Continental coal-bearing sediments of the Port Hood Formation ( Carboniferous), Cape Linzee, Nova Scotia, Canada.. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology).
    DOI Scopus50
  • Book Chapters

    Year Citation
    2010 Gautier, D., McCabe, P., Ogden, J., & Demayo, T. (2010). Resources, reserves, and consumption of energy. In T. Graedel, & E. van der Voet (Eds.), Linkages of sustainability (pp. 323-340). United Kingdom: MIT Press.
    2009 Shanley, K. W., & Mccabe, P. J. (2009). Alluvial architecture in a sequence stratigraphie framework: A case history from the Upper Cretaceous of southern Utah, USA. In The Geological Modelling of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Outcrop Analogues (pp. 21-55). Wiley.
    DOI Scopus5
    2009 McCabe, P. J. (2009). Depositional Environments of Coal and Coal-Bearing Strata. In Sedimentology of Coal and Coal-Bearing Sequences (pp. 13-42). Wiley.
    DOI Scopus266
  • Conference Papers

    Year Citation
    2019 Wainman, C. C., Taligaro, G., & McCabe, P. (2019). New insights on the Upper Cretaceous Tiger Supersequence of the Bight Basin from International Ocean Discovery Hole U1512. In Australian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC) 2019 Conference Papers Vol. 2019 (pp. 1-2). online: ASEG.
    DOI Scopus1
    2015 Salmachi, A., Wainman, C., Rajabi, M., & McCabe, P. (2015). Effect of volcanic intrusions and mineral matters on desorption characteristics of coals (Case Study). In Proceedings Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition (pp. SPE-176841-MS-1-SPE-176841-MS-13). Brisbane, QLD: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
    DOI Scopus1
    - Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. J. (n.d.). Understanding the interplay between basin architecture, depositional environments and sediment pathways in the Cooper Basin. In Exploring Australia’s Resource Frontier. etroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA).
    DOI
  • Conference Items

    Year Citation
    2018 McCabe, P., Holford, S., Huber, B., Hobbs, R., Bogus, K., & Wainman, C. C. (2018). Sedimentological and palynological investigations from Mesozoic strata of the Bight and Mentelle Basins, Australia: Preliminary results from IODP Expedition 369.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Geoscience Council Convention. Adelaide, Australia.
    2017 Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. J. (2017). Overcoming challenges in nonmarine stratigraphy using a multidisciplinary approach: an example from Mesozoic basins of eastern Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts. Vienna, Austria.
    2017 Wainman, C., & McCabe, P. (2017). Using precise CA-TIMS ages of volcanic air-fall tuff beds in correlating the Walloon Coal Measures of the Surat Basin, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of The APPEA Journal. CSIRO Publishing.
    DOI
    2016 Wainman, C. C., & mccabe. (2016). The Correlation of Fluvio-Lacustrine Strata Using Volcanic Tuffs in the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia: A New Technique in the Exploration Tool Box. Poster session presented at the meeting of Geological Society of London Janet Watson Meeting 2016: The Future of Hydrocarbon Exploration. London, United Kingdom.
    2016 Wainman, C. C., & mccabe. (2016). The Correlation of Fluvio-Lacustrine Strata with Dated Volcanic Tuffs: An Example from the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Earth Sciences Convention. Adelaide, Australia.
    2016 Wainman, C. C., & mccabe. (2016). Climate or Subsidence? Geologic Controls on the Stratigraphic Distribution of Coal Beds in the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of AESC 2016 – Australian Earth Sciences Convention. Adelaide, Australia.
    2016 Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. J. (2016). Correlation of Fluvio-Lacustrine Strata Using Volcanic Tuffs: New Insights From the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition. Calgary, Canada.
    2016 Wainman, C., & McCabe, P. (2016). Tectonic and climatic controls on facies distribution in the Jurassic Walloon coal measures, Surat basin, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Conference and Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, 3-6 April 2016. Society of Exploration Geophysicists and American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
    DOI
    2015 Wainman, C. C., & McCabe, P. (2015). Mires in the dark: high latitude coals in the Jurassic Walloon Subgroup of the Surat Basin, Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of AAPG/SEG International Conference and Exhibition. Melbourne, Australia: AAPG Datapages.
    DOI
  • Report for External Bodies

    Year Citation
    2013 Ryder, R., Qiang, J., McCabe, P., Nuccio, V., & Persits, F. (2013). Shahejie-Shahejie/Guantao/Wumishan and Carboniferous/Permian Coal-Paleozoic total petroleum systems in the Bohaiwan Basin, China: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5010. United States of America: United States Geological Survey.
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Controls on the Sedimentology and Paleoenvironmental Evolution of the Permian and Triassic of the Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Chen Yu
    2015 - 2018 Co-Supervisor A Focus on the Sedimentology of Transgressions in Interior Seaways: Utilising Modern and Outcrop Analogues to Interpret the Subsurface Cretaceous Murta Formation, Eromanga Basin, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sandra Jean Mann
    2015 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Controls on Gas Production from Permian Ultra-deep Coal Seams of the Cooper Basin: Expanding Reservoir Boundary Theory Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Erik Christopher Dunlop
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Sequence stratigraphy, facies architecture and petroleum potential of the Roseneath, Epsilon, and Murteree Formations in the Cooper Basin, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Fengtao Guo
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Controls on the Geometry, Stratigraphic Distribution and Quality of Coals of Middle to Upper Jurassic Strata in Eastern Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Carmine Christopher Wainman
  • Position: Deputy Head of School
  • Email: peter.mccabe@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Santos Petroleum Engineering, floor 1
  • Org Unit: School of Chemical Engineering

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