UV Fluorescence Spectra of 120 Offshore Western Australian Oils

A 1990s study by AGSO's Petroleum and Marine Division provides ultraviolet fluorescence emission spectra for 120 open file western Australian oil samples. The laboratory UVF data were collected by scanning the 280-500 nm emission response using a 266 nm excitation wavelength to evaluate aromatic hydrocarbons. This dataset enables comparison of known oil spectra with Airborne Laser Fluorosensor (ALF) survey data from offshore Western Australia.

Use Cases

• Correlate 280-500 nm emission response spectra from known oils with ALF survey anomalies to map hydrocarbon seeps.
• Analyze UVF spectra to evaluate the type and quantity of aromatic hydrocarbons present in 120 oil samples diluted with n-hexane.
• Characterize offshore Western Australian petroleum systems by comparing fluorescence signatures of oils defined in prior studies.

Strengths

• Contains laboratory UVF data for 120 distinct offshore Western Australian oil samples.
• Spectra are collected using the 266 nm excitation wavelength employed by operational ALF systems for direct compatibility.
• Oils represent all known offshore western Australian petroleum systems as defined in published geological studies.

Limitations

• Data originates from a concluded first-stage study in the 1990s, potentially lacking contemporary samples.
• Sample data and specific columnar structure are unavailable, limiting immediate analytical use.
• Focus is exclusively on offshore Western Australia, limiting geographic generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Laboratory analysis of oil aliquots diluted with n-hexane using ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) spectroscopy.

Time Range

1990s (study period)

Freshness

null

Geography

Offshore Western Australia