Browse Basin Hydrocarbon Sources via GCxGC-TOFMS and Diamondoid CSIA

A study from the Australian Ocean Data Network combines comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC-TOFMS) and compound-specific isotope analyses (CSIA) of diamondoids to identify hydrocarbon contributions in the Browse Basin. The analysis includes non-biodegraded (Caswell) and biodegraded (Cornea and Gwydion) oil fields, using diamondoid concentrations and isotopic composition as source-specific indicators resistant to thermal maturity and biodegradation. The dataset, last updated in 2026, is provided in PDF format.

Use Cases

• Identify mixed hydrocarbon sources in oil accumulations based on diamondoid concentrations and ratios.
• Assess the contribution of high-maturity fluids in reservoirs using diamondoid yields compared to laboratory cracking experiments.
• Differentiate between marine and terrestrial source rock contributions using combined biomarker and diamondoid analysis.
• Study the effects of biodegradation on hydrocarbon signatures through the isotopic composition of individual diamondoids.

Strengths

• Uses GCxGC-TOFMS analysis which minimizes interference from co-eluting compounds, as cited in Silva et al., 2013 and Wang et al., 2013.
• Applies diamondoid analysis, a method shown to be source-specific and resistant to thermal maturity and biodegradation, per Dahl et al., 1999 and Grice et al., 2000.
• Compares specific oil fields (Caswell, Cornea, Gwydion) with distinct biodegradation states.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is provided in PDF format, which may require extraction and structuring for computational analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Combined GCxGC-TOFMS and CSIA of n-alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and diamondoids on oil samples.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 02:23:05.594288; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Browse Basin, offshore Northwest region of Australia.