Geochemical Characteristics of Early Carboniferous Petroleum Systems in Western Australia

A 2020 geochemical study analyzing oil-oil correlations and source rocks in the latest Devonian–earliest Carboniferous succession of the onshore Canning Basin, Western Australia. The research, published in Marine and Petroleum Geology, compares the Ungani oilfield with the Larapintine 4 oil family using aromatic hydrocarbons, biomarker ratios, and stable carbon isotopes. It identifies distinct geochemical signatures and postulates potential source rocks within the Famennian–Tournaisian succession.

Use Cases

• Correlating oil families based on aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and biomarker ratios mentioned in the description.
• Evaluating source rock potential for early Carboniferous petroleum systems based on geochemical signatures.
• Distinguishing oil maturity and source variations using hopane isomerisation ratios described in the study.
• Modeling hydrocarbon generation potential (gas vs. liquid) based on bulk geochemical properties referenced for source rocks.

Strengths

• Study is peer-reviewed and published in Marine and Petroleum Geology (Volume 113, 2020).
• Analysis includes multiple geochemical proxies: aromatic hydrocarbons, saturated biomarker ratios, and stable carbon isotopes.
• Specific geographic focus on the Canning Basin's Fitzroy Trough and Lennard Shelf.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific study area in Western Australia.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au.

Collection Method

A geochemical study conducted on core samples and oils, likely resulting in analytical measurements.

Time Range

Focuses on the latest Devonian–earliest Carboniferous geological succession.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 08:44:49.350785; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Onshore Canning Basin, Western Australia, specifically the Fitzroy Trough and Lennard Shelf.