Geochemical Oil Correlation Study for Canning Basin Petroleum Systems

A 2020 geochemical study analyzes oil-oil correlations and source rock potential in the latest Devonian–earliest Carboniferous succession of Western Australia's Canning Basin. The research compares biomarker ratios, stable carbon isotopes, and aromatic hydrocarbons from the Ungani oilfield and Larapintine 4 oil family. It was conducted by researchers including Gemma Spaak and published in Marine and Petroleum Geology.

Use Cases

• Correlate oil families using specific biomarker ratios like hopane isomerisation and concentrations of paleorenieratane and isorenieratane.
• Evaluate source rock maturity and variations by analyzing stable carbon isotope (δ13C) values for n-alkanes, pristane, and phytane.
• Distinguish between Ungani and Larapintine 4 oil families based on their aromatic hydrocarbon profiles and depleted δ13C signatures.
• Identify potential source rock intervals within the Famennian–Tournaisian succession by comparing geochemical signatures to known formations like the Laurel and Gogo Formations.

Strengths

• Study published in 2020 in the peer-reviewed journal Marine and Petroleum Geology.
• Analysis incorporates multiple geochemical proxies: aromatic hydrocarbons, saturated biomarker ratios, and stable carbon isotopes.

Limitations

• Sample size and specific row/column counts for the underlying analytical data are not provided.
• Geographic scope is limited to the onshore Canning Basin in Western Australia.
• Source rocks for the Ungani and Wattle-1 ST1 oils remain unidentified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network (data_gov_au), citing the primary research article.

Collection Method

Geochemical laboratory analysis of oil and source rock samples.

Time Range

Latest Devonian–earliest Carboniferous geological succession.

Freshness

null

Geography

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