Geochemical Characteristics of Palaeozoic Petroleum Systems in Northwestern Australia

Isotopic and biomarker analyses of Cambrian to Permian oils and source rocks characterize five distinct petroleum systems in the Arafura, Bonaparte, and Canning Basins. The dataset includes specific isotopic signatures (e.g., δ13Csat = -32 ‰) and biomarker correlations to formations like the Middle Cambrian Jigaimara Formation. It was published in The APPEA Journal in 1997 and is hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Correlating hydrocarbon accumulations to source rocks based on isotopic and biomarker signatures described in the study.
• Modeling petroleum system effectiveness using data on source rock richness and maturity mentioned for the Larapintine 1 system.
• Distinguishing between Palaeozoic and Mesozoic hydrocarbon sources in the Timor Sea using the identified geochemical components.
• Characterizing marine carbonate vs. deltaic source facies based on the diagnostic biomarker signatures outlined for different systems.

Strengths

• Characterizes five distinct petroleum systems (Larapintine 1-4, Gondwanan 1) with specific geochemical criteria.
• Includes concrete isotopic measurements (e.g., δ13Csat values ranging from -32 ‰ to -24 ‰).
• Correlates oils to specific geological formations (e.g., Jigaimara, Goldwyer, Gogo Formations) using diagnostic biomarkers.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-04-10 19:36:58.986762; freshness should be verified as the underlying study is from 1997.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Isotopic and biomarker analyses of oils and source rocks.

Time Range

Cambrian to Permian (Palaeozoic era)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 19:36:58.986762

Geography

Northwestern Australia (Arafura, Bonaparte (Petrel Sub-basin), and Canning Basins, Timor Sea)