Geochemical Characteristics of Palaeozoic Petroleum Systems in Northwestern Australia

Isotopic and biomarker analyses of Cambrian to Permian oils and source rocks from the Arafura, Bonaparte, and Canning Basins characterize five distinct petroleum systems. The data, cited in a 1997 APPEA Journal article, includes specific isotopic signatures (e.g., δ13Csat = -32 ‰) and biomarker correlations for systems like Larapintine 1 and Gondwanan 1. It is hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in June 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlating hydrocarbon accumulations to source rocks based on isotopic signatures and biomarker profiles described in the study.
• Modeling the maturity and effectiveness of petroleum systems like Larapintine 1 based on described source rock richness.
• Re-evaluating the source attribution of Timor Sea hydrocarbons using the identified Permian-like geochemical signatures.
• Characterizing distinct petroleum facies (e.g., marine carbonates vs. deltaic sources) based on the diagnostic sterane, diasterane, and terpane signatures mentioned.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a peer-reviewed 1997 journal article in The APPEA Journal, providing an authoritative scientific basis.
• Includes specific, measurable geochemical indicators such as isotopic values (e.g., δ13Csat = -32 ‰) and biomarker ratios.
• Covers a broad temporal range from the Cambrian to Permian periods across multiple Northwestern Australian basins.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale statistical modeling.
• Primary data files are in PDF and HTML formats, which may require extraction and structuring for analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, citing Edwards et al. (1997) in The APPEA Journal.

Collection Method

Isotopic and biomarker analyses of oils and source rocks.

Time Range

Cambrian to Permian periods (Palaeozoic era).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 06:28:59.567641; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northwestern Australia, including the Arafura, Bonaparte (Petrel Sub-basin), and Canning Basins.