Hydrocarbon Families of the NW Shelf: Molecular and Isotopic Composition of Oils and Gases

A 2006 regional synthesis documents biomarker and isotopic analyses of approximately 300 North West Shelf oil and condensate samples, statistically characterized into genetically related families. The work also includes carbon and hydrogen isotopic signatures of about 50 gas samples and references existing molecular data for around 1000 gas samples. It was presented at the AAPG International Conference and Exhibition and is hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Classify oil and gas samples into genetic families based on biomarker signatures mentioned in the description.
• Model regional trends in gas wetness and non-combustible gas abundance using isotopic and molecular data.
• Correlate petroleum accumulations to Mesozoic source rocks based on geochemical similarity analyses.
• Study the impact of maturity differences and secondary alteration processes on hydrocarbon signatures.

Strengths

• Analysis of approximately 300 oil/condensate samples provides a substantial sample size for regional characterization.
• Integration of isotopic data from ~50 gas samples with existing molecular data for ~1000 samples offers a multi-faceted view.
• Focus on specific sub-basins (Vulcan, Dampier, Barrow, Exmouth) and platforms (Rankin) allows for detailed geographic analysis.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified as the core analysis was presented in 2006.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Biomarker and isotopic analysis of collected samples, likely from petroleum industry and research sources.

Time Range

Sample collection timeframe not specified; analysis presented in 2006.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 20:31:23.242903; freshness should be verified

Geography

North West Shelf of Australia, including Bonaparte, Browse, and Carnarvon basins.