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

Approximately 300 North West Shelf oil and condensate samples, characterized by biomarker and isotopic analyses, are grouped into genetically related families. The dataset also includes carbon and hydrogen isotopic signatures for about 50 gas samples and existing molecular data for around 1000 gas samples. This regional synthesis of petroleum geochemistry from the Bonaparte, Browse, and Carnarvon basins was presented at the 2006 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition.

Use Cases

• Classify hydrocarbon families based on biomarker signatures mentioned in the description.
• Model source rock age and depositional environment based on isotopic and molecular trends.
• Assess gas maturity and secondary alteration processes using carbon and hydrogen isotopic data.
• Correlate oils and gases across different sub-basins using the described geochemical similarity.

Strengths

• Approximately 300 oil/condensate samples with biomarker and isotopic analyses.
• Includes data for about 50 gas samples and references molecular data for around 1000 gas samples.
• Provides a regional synthesis covering multiple basins over a fifty-year discovery period.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Biomarker and isotopic analyses of petroleum samples, combined with statistical characterization.

Time Range

Samples collected over the last fifty years prior to 2006.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 04:00:56.521701; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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