Browse Basin Petroleum Systems Analysis And Fluid Source Study

Australian Ocean Data Network provides a study applying petroleum systems analysis to understand fluid sources and phase behavior in Australia's Browse Basin. The research maps source rock richness, thickness, and quality from well control and models maturity using basin-specific kinetics and 3D surfaces. It identifies four Mesozoic petroleum systems, with principal source rocks from Jurassic to Cretaceous formations.

Use Cases

• Map source rock richness, thickness, and quality from well control data to evaluate hydrocarbon generation potential.
• Model source rock maturity and expelled fluid composition by integrating source rock property maps with basin-specific kinetics.
• Identify the principal source rock intervals (e.g., Plover, Vulcan, Montara, Echuca Shoals formations) contributing to petroleum systems.
• Analyze the phase behavior of fluids (gas-condensate, oil rims) by combining petroleum systems analysis with geochemical studies of gases and liquids.
• Assess the transformation of kerogen into hydrocarbons and the timing of expulsion from the Late Cretaceous to present using burial history models.

Strengths

• Study integrates multiple data types: well control mapping, source rock property maps, 1D burial history models, and regional 3D surfaces.
• Analysis identifies four distinct Mesozoic petroleum systems within the basin.
• Focuses on a proven hydrocarbon province on Australia's North West Shelf with detailed formation-level analysis (J10-J30, K10-K30 supersequences).

Limitations

• Primary data format is a PDF report, limiting direct machine-readability and analysis of underlying raw data.
• Specific quantitative metrics like row counts, sample sizes, or measurement ranges for geochemical data are not provided.
• Geographic scope is limited to the Browse Basin, which may restrict broader regional applicability.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Petroleum systems modeling integrating well control mapping, source rock property maps, basin-specific kinetics, and burial history models.

Time Range

Geological focus on Mesozoic era, with hydrocarbon expulsion primarily from Late Cretaceous to present.

Freshness

Last updated April 4, 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

Browse Basin, offshore Australia's North West Shelf.