Browse Basin Petroleum Systems Geochemical Analysis

Geochemical data redefines four petroleum systems in Australia's Browse Basin, a major conventional LNG province. The analysis includes isotopic and biomarker data for wet gases and crude oils from super-giant accumulations like Ichthys and Brecknock. This work was collated by the Australian Ocean Data Network and published in 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlate gas origin using 13C/12C and D/H isotopic ratios of n-alkanes from crude oils.
• Model source rock affinity by analyzing biomarker profiles for wet gases and hydrocarbon liquids.
• Assess biodegradation extent in oil and gas accumulations like Cornea and Gwydion on the Yampi Shelf.
• Estimate condensate-to-gas ratios (CGR) for reserves like Ichthys (60 bbl/MMscf) and Brecknock (20-30 bbl/MMscf).
• Map petroleum system boundaries using defined 13C n-alkane isotopic profiles for four systems.

Strengths

• Analysis covers super-giant accumulations with detailed reserve estimates, including Ichthys (12.8 Tcf gas, 527 mmbbl condensate).
• Defines four distinct petroleum systems using molecular, isotopic, and biomarker datasets.
• Provides an update to basin models not revised for a decade.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column names, and sample data are unavailable.
• Data formats are HTML and PDF, requiring extraction for computational analysis.
• Geographic scope is limited to the Browse Basin offshore Western Australia.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Collation of existing molecular, isotopic, and biomarker datasets from prior research.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated in 2026.

Geography

Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia Kimberley region.