Petroleum System Model Scenarios for the Vulcan Sub-basin

Several scenarios of a 3D petroleum systems model for the Vulcan Sub-basin were simulated using PetroMod 3D V.10 software. The modelling results confirm the timing of hydrocarbon generation and present-day maturity from prior work but incorporate PhaseKinetic models for individual source rock formations. Predictions indicate source rocks are still generating and identify potential untested accumulations dependent on fault closure.

Use Cases

• Assessing hydrocarbon generation timing and maturity based on source rock transformation ratios.
• Identifying potential exploration targets by comparing predicted accumulation locations with proven fields.
• Evaluating exploration risks related to source rock definition, trap geometry, and cap rock properties.
• Comparing fluid compositional predictions across different modelled scenarios.

Strengths

• Model results are validated against proven field locations, providing a real-world benchmark.
• The use of PhaseKinetic models for individual source rocks offers detailed compositional predictions.

Limitations

• The numerical model's low resolution leads to large predicted accumulation sizes and column heights.
• Key metadata such as row count, column names, license, and author are unavailable across all sources.
• A conflict exists in the 'last updated' date between 2026-06-04 and 2026-04-04 entries.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Simulation of scenarios using PetroMod 3D V.10 software on an original 3D model based on Fuji et al. (2004).

Freshness

2026-06-04

Geography

Vulcan Sub-basin, Offshore Western Australia, including the Central Swan Graben and Cartier Trough.