Paleozoic Marine Crude Oil Isotopic Compositions from Canning Basin

17 Paleozoic marine crude oil samples from the Canning Basin, Western Australia, provide stable carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δD) isotopic data for bulk, saturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The dataset enables comparison with other Australian and global marine oils, showing systematic isotopic enrichment from Early to Late Paleozoic periods. Analysis includes n-alkane-specific isotopic profiles for three major oil families to refine petroleum system characterizations.

Use Cases

• Compare bulk δ13C isotopic values across Ordovician, Devonian, and Mississippian oil samples to track temporal trends in organic matter sourcing.
• Analyze n-alkane-specific δD isotopic profiles alongside carbon data to assess influences of water chemistry and thermal maturity on oil families.
• Correlate isotopic compositions of saturated hydrocarbon fractions (δ13Csat) with biomarker analyses to differentiate source rock facies and maturation levels.
• Refine characterization of petroleum systems in the Canning Basin by integrating isotopic data from bulk and individual C7+ n-alkane measurements.

Strengths

• Focuses on 17 specific crude oil samples from a defined geological region (Canning Basin, Western Australia).
• Provides isotopic data for multiple hydrocarbon fractions: bulk, saturated, and aromatic, plus individual n-alkanes.
• Includes comparative analysis with oils from other Australian basins (e.g., Arafura, Bonaparte, Perth) and global marine oils.
• Reports specific isotopic values, such as a δ13Csat value of -32.0‰ for a Cambrian oil-stain and a mean of -29.2‰ for Late Devonian oils.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 17 oils limits statistical power for broad generalizations.
• Data is presented in non-tabular formats (HTML, PDF), complicating direct computational analysis.
• Temporal coverage is specific to Paleozoic samples, excluding younger or modern crude oils for comparison.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Laboratory isotopic analysis of collected crude oil samples.

Time Range

Paleozoic era (Cambrian, Ordovician, Devonian, Mississippian periods)

Freshness

null

Geography

Canning Basin, Western Australia; comparisons include Arafura Basin, Bonaparte Basin, Perth Basin