Hydrocarbon generation in Gippsland basin, Australia: comparison with Cooper basin, Australia

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5701044

Shibaoka, M; Saxby, J D; Taylor, G H

The Gippsland basin, with its oil and gas resources, provides an excellent area for organic geochemical and petrologic research on the generation, migration, and alteration of hydrocarbons. The main source rocks for the known oil and gas deposits appear to be at depths greater than those reached by any of the exploration wells. The type of organic material originally present in the rocks now at depths greater than 4000 m (and now at temperatures greater than 130/sup 0/C) is unknown but, at least within the Latrobe Group, it appears to have had a high exinite content similar to that observed in the upper part of the group. At such temperatures, thermal cracking of exinite would yield a considerable amount of oil, whereas the products from vitrinite would be mainly gas and solid residue. Migration to reservoirs below the unconformity at the top of the Latrobe Group would follow. Both generation and migration are believed to be occurring at the present time, as immature carbonaceous material is being exposed to higher temperatures by deeper burial. Chromatographic analysis of Gippsland crude oils suggests that the oils originate from solid organic matter derived from algae and land plants, the latter contributing to the high wax content. Gas generation in the Cooper basin provides an interesting comparison with the Gippsland basin in relation to type of organic material and geothermal history. 9 figures.

• Research Organization: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, North Ryde, Australia
• OSTI ID: 5701044
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 62:7; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALGAE
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
MIGRATION
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLOGY
PLANTS
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES