Nature of source material for hydrocarbons in Cooper Basin, Australia

Conference · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6552992

Smyth, M

The Cooper basin, which produces a large proportion of Australia's natural gas, also includes small oil fields. Source rocks for the hydrocarbons are believed to be the terrestrial coal measure sediments of the Permian Gidgealpa Group. Dispersed organic matter in the sediments of the Gidgealpa Group in the Patchawarra trough, Cooper basin, ranges between 1 and 5% by volume, through seven formations. Less than 10% of the dispersed organic matter is exinite, and less than 30% is vitrinite. If these two macerals only are considered as source material for the liquid hydrocarbons, none of the formations contains the 0.5% organic carbon currently deemed necessary for a sediment to be classified as a source rock. If inertinite is regarded to have generating potential, then most of the formations rate as good to excellent source rocks. Recent studies on vitrinite and inertinites from a variety of coal seams suggest that if vitrinite is accepted as a possible source of liquid hydrocarbons, then inertinite is equally prospective. Consequently, dispersed inertinite in the Gidgealpa Group sediments is proposed as one of the sources for the liquid hydrocarbons in the Cooper basin.

• Research Organization: CSIRO Div. of Fossil Fuels, North Ryde, Australia
• OSTI ID: 6552992
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310301-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 67:9
• 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
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MACERALS
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SOURCE ROCKS