NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE ACTIVE PETROLEUM SYSTEMS IN THE COOPER AND EROMANGA BASINS, AUSTRALIA

Abstract

This paper presents geochemical data—gas chromatography, saturated and aromatic biomarkers, carbon isotopes of bulk fractions and individual n-alkanes—for oils and potential source rocks in the Cooper and Eromanga basins, which show clear evidence for different source-reservoir couplets. The main couplets involve Cooper Basin source and reservoir and Cooper Basin source and Eromanga Basin reservoir. A subordinate couplet involving Eromanga Basin source and Eromanga Basin reservoir is also identified, together with minor inputs from pre-Permian source rocks to reservoirs of the Cooper and Eromanga basins.

The source–reservoir relationships are well expressed in the carbon isotopic composition of individual n-alkanes. These data reflect primary controls of source and maturity and are relatively insensitive to secondary alteration through migration fractionation and water washing, processes that have affected the molecular geochemistry of the majority of oils. Accordingly, the principal Gondwanan Petroleum Supersystem originating from a Permian source of the Cooper Basin has been further subdivided into two petroleum systems associated with Lower Permian Patchawarra Formation and Upper Permian Toolachee Formation sources respectively. Both sources are characterised by n-alkane isotope profiles that become progressively lighter with increasing carbon number—negative n-alkane isotope gradient. The Patchawarra source is isotopically lighter than the Toolachee source. Reservoir placement of oil in either the Toolachee or Patchawarra formations is, in general, a good guide to its source and perhaps an indirect measure of seal effectiveness. The subordinate Murta Petroleum Supersystem of the Eromanga Basin is subdivided into the Birkhead Petroleum System and Murta Petroleum System to reflect individual contributions from Birkhead Formation and Murta Formation sources respectively. Both systems are characterised by n-alkane carbon isotope profiles with low to no gradient. The minor Larapintine Petroleum Supersystem has been tentatively identified as involving pre-Permian source rocks in the far eastern YVarburton Basin and western margin of the Warrabin Trough in Queensland.

Eromanga source inputs to oil accumulations in the Eromanga Basin can be readily recognised from saturated and aromatic biomarker assemblages. However, biomarkers appear to over-emphasise local Eromanga sources. Hence, we have preferred the semi-quantitative assessment of relative Cooper and Eromanga inputs that can be made using n-alkane isotope data and this appears to be robust provided that Eromanga source input is greater than 25% in oils of mixed origin. Enhanced contributions from Birkhead sources are concentrated in areas of thick and mature Birkhead source rocks in the northeastern Patchawarra Trough. Pre-Permian inputs are readily recognised by n-alkanes more depleted in I3C compared with late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sources.

Long range migration (>50 km) from Permian sources has been established for oil accumulations in the Eromanga Basin. This, together with contributions from local Eromanga sources, highlights petroleum pro- spectivity beyond the Permian edge of the Cooper Basin. Deeper, pre-Permian sources must also be considered in any petroleum system evaluation of the Cooper and Eromanga basins.