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Polar heterocompounds in oil-Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit correlation studies

Christian Hallmann, Geological Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, Centre for Applied Organic Geochemistry, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia, Email: [email protected]

 

The purpose of this study is to monitor carbazole distributions in oils, Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit extracts and Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit pyrolysates in order to establish a molecular marker in the polar petroleum fraction, indicative for Previous HitsourceNext Hit facies.

The Cooper/Eromanga Basins, Australia, host oil and gas condensates that were sourced by at least three discrete terrestrial Previous HitsourceNext Hit rocks. Their highly similar Previous HitsourceNext Hit facies precludes a detailed oil-Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit correlation. Jurassic-sourced oils can be discriminated from Paleozoic-sourced oils by aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers that were produced exclusively by post-Triassic Araucariacea conifers. Preliminary results indicate that distribution patterns of nitrogen-containing carbazole compounds allow a precise discrimination of all three Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit units (Jurassic/Permian/pre-Permian) present in the study area.

We plan to subject immature, unaltered Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit samples from all three aforementioned Previous HitsourceNext Hit units to hydrous pyrolysis. Pyrolysates will be analysed for carbazole and hydrocarbon biomarker compositions by molecular geochemistry. Molecular compositions of hydrous pyrolysates are comparable to those of naturally generated oils. Pyrolysates, however, are unaffected by secondary alteration and oil mixing processes. Thus they should exhibit pristine end-member oil compositions. If the molecular composition of Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit pyrolysates supports our earlier observations, we can provide a powerful new tool for correlating oils and Previous HitsourceTop rocks based on heterocompound compositions.

The anticipated results will not only enhance our understanding of the Cooper/Eromanga Basin oil play, but also aid in future exploration activities, elsewhere. Furthermore, the finding of facies-dependent markers in polar petroleum fractions is a positive motivation for further research into the geochemistry of petroleum heterocompounds.