Analysis and characterisation of petroleum source rocks in Queensland

Abstract

A project to improve the understanding of petroleum source rocks across Queensland’s basins was proposed through the Industry Priorities Initiative. The study has identified new source rocks, improved characterisation of known source rocks, and examined their potential as unconventional reservoirs. Round 2 of the project sampled known source rock formations in the Adavale, Bowen, Cooper and Eromanga basins, all with proven petroleum potential. Forty-eight samples from these basins were screened through Rock-Eval and total organic carbon by LECO to determine candidates for further analysis. Pyrolysis gas chromatography was conducted on selected samples (n = 15) to understand the bulk chemical signatures of kerogens with fluids extracted to derive isotopic and biomarker signatures. Organic petrology (n = 11) examined kerogen components and reflectance. Immature samples were analysed for bulk kinetics (n = 10) to determine the stability of kerogens while some were sent for compositional kinetics (n = 7), to predict the gas to oil ratio (GOR) and saturation pressure. Some more mature samples were sent for late gas analysis (n = 6) to understand hydrocarbon generation at later stages of thermal maturation. The results indicate that the marls in the Bury Limestone may have promising potential, that the Permian coals are the principal source rocks in the Cooper and Bowen basins and that the coals and mudstones of the Birkhead Formation have potential to generate. High production index values were noted in the Bury Limestone, as well as coal and mudstone samples from the Cooper and Bowen basins, suggesting that some of these source rocks also have good retention capabilities.