Petroleum source rocks of the Amadeus Basin

R. E. Summons, T. G. Powell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Sediment cores from exploration and stratigraphic boreholes in the Amadeus Basin were examined for information about the distribution, quality and distinctiveness of source rock intervals. Significant intervals of mature and moderate to rich source rock were confined to one unit, the Ordovician Horn Valley Siltstone. Organic matter was present in the Cambrian Chandler Formation and in the Proterozoic Pertatataka and Bitter Springs Formations. Rock-Eval pyrolysis and biomarker distributions suggest that the organic matter in the Cambrian and Proterozoic sediments, where it does exist, is mature with respect to petroleum generation. High temperature thresholds are probably necessary for hydrocarbon generation from the Ordivician kerogens of the Horn Valley Siltstone. -from Authors

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)511-524
    Number of pages14
    JournalBulletin - Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology & Geophysics, Australia
    Volume236
    Publication statusPublished - 1991

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