PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE NEOPROTEROZOIC WESTERN OFFICER BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, BASED ON A SOURCE ROCK MODEL FROM EMPRESS-IA

Abstract

The sedimentology, palaeontology and geochemistry of Neoproterozoic, organic-rich, clastic and related carbonate deposits in Western Australia provide new insights into the first-order depositional controls on hydrocarbon source rocks in the Neoproterozoic. Organic facies are correlated with depositional facies, revealing the impact of organic productivity and transport of organic rich sediments on the accumulation of organic matter in different depositional environments. Sedimentation is largely limited to ramp, platform, shoal, lagoon and sabkha environments.

Growth of benthic organisms in the photic zone was the primary process controlling the production of organic matter in the ramp-shoreline system of the Kanpa Formation. Storms and floods were the primary mechanism for moving organic rich sediments into dysoxic and anoxic depositional environments. Variations in organic facies are indicated by: 1) changes in the palynomorph assemblages, particularly the increase in acritarchs within shallow-water ramp facies and cyanobacterial filaments in quiet-water sediments; 2) organic-rich laminae, containing abundant cyanobacterial filaments and mat material; and 3) the oxidation state of preserved organic remains.

Periods of high organic growth rates or periods of mass mortality may have led to the development of an anoxic zone at the water-sediment interface. In the shoal and lagoonal settings, higher rates of clastic sediment dilution combined with oxygenated conditions resulted in lower TOC and hydrogen depleted organic facies.

Condensed sections overlying stromatolitic dolomites represent the most effective organic facies of all of the potential source laminae sampled in Empress–IA. Most of the Officer Basin succession is currently within the oil-generating window and hydrocarbon shows encourage further exploration.