Publication Name: The Sedimentary Basins of WA
Authors: M.T. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, A.P. Murray, D.J. Needham, L. Spencer, R.E. Summons, J. Wilmot and S. Winn
Publication Volume: 1
Date Published: July 1994
Number of Pages: 37
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
Five of the seven petroleum supersystems recognised in Australian Phanerozoic basins are represented in thewestern half of the continent, and there is also potential for petroleum systems in Proterozoic sequences. The most productive supersystem is the Westralian which includes the basins of the North West Shelf and extends into New Guinea. It links petroleum occurrences that have almost identical oil geochemistry, which reflects the deposition of similar source rocks in deep marine anoxic environments controlled by Jurassic rifts. Other productive petroleum supersystems in west Australia' include the Late Carboniferous to Triassic Gondwanan
and the early Palaeozoic Larapintine supersystems. The thick upper Mesozoic terrestrial rift fill sediments in the
Perth Basin can be considered as an extension of the Austral Supersystem of the southern margin basins.
Detailed study of the Browse Basin and Dampier Subbasin by the joint Australian Geological Survey Organisation and Australian Mineral Industry Research Association, Petroleum Division (AGSO-APIRA) Australian Petroleum Systems Project allows comparative analysis of the operation of the individual petroleum systems in these parts of the Westralian Supersystem.