Publication Name: Eastern Australian Basins Symposium V (EABS 2015)
Authors: L. Elliott
Date Published: September 2015
Number of Pages: 26
Abstract:
This study identifies common biodegradation of Cooper/ Eromanga Basin (CEB) oils and condensates from changes to the n-alkane and isoprenoid whole oil gas chromatograph (WOGC) hydrocarbon profiles, which because of their generally mild degradation has not been previously identified or has been ignored. Three hydrocarbon families are recognised on the basis of their level of biodegradation (biodegraded, biodegraded with fresh charge and essentially non biodegraded). A review of biodegradation processes suggests that these families can be related to different reservoir entry temperatures and a scale relating biodegradation to reservoir entry temperature is proposed.