Publication Name: The Canning Basin, W.A.
Authors: E.L. Horstman
Date Published: December 1984
Number of Pages: 18
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
Source rock analyses are not available with adequate sampling density in either an areal or vertical sense todraw reasonable conclusions with respect to oil and gas potential in the Canning Basin. Only Total Organic Carbon analyses are available in a significant number of wells and these are predominantly spot determinations. Almost no source rock quality data are available and much of the maturity data was also obtained on a spot basis, rather than profiling, limiting its utility.
TOC data suggests that the Permian Liveringa Group, the Noonkanbah Formation, the Poole Sandstone and the Grant Formation may have some source potential, although the upper part of this section may never have reached the thermal maturity required for oil generation. The Carboniferous Fairfield Group and the Devonian
siliciclastic equivalents to the Devonian reef complex have source potential in the Fitzroy and Gregory troughs and on the associated terrace and shelf areas. The lower Goldwyer and upper Willara formations appear to have source potential on the Broome Arch, but lack of control prohibits evaluation of the areal extent of this source interval. The overall lack of sufficient source rock information in the Canning Basin in both areal and time sense does not allow any stratigraphic unit or area of the basin to be condemned from a source rock aspect.