Applying quantitative fluorescence techniques to investigate petroleum charge history of sedimentary basins in Australia and Papuan New Guinea

Two fluorescence techniques namely Quantitative Grain Fluorescence (QGF) and QGF on Extract (QGF-E) were employed to investigate hydrocarbon charge history in 17 wells from seven sedimentary basins in Australia and Papua New Guinea including the Exmouth, Barrow, Vulcan, Timor Sea (joint petroleum development area), Cooper, Gippsland, and Papuan basins.The investigation has delineated a widespread occurrence of residual and palaeo oils in all seven basins including (1) residual oil columns below current oil–water contacts (OWCs) and in currently water-bearing “dry” wells; (2) palaeo oil accumulation within current gas zone; (3) palaeo oil columns below current OWCs, and (4) palaeo oil in currently water-bearing “dry” wells. The QGF and QGF-E methods, which provide information on both current and palaeo oil saturation, have been shown to be very effective in unravelling hydrocarbon charge history in the wells investigated.