CAOG - PhD Students

Mr Daniel Dawson

Applications of D/H Isotopic Analysis to Petroleum Geochemistry

The measurement of stable hydrogen isotope (D/H) ratios of individual compounds using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-irMS) is an attractive technique for geological applications, considering hydrogen has the largest relative mass difference between its two stable isotopes and, therefore, the largest natural variations in stable isotope ratios. This project involves using hydrogen compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) for: (i) palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic studies; (ii) oil-source correlation and maturation studies and (iii) broader applications including biodegradation and water-washing effects of petroleum samples. Processes that affect D/H ratios of organic matter in natural systems include (mainly) global and local water cycle processes, and hydrogen exchange reactions. The investigation of hydrogen exchange processes is particularly important, because this will indicate the preservation potential of lipid D/H compositions in sedimentary organic matter, as well as fundamental reactions occurring in the subsurface leading to petroleum formation. The majority of crude oil and source-rock samples in use for this study are from the Perth Basin (Western Australia).

Supervisors

A/Professor K. Grice, Professor R. Alexander

Funding

APA