
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dawson, D. 
A1  - Grice, K. 
A1  - Alexander, R. 
T1  - STABLE HYDROGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS OF SEDIMENTARY HYDROCARBONS: A POTENTIAL METHOD FOR ASSESSING THERMAL MATURITY?
JF  - The APPEA Journal
JO  - The APPEA Journal
Y1  - 2005
VL  - 45
IS  - 1
SP  - 253
EP  - 262
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ04022 
N2  - A relationship has been identified between the maturity level of source rocks and the stable hydrogen isotopic compositions (&#x3b4;D) of extracted saturated hydrocarbons, based on the analysis of nine sediments and five crude oils from the Perth Basin (WA). The sediments cover the immature to late mature range. Distinct &#x3b4;D signatures are observed for the immature sediments where pristane and phytane are significantly depleted in deuterium (D) relative to the n-alkanes. With increasing maturity the difference between the &#x3b4;D values of n-alkanes and isoprenoids reduces as pristane and phytane become progressively enriched in D. The n-alkane&#x2013;isoprenoid &#x3b4;D signature of the crude oils, including one from a different source facies, is similar to mature&#x2013;late mature sediments representative of the peak oil&#x2013;generative window. Enrichment of D in isoprenoids is attributed to isotopic exchange associated with thermal maturation. Average &#x3b4;D values of pristane and phytane correlate well with vitrinite reflectance, as does the biomarker maturity parameter Ts/Tm. The limited data set suggests that &#x3b4;D values of aliphatic hydrocarbons may be useful for establishing thermal maturity, particularly when other maturity parameters are not appropriate. Furthermore, we suggest &#x3b4;D values may be useful over a wider maturity range than traditional parameters, particularly at very high maturity where biomarker parameters are no longer effective. 
ER  -

