Unusual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lower Cretaceous Ostracode Zone sediments and related oils of the Western Canada sedimentary basin

Analyses of the aromatic hydrocarbon fractions of extracts of Lower Cretaceous Ostracode Zone sediments from the Western Canada sedimentary basin indicate the predominance of polycyclic hydroaromatic components. Most of these have not been previously reported in the literature, but are obviously diagenetically related to a new class of molecule whose natural distribution and biological significance remain to be determined. The components whose molecular structures have been confirmed, together with those for which tentative structural assignments are given, provide strong support for a pathway of progressive aromatisation of the presumed polyprenol precursors. These compounds appear to be specific markers for the Ostracode Zone sourced oils in the Lower Mannville Group reservoirs of the Provost area and may serve as excellent oil-source correlation parameters.