Composite drill cuttings from 3 Eromanga Basin water bores were sampled by Delhi over shallow intervals within which residual hydrocarbon shows had been reported by earlier visual logging, and were submitted to Amdel for geochemical confirmation of these shows (Amdel report no. F2723/83). Initially each sample was analysed for its total organic carbon and extractable organic matter (EOM) content. The EOM was separately by liquid chromatography into saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes, then gas chromatograms were recorded on the C15+ saturates fraction. The sulphur content in most samples was also determined. A later Amdel analysis appended to this Delhi report (Amdel report no. F6079/83) describes the results of treating the asphaltene extracts using Rock-Eval pyrolysis techniques, with the aim of estimating hydrocarbon source type and maturity by deriving elemental composition data (H/C and N + S/O ratios) and the critical crude oil cracking temperature, Tmax. Indications from this study are that the relict bitumens in Cannuwaukaninna Bore and Patchawarra Bore are probably early expulsion products from apparently immature near-surface sediments, whereas the Oodnadatta Town Bore bitumen is too mature to be indigenous, implying migration from a distant, deeper oil source lying within the oil window, perhaps within either the Boorthanna Trough or Poolowanna Trough.