Geochemical analysis – petroleum

Purposes of the crude oil geochemical study

  • Genetic type of oil
  • Maturity of the source organic matter
  • Correlations: oil – oil and oil – source rock
  • Influence of secondary processes:
    • biodegradation
    • water washing
    • evaporation fractionation
    • thermal cracking

Crude oil – geochemical analysis

  • Oil sampling and purification
  • Density (API gravity)
  • Sample preparation (topping)
  • Sulfur kontent
  • Fraction composition: saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, resins, asphaltens
  • Gas chromatography (GC) of oil – biomarkers:
    • GC–MS (saturated hydrocarbons)
    • GC–MS (aromatic hydrocarbons)
    • GC–MS–MS
  • Stable carbon isotopes: oil, saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, resines, asphaltens
  • Stable sulfur isotopes: oil – resins
  • Elemental composition of the asphaltens ( C, H, O, N, S)
  • Content of the U, Th, Co, Pb, Zn, Cu, V, W, Ni, Mo, etc. in petroleum