The report is about the lab visit carried by the students of BS Geology 8th semester of

Bahria University Islamabad to the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan

arrange by our Respected Mam Dr. Samina Jahandad. We are very grateful to our teacher
for arranging such informative and practical educational Lab visit.
1.

Sedimentology Lab:
We start our visit from the sample making section where outcrop samples were

brought tin and by applying different technique thin sections were made of those samples,
these samples were future analyses in the Sedimentology lab where these thin sections were
furthered study under the microscope (Figure 1), to study different properties of the
lithologys classification, texture, grain size, grain packing and porosity are effect to
sediment during and after deposition we study in sedimentology. More than 75% area of
the earth is covered with sedimentary rock and HCs prone area is also present in
sedimentary basin. We use these different parameters to construct a basin model on the
basis of microscopic study, we can identify the microfossils and do biostratigraphy of the
various formation which ultimately lead to microfacie analysis of the rock sequence also
we can tell about the diagenetic properties of the rocks and their environment of deposition.
Through which we can easily identify Hydrocarbon traps which is our prior interest. This
is the direct observation of the lithology gives us visual evidence of porosity and other
parameters.

Figure 1 Microscope

2.

Elemental Analysis Technique:

Further on we move to Elemental analysis lab where TOC of the source rock is

determined by using C-S Detector. For this purpose, sample was prepared weighed 100150mg in a crucible then add drop wise HCL until the effervescence disappears. Now dry
the sample in the oven at 40 overnight. Now it is ready for the analysis, LECO CS 300
(Figure 2), instrument is used for analysis. Iron chips are used which act as catalyst in this
analysis. By applying standard temperature organic matter converts into CO and CO2,
organic CO2 is detected by the C-S Detector which gives us the TOC values, if these
values are greater than 0.5 than it is considered as fair source rock and sample is sent to
Rock Eval Pyrolysis lab.

Figure 2 LECO CS-300 instrument

3.

Rock Eval Pyrolysis

Artificial cracking of the sample is carried out in Rock Eval Pyrolysis instrument

(Figure 3), a sample is placed in a vessel and is progressively heated upto 550C under an
inert atmosphere. During the analysis, the hydrocarbons already present in the sample are
volatized at a moderate temperature this will result in graph called pyrogram having
different peaks including S1(free hydrocarbons), S2(pyrolysible hydrocarbon),
S3(inorganic hydrocarbon), S4(dead hydrocarbon), HI (hydrogen index), OI (oxygen
index), PI (production index) or GP (genetic potential), on the basis of GP value we
classify source rock as good if GP is > 2 or poor source rock if < 2.

Figure 3 Rock Eval Pyrolysis Instrument

Organic Petrography Lab:

Organic Petrology is the study and description of fossilized organic matter in

sedimentary sequences including coal and the finely dispersed organic matter in rocks in
Organic petrographic lab where samples are made and analyze under microscope but the
samples are different from those of thin section ,Samples mounted in a one inch mould
using epoxy slides are polished to improve reflectance, for this application of oil on
surface of mould/slide to improve reflectance result will give Vitrinite reflectance values
which are used to determine hydrocarbon type generated depending on source rock and
3

kerogen type. It is used in classification of coal rank and also in classification of different
zone of hydrocarbon. Highly reliable technique in source roc characterization i.e.,
liptinite, exinite or vtrinite.

Routine & Special Core Analysis:

Routine core analysis determines basic petro physical properties of cores or outcrop

samples recovered from geologic formations deep in the reservoir or at the exposed
surfaces part of the field. The measured parameters are used to define storage capacity
(porosity), the conductivity of the rock for the fluid flow (permeability), fluids saturation,
as well as lithology of the rocks. Sample preparation includes plug drilling from the deep
inside the well an d than plug cutting using special trim saw machine. Basic properties are
measured on cleaned, dry samples drilled from the whole core which is also done by the
Soxhelt Extractor. For many core analysis measurements, samples are cleaned out of pore
fluids and contaminants; then either measured in a dry state using oven. In Routine Core
Analysis following parameters are evaluated Porosity, Permeability, Fluid Saturation.
Porosity is determined by Helium Porosimeter while permeability is measured by Gas
Permeameter & Liquid Permeameter and, then Fluid saturation is done by Dean Stark
Method. Permeability and pore volume measurements were made on all plug samples at
ambient and overburden pressure in the CMSTM300 automated core measurement system.
The overburden pressures for each core were calculated by Woodside. A standard check plug
was run with every five plug samples. Klinkenberg permeability (Kinf) values are obtained
directly from the CMS-300, since it operates by unsteady-state principles. Porosity data was
obtained by combining pore volumes from the CMS-300 data with grain volumes from the
porosimeter permeabilities were measured by steady-state method. The full diameter
samples were individually placed in a hydrostatic core holder for pore volume and
permeability measurements, at both ambient and overburden pressures. Pore volumes were
measured directly by a Heise gauge helium porosimeter, then combined with their grain
volumes to obtain porosity data.

Figure 4 instruments used in Routine & Special core Analysis

GC (Gas Chromatography)
GC (Gas Chromatography) depends upon the solubility and boiling points of

organic liquids in order to separate them from a mixture. Only those components which
can be converted into vapors at temperature of GC-Injector could be analyzed by GC. An
inert gas such as helium is passed through the column as a carrier gas and is the moving
phase. A sample is injected into a port which is much hotter than the column and is
vaporized. The gaseous sample mixes with the helium gas and begins to travel with the
carrier gas through the column. As the different compounds in the sample have varying
solubility in the column liquid and as these compounds cool a bit, they are deposited on
the column support. The process is repeated many, many times along the column.
Eventually the components of the injected sample are separated and come off of the column
at different times called "retention times". There is a detector at the end of the column
which signals the change in the nature of the gas flowing out of the column. Recall that
helium is the carrier gas and will have a specific thermal conductivity, for example. Other
compounds have their own thermal conductivities. The elution of a compound other than
helium will cause a change in conductivity and that change is converted to an electrical
signal. The detector, in turn, sends a signal to a strip chart recorder or to a computer.
Detectors come in several varieties, for example, thermal detectors, flame-ionization and
electron capture detectors.

Atomic absorption spectroscopy:

Atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS), (Figure 5) is a spectro-analytical procedure

for the quantitative determination of chemical elements using the absorption of optical
radiation (light) by free atoms in the gaseous state. The technique uses basically that free
atoms (gas) generated in an atomizer can absorb radiation at specific frequency which will
give a specific spectrum and record over detector. To analyze sample, it should be in the
form of solution. i.e. sample is treated with HCL to convert it into solution. This technique
is known as destructive technique because after the completion of analyses the sample is
no more for further analyses. we can analyze only one sample at a time, to study multiple
sample we use ICP-OES and for non-destructive technique of ample we use Neutron
Activation Analysis(NAA). Atomic absorption spectrometry has many uses in different
areas of chemistry.

Figure 5 instrument used for Atomic absorption spectroscopy