Petroleum Geochemistry

At the end of the course participants will have gained insight into the main geochemical concepts, tools, and application domains. They will understand how geochemistry can contribute to solving exploration and production problems. Exercises are used to reinforcing the acquired knowledge in a practical context. The participants will be able to apply basic geochemical tools, and will be in a position to define and manage geochemical projects.

Day 1

Focus On Source Rocks

• Introduction: Objectives of geochemistry, it’s role in E&P ventures
• Source rocks: depositional environment
• Quality assessment of source rocks
• Generation of hydrocarbons
• Migration: from kitchen to trap
• Exercises

Day 2

Focus on oil finger printing

• Objective of oil analyses
• Basic chemistry of hydrocarbons
• Overview of analytical methods
• The basic parameters for oil typing
• The gasoline fraction: the “star diagram method”
• Exercises

Day 3

Focus on exploration applications

• Basins & petroleum systems
• Biomarkers
• Oil family mapping
• Gas geochemistry
• Biodegradation of oil
• Prospect risking using geochemical data
• Exercises

Day 4

Core acquisition, analysis & interpretation

• Reservoir architecture & filling history
• High Resolution GC for reservoir geochemistry
• Maturity effects & reservoir compartments
• Case histories: Monitoring, compartmentalisation, near-field exploration.
• Exercises

Day 5

Focus on wells, pipeline, infrastucture

• Waterwashing, Evaporative fractionation, TSR, BSR
• Pay-zone detection & completion intervals
• Precipitation of solids during production (Wax, pyro-bitumen, asphaltenes)
• Application of water geochemistry
• Design workprogram: Saving money by using geochemistry
• Exercises