
Layered rock on high steep sea bank
- Inferring Mineralogy
- Inferring Lithology (Mud Logging)
- Chemostratigraphy
- Reservoir Characterization
- Oil and Gas Productivity
In fact, chemostratigraphy, the study of the variation of chemistry within sedimentary sequences, was brought up in several booth discussions. Many visitors were impressed that XRF analysis can detect uranium, thorium, magnesium, aluminum, silica, and calcium. Their interest was piqued when they realized that if they can detect those elements as well as some others, they can figure the ratios of aluminum/silica and aluminum/calcium and be able to tell if they are in a shale formation … or if they see iron sulphur, they know there is iron pyrite in the vicinity. And if the calcium number drops down, they should see the silica ratio go up to sandstone, which will help in their decision about fracking in the area, since fracking is of no use in sandstone. We also got many inquiries about automatic data input into their proprietary mudlogging systems. Having the gamma logs from the down hole drills correlate to the elemental composition and Total Organic Carbon (TOC), will help let them know where oil plays. All in all, most executives agreed that immediate, onsite, XRF analysis can be a great help in decision making. Another observation is the increased number of posters that were presented by the universities that included elemental data. There seems to be a growing acceptance of portable XRF by academics who are embracing the idea that elemental composition from xrf analysis is accurate and reliable in E&P. I’m looking forward to finding out if we will hear the same buzz in April when we return to the George Brown Center in Houston for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, (AAPG) Annual Convention. Is chemostratigraphy important to you? Let us know below… or ask us in person at AAPG. AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition Booth #1222 6–9 April, 2014 Houston, TX USA
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