Oil and Gas Exploration and Element Analysis

Oil and natural gas reservoirs remain one of the more elusive targets for the mining industry. A tremendous amount of time and money can be lost without the right tools, data, and technology to quickly target the best drill sites.

The key to identifying the best oil and gas deposits is to conduct sample analyses of drill cuttings, outcrops, piston-core sediment, and oil and gas cores. These sample types provide valuable information about the mineral composition of the rock and whether it has properties favorable to oil and gas production.

Thermo Scientific Niton portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers are improving efficiency in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations by providing rapid sample analysis in the field, in real time. They provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive on-site labs or time consuming analysis at off-site laboratories.

Niton analyzers are not used to directly analyze hydrocarbon fluids, but they can be used to characterize reservoir properties that influence porosity (cements), permeability (clays, cement type), fracture population (Si content), and productivity (e.g. Si, Mg content). These assay data are very important in interpretation of the hydrocarbon potential of the strata and can be used in the following areas:

Light Element Analysis

Our analyzers, particularly the Niton XL5 Plus XRF Analyzer and the Niton XL3t Ultra XRF Analyzer, enable users to more accurately detect oil-bearing strata, improve mud-logging and support geo-steering. Our instruments can analyze trace elements and light elements, including low levels of magnesium and aluminum, in prepared samples and with or without He-purge, depending on the desired performance.

Learn more about how we can help you find the most productive—and profitable—oil and gas deposits:

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