Geological Services
Geological Services
X-ray Mineral Services can provide a wide range of analytical techniques to support geological applications for the oil and gas sector, academia or for geological surveys and institutes. Clients benefit from high quality data in commercial time frames and at competitive rates. In the laboratory we can offer XRD, XRF, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, Raman spectroscopy, C-O isotopes, FTIR, laser particle size analysis, SEM-AMICS, digital petrography, optical heavy mineral analysis, LA-ICP-MS geochronology, Rockeval 6, LECO TOC and Re-Os isotope dating and characterisation (META1). X-ray Mineral Services has also developed a flexible and portable analytical option including pXRF, pLIBS, FTIR and magnetic susceptibility (META2). META2 is appropriate for realtime decision making during drilling or completion optimisation, or can be deployed in the field in exploration mapping or in remote corestores to avoid shipping costs and export restrictions. We also develop bespoke data dashboards and for data integration and modelling for any application or sector in Spotfire®.
- Reservoir quality assessment
- Quantitative XRD
- Chemostratigraphy
- Heavy Mineral Analysis
- Automated Mineralogy
- Geochronology
- Lab and portable deployment options
- Geo-materials analysis
X-ray diffraction (XRD) is routinely deployed to determine bulk rock and clay fraction mineralogy for a wide range of applications. XRD is the traditional tool used to determine bulk mineralogy of rocks and the data are used to calibrate petrophysical logs, to model detrital and authigenic phases in diagenetic evaluations as part of reservoir quality assessments (RQ), formation evaluation and rock mechanics studies. We provide quantitative XRD (QXRD) data critical for borehole stability modelling, fluid rock interactions and formation damage assessments. QXRD and XRF (or ICP) data are used to develop accurate calibration RQ models for shale and tight rock reservoirs and mineralogical logs from core and cuttings can be converted into rock mechanics data (Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio) along with a series of synthetic E-log curves that can be used for completions optimisation. XRD data are used to corroborate the mineralogy in chemostratigraphy studies highlighting changes in provenance, diagenetic processes, depositional environment along with weathering and climate. QXRD and XRF data are routinely acquired for the characterisation of drilling muds, pipe scale or sludge and other petrochemical applications.
X-ray Mineral Services can supply ICP-OES and ICP-MS and XRF elemental data for high resolution elemental characterisation of rocks for chemostratigraphy, petrophysical log calibration and assessments of reservoir quality and diagenetic studies. We are a long-standing member of GeoPT certification of new Rock Standards. The company offers rapid and portable analytical techniques including XRF, FTIR, LIBS providing multi element output very cost effectively. We can undertake the analysis for you, or provide rental options.
Other techniques deployed in oil and gas applications include automated mineralogy via SEM-AMICS, LA-ICP-MS and laser particle size analysis for high resolution elemental, mineralogical and textural characterisation, along with Raman spectroscopy for automated heavy and light mineralogical characterisation for reservoir correlation and source to sink provenance studies and ore characterisation.
FTIR provides data on water and organic content and a workflow is available to assess source rocks when FTIR is combined with RockEval 6 and LECO TOC data. Re-Os isotopic data can be acquired to date source rocks, the timing of oil generation and oil sourcing studies. C-O isotope data can be acquired to develop chronostratigraphic correlations of strata. We also provide inhouse Vitrinite Reflectance (VR) service.
We have considerable expertise in providing data and consultancy advice for oil companies, service companies and collaborating with geological surveys and other research organisations. X-ray Mineral Services participates in cutting edge research on the analysis of rocks and minerals with support from clients and the Welsh Government.