- Fluid Inclusion Technologies Multi-Client, Geochemical Studies:
FIT has performed a number of regional multi-client, geochemical studies to meet the needs of both the domestic and international oil and gas industry. In each case, the specifics of the studies - content, scope, and methodologies, were tailored to answer the specific geochemical questions that defined the study. Each Regional Evaluation performed by FIT is an outgrowth of communication between us and our clients to establish target areas of high interest/activity and for which there is a sufficient availability of rock sample to perform a variety of different types of analyses. At the heart of each FIT Regional Evaluation there is an extensive, multiple-well FIS Analysis; in addition to which there may be any of: Fluid Inclusion Petrography, Microthermometry, API Gravity Determination and other analytical procedures; Reservoir Quality Evaluation, basin Modeling, etc. - depending on the appropriateness of each procedure in answering the technical questions that define the study. A listing of available completed FIT multi-client geochemical studies as well as those under consideration is presented in Regional Studies where active links can be found supplying further description of each study.
- Initiate a new FIT Regional Multi-Client Study:
FIT actively solicits proposals (both proprietary and multi-client) for new projects and study areas. The first step in initiating an FIS Regional Multi-Client Study is to contact one of our staff directly to discuss goals of the study, sample availability, turnaround time, pricing, expected level of participation and other aspects related to the proposal. Timeliness of deliverables is generally an important aspect of these studies so that a detailed schedule is outlined early on and strictly adhered to during the course of the study. In some cases an individual participant's financial obligation may be partially offset in a multi-client project by in-kind contribution to the study (i.e., securing/supplying the samples for the study, contributing additional analytical services/data with appropriate permissions, etc.).
Sample requirements for the various analyses performed for these studies differ, but, in general, 1-2 grams of clean lith cut will suffice for FIS Analysis and the majority of the other analytical procedures. Drill core is advantageous for high-definition profiling of reservoir sections but most of the above procedures can be performed using cuttings. Sample age for most of these procedures (particularly FIS Analysis) is irrelevant and excellent results can be achieve using both fresh and archived samples, core or cuttings, brine or oil-based drilling muds (although the latter tend to escalate the sample preparation costs somewhat).
Once a potential "Region for Study" has been identified, a reasonable likelihood of sample availability has been established and specific geochemical problems have been defined, FIT will assemble a prospectus and begin to circulate it amongst potentially interested parties. It is during this iterative process that individual participants can become involved in shaping the direction of the study, the form and content of the final deliverables and the ever-crutial timeline. There will of course be opportunity to "buy-in" to the study at a later date, but the early participants have the most opportunity to shape the study and generally there is also a price discount available rewarding early commitment.
An impressive aspect of Fluid Inclusion Stratigraphy is the rapid turnaround time: large sample sets, i.e., 1000's of samples from multiple wells can be analyzed, the results interpreted, and the findings delivered virtually anywhere in the world in a matter of days. Thus, results from FIT Studies can play a crucial role in decision making regarding current plays as well as provide valuable new insights useful in preparing for upcoming lease rounds.
The tools used by FIT in a regional, multi-client geochemical investigation are variable and problem specific, combining patented techniques, emerging geochemical methodologies and standard microscopic methods, all of which complement each other to produce a unique and unequaled industry product. For further information including applications and more technical aspects of the geochemical and petrological services we provide, please browse through our
Slideshow Overview of Fluid Inclusion Technologies. This presentation is available on CD and in some cases as a command performance.
- Additional Sampling Considerations for FIS Analysis:
Fluid Inclusion Stratigraphy involves crushing rock material under vacuum and measuring evolved volatile compounds with a bank of quadrupole mass spectrometers. The following information and procedures should be kept in mind when securing samples for this for FIS Analysis:
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The technique is applicable to cuttings, core and outcrop samples, but all samples must be reduced to cuttings-sized rock material. Wells drilled with any mud system can be analyzed, including oil-based systems.
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Approximately 1 gm of clean rock material is needed for FIS Analysis of each sample. Additional sample is required for petrographic follow-up and other analytical procedures. Most samples need to be at least "lightly washed" prior to analysis - even those collected as "washed samples." Therefore, it is best to have enough material to allow for loss during further washing. It is recommended that "clean lith cuts" of drill cuttings be provided for FIS Analysis as these samples require the least amount of additional preparation.
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The sampling interval for FIS Analysis is dependent on the question to be answered. Large-scale, multi-well, regional studies can often be run at 60 ft (20 m) spacing. Our suggested sampling interval for general well studies is 30 ft (10 m). Pay-delineation studies, reservoir-scale studies or other applications involving rapidly changing fluid chemistries should be sampled at the tightest possible spacing, depending on sample availability (e.g., 1-3 ft). A maximum of 575 samples
can be analyzed for a given well.
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