Source Rock Analysis

PROVIDING EXPERT SOURCE ROCK ANALYSIS TO ENSURE THE
MOST ACCURATE HYDROCARBON RESOURCE ESTIMATES IN THE INDUSTRY.

Our experienced team at GeoMark Research provides industry-leading source rock analyses so that crucial data on source existence, quality, maturity, and extent is always at your fingertips.

Today, GeoMark Research’s dedicated source rock laboratory supplies analyses to the global geochemistry market with additional developments linked to GeoMark Research’s renowned oil analysis and interpretation expertise.

WE HELP SOLVE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES

Defining source rock quality and extent
Determining source rock maturity
Evaluating source rock generative potential
Identifying productive landing zones in resource plays
Predicting fluid properties and trends

The GeoMark Research Advantage

CONTAMINATION

With the use of Oil Based Mud (OBM) and Synthetic Drilling Mud, it is essential that these contaminants are removed from the samples before analysis to avoid any misrepresentation of the results. GeoMark Research’s consultative nature provides contamination insights early into the analytical program to reduce unnecessary and spurious results by using a series of cleaning techniques to minimize impacts on customer projects. To minimize the impact of cavings and lost circulation material (LCM), our team is trained to identify and pick these particles from the sample set.

EXTRACTION

GeoMark Research offers several hydrocarbon extraction options to answer your specific project questions, dialing into different phases of hydrocarbon as needed. Extraction techniques help improve maturity estimates, predict GOR, and establish migration trends. We will advise on different options and also offer you the ability to customize solvent types upon request

TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON (TOC)

LECO TOC and HAWK systems are utilized to determine TOC of each sample and therefore the identification of potential source rocks in the subsurface and outcrops.

PYROLYSIS

We provide assessments of free hydrocarbons in place (S1), remaining generative potential (S2) and thermal maturity (Tmax) of source rocks. You’ll have the option of utilizing either Rock-Eval™ or HAWK systems to collect this data as well as customized temperature profiles to better characterize S1 and predict produced fluid properties

VITRINITE REFLECTANCE

To further quantify the maximum burial of source rocks, GeoMark Research’s team of petrologists will work to isolate kerogen within the samples and work towards identifying kerogen type and thermal maturity. This data is used by our Basin Modelers to calibrate their depositional model

SOURCE ROCK DATA APPLICATIONS

Both conventional and unconventional source rock analysis is critical to a successful evaluation, as it helps characterize sedimentary organic matter and evaluate resource potential. Source rock analysis is performed during initial assessment of an oil or gas field and continues through development as sweet spot mapping and individual well performance is evaluated.

Source Rock Screening

Organic richness/total organic content (TOC)
Free hydrocarbons in place (S1)
Remaining hydrocarbon potential (S2)
Thermal maturity (Tmax)

Kerogen Typing

This process helps characterize source rock organic matter to understand quality and quantity. Such information is critical for modeling generated hydrocarbon and remaining potential. Higher resolution work yields more detailed facies models that correlate with reservoir characterization and other petroleum system risks

Source Rock Mapping

As a GeoMark Research client, you have the option to combine your own source rock data with GeoMark’s ever-expanding Source Rock Database in order to leverage advanced data analytics and better understand hydrocarbon potential in the context of the surrounding play. This helps reduce time spent in evaluation and lend more