Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic interpretation of geochemical measurements obtained by pyrolysis of a rock sample in order to obtain information pertaining to the organic matter contained in the sample. In this method, rock samples having known petroleum characteristics are used to carry out a phase of training of an artificial neural network, the neural network is used to obtain parameters pertaining to the organic matter of a rock sample, interpretation of the parameters is refined at the network output by using fuzzy sets for refining interpretation of the parameters at an output of the neural network.

Abstract: A device for evaluating at least one pollution characteristic of natural soils contaminated by hydrocarbon compounds, said device comprising a first heater heating said sample in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a measuring device determining an amount of hydrocarbon compounds released after feeding the sample into said first heater, a sample transfer device transferring the sample from the first heater into a second heater operating in an oxidizing atmosphere, a CO.sub.2 measuring device determining CO.sub.2 contained each effluent discharged from the two heaters, said CO.sub.2 measuring device measuring continuously the CO.sub.2 throughout the heating cycle of the first and the second heaters and including a device measuring CO contained in each effluent discharged from the two heaters, a temperature controller controlling the temperature of samples waiting to be fed into said heating means, and a device determining the pollution characteristic.

Abstract: A method of evaluating at least on type of pollution characteristic in a soil sample contaminated by hydrocarbon compounds, a method wherein the soil sample is first heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, then in an oxidizing atmosphere. The method comprises several temperature rise stages from which at least five quantities Q.sub.0, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 are measured, wherein the quantities represent concentrations of hydrocarbon compounds in the soil sample. At least one type of pollution characteristic of the sample is determined from quantities Q.sub.0, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4.

Abstract: A device and method for enabling an evaluation of an ability of a body containing at least one product to expel at least a portion of the product. The body, for example, a rock sample is placed adjacent to a reservoir and a pressure gradient is effected between the body and the reservoir so as to result in at least a portion of the product being expelled from the body.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for assessing the aptitude that a body has in opposing the passage of a fluid product, the method includes the following steps: the body is placed between two reservoirs, one being a transmitter containing the product and the other being a reservoir receiving the part of the product passing through the body, the body separating the reservoirs and being adjacent each of them, a pressure gradient is formed between the reservoirs, this gradient causing the movement towards the receiving reservoir of at least a part of the product contained in the reservoir transmitting through the body, and the part of the product recovered in the reservoir is analyzed.