Abstract: The invention relates to a method of characterizing and of quantifying carbon in a superficial deposit. The sample of the formation is subjected to heating in an inert atmosphere with at least six isothermal stages connected by a thermal gradient, the sample residue is subjected to heating in an oxidizing atmosphere, and the quantities of HC, CO and CO2 released during heating are measured. A ratio of the mineral carbon to the total carbon of the sample is determined, and the at least one of the organic carbon and mineral carbon content of the sample is determined according to this ratio: (i) by accounting for an estimated quantity of CO2 released by thermal cracking of the organic matter of the sample during heating in the inert atmosphere if the ratio is substantially non-zero; (ii) if the ratio is substantially zero and the mineral carbon content is zero.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of characterizing and of quantifying carbon from a superficial deposit, wherein a sample of the deposit is subjected to heating in an inert atmosphere, the sample residue is subjected to heating in an oxidizing atmosphere, and quantities of HC, CO and CO2 released during heating, from which standard parameters TOC and MinC, and a ratio between mineral carbon and total carbon of the sample are determined, are measured. If the ratio is non-zero, the organic carbon content is equal to the sum of TOC and of a percentage of TOC ranging between 4 and 12%, and the mineral carbon content is equal to MinC minus this percentage of TOC. If the ratio is zero, the mineral carbon content is zero and the organic carbon content is equal to the sum of TOC and MinC.

Abstract: A rock sample is subjected to a heating sequence in an inert atmosphere, the effluents resulting from this heating are oxidized, the hydrocarbon-based compounds, the CO, the CO2 and the SO2 released are measured, and a pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content is deduced therefrom. The residue resulting from the heating in an inert atmosphere is then heated in an oxidizing atmosphere and the CO and the CO2 released are measured. The pyritic sulfur content is determined at least from the pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content and from a parameter which is a function of the hydrogen content and of the oxygen content of the organic matter of the sample. It is also possible to determine the organic sulfur content from the pyritic sulfur content and from a measurement of the SO2 during the heating sequence in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method which distinctly characterizes and quantifies the pyritic sulfur and the organic sulfur of a sedimentary rock sample. A rock sample is subjected to a heating sequence in an inert atmosphere which produces effluents resulting which are continuously oxidized. SO2 is continuously measured, and a pyrolysis sulfur content and a pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content are deduced therefrom. The residue from heating in an inert atmosphere is then heated in an oxidizing atmosphere. Released SO2 is continuously measured and at least an oxidation sulfur content is deduced therefrom. The pyritic sulfur content is determined from pyrolysis, a weighting function, a second parameter representing the impact of the mineral matrix and a third parameter representing the impact of the organic matrix.

Abstract: A rock sample is subjected to a heating sequence in an inert atmosphere, the effluents resulting from this heating are oxidized, the hydrocarbon-based compounds, the CO, the CO2 and the SO2 released are measured, and a pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content is deduced therefrom. The residue resulting from the heating in an inert atmosphere is then heated in an oxidizing atmosphere and the CO and the CO2 released are measured. The pyritic sulfur content is determined at least from the pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content and from a parameter which is a function of the hydrogen content and of the oxygen content of the organic matter of the sample. It is also possible to determine the organic sulfur content from the pyritic sulfur content and from a measurement of the SO2 during the heating sequence in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: Method for distinctly characterizing and quantifying the pyritic sulfur and the organic sulfur of a sedimentary rock sample. A rock sample is subjected to a heating sequence in an inert atmosphere, the effluents resulting from this heating in an inert atmosphere are continuously oxidized, the SO2 released is continuously measured, and a pyrolysis sulfur content and a pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content are deduced therefrom. The residue from heating in an inert atmosphere is then heated in an oxidizing atmosphere, the SO2 released is continuously measured and at least an oxidation sulfur content is deduced therefrom. The pyritic sulfur content is determined from the pyrolysis pyritic sulfur content and from a weighting function taking account of a first parameter representing a pyrite thermal degradation rate, a second parameter representing the impact of the mineral matrix and a third parameter representing the impact of the organic matrix.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the acidity of oil samples in small amounts, applicable at any stage of the petroleum industry, includes labelling by an isotope of a chemical element present in at least one acid function present in petroleum samples. Isotopic enrichment of the samples is then determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The acidity of the samples is deduced therefrom. This method is an alternative to the measurement of the Total Acid Number (TAN). In particular, it represents the only possibility to reliably measure the acidity of oil samples available in small amounts. The method can be applied to the economic evaluation of a hydrocarbon production field, to the determination of the carbon range responsible for the acidity of a crude, or to monitoring of the evolution of the acid distribution of a site polluted by hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the acidity of oil samples in small amounts, applicable at any stage of the petroleum industry, includes labelling by an isotope of a chemical element present in at least one acid function present in petroleum samples. Isotopic enrichment of the samples is then determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The acidity of the samples is deduced therefrom. This method is an alternative to the measurement of the Total Acid Number (TAN). In particular, it represents the only possibility to reliably measure the acidity of oil samples available in small amounts. The method can be applied to the economic evaluation of a hydrocarbon production field, to the determination of the carbon range responsible for the acidity of a crude, or to monitoring of the evolution of the acid distribution of a site polluted by hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Method of predicting paraffin deposition risks during hydrocarbon production and/or transport, applicable at an early reservoir characterization and production stage. It comprises forming a database characterizing the hydrocarbons in the formation, including density data acquired by well logging and data obtained by analysis of rock samples taken from the reservoir formation, an analytical representation of the hydrocarbons by a limited number of pseudo-components comprising each certain hydrocarbon classes with a definition of their respective mass fractions and application of data of said base to a thermodynamic model for determining one or more parameters indicative of the crystallization conditions such as, for example, the starting crystallization temperature, the solid fraction that precipitates when the temperatures falls below this starting crystallization temperature, etc. Applications: hydrocarbon production field valuation.

Abstract: Method of predicting paraffin deposition risks during hydrocarbon production and/or transport, applicable at an early reservoir characterization and production stage.