Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for sulfur characterization and quantification in a sample of sedimentary rocks or of petroleum products wherein the following stages are carried out: heating said sample in a pyrolysis oven (1) in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, oxidizing part of the pyrolysis effluents and continuously measuring the amount of SO2 generated by said part after oxidation, then transferring the pyrolysis residue of said sample into an oxidation oven (1?) and continuously measuring the amount of SO2 contained in the effluents resulting from said oxidation heating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for sulfur characterization and quantification in a sample of sedimentary rocks or of petroleum products wherein the following stages are carried out: heating said sample in a pyrolysis oven (1) in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, oxidizing part of the pyrolysis effluents and continuously measuring the amount of SO2 generated by said part after oxidation, then transferring the pyrolysis residue of said sample into an oxidation oven (1?) and continuously measuring the amount of SO2 contained in the effluents resulting from said oxidation heating.

Abstract: A device for determining at least one petroleum characteristic of a geologic sediment sample placed in a boat, said device including a first heater heating said sample in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a measuring component determining hydrocarbon-containing products released after feeding the sample into said first heater, a second subsequent heater heating said sample in an oxidizing atmosphere, a measuring component determining the amount of CO.sub.2 contained in effluents discharged from the two heaters, said CO.sub.2 measuring means include a cell for measuring continuously CO.sub.2 throughout heating of the first and second heaters and a measuring component determining the amount of CO contained in the effluents discharged from the two heaters, and thereby allowing determination of said petroleum characteristic.

Abstract: A method allowing fast assessment of at least one petroleum characteristic of geologic sediments from a sample of these sediments, said method comprising heating the sample in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and which method comprises different temperature rise stages; determining at least three magnitudes S.sub.1r, S.sub.2a and S.sub.b representative of the quantity of hydrocarbons contained in said sample, and deducing at least one petroleum characteristic of the geologic sediment from these three magnitudes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one petroleum characteristic of a geologic sediment sample heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and an oxidizing atmosphere. The sample is heated to a first temperature value below 200.degree. C. for a predetermined period of time and then to a second temperature value ranging between 600 and 850.degree. C. according to a temperature gradient between 0.2.degree. C. and 50.degree. C./min. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are continuously measured during the temperature stages in order to determine at least one petroleum characteristic, wherein said petroleum characteristic comprises a quantity of organic oxygen, inorganic oxygen, total organic carbon, or inorganic carbon.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the total amount of organic carbon in a sample comprising the successive steps of: (a) heating the sample in an inert atmosphere to a first temperature capable of cracking at least a fraction of the organic material contained in the sample; (b) measuring the amount of organic carbon contained in at least a fraction of the effluent resulting from this cracking; (c) heating the sample in an oxidizing atmosphere to a second temperature at most equal to the first temperature; (d) measuring the amount of organic carbon in the effluent produced by the oxidation of the organic material, and (e) deriving from the above measurements the total organic carbon content of the sample. In order to perform the method of the invention, there is also provided means for performing each of the successive steps. In a further refinement, the method also includes steps for determining the mineral carbon content so that the total carbon content of the sample can be determined.

Abstract: The method of the invention comprises the successive steps of: (a) heating the sample in an inert atmosphere to a first temperature capable of cracking at least a fraction of the organic material contained in the sample; (b) measuring the amount of organic carbon contained in at least a fraction of the effluent resulting from this cracking; (c) heating the sample in an oxidizing atmosphere to a second temperature at most equal to the first temperature; (d) measuring the amount of organic carbon in the effluent produced by the oxidation of the organic material, and (e) deriving from the above measurements the total organic carbon content of the sample. In order to perform the method of the invention, there is also provided means for performing each of the successive steps. In a further refinement, the method also includes steps for determining the mineral carbon content so that the total carbon content of the sample can be determined.

Abstract: Sample of geological sediment is heated preferably to a first temperature in the range from 50.degree. C. to 65.degree. C., then to a second temperature in the range from 200.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. and finally to a third temperature in the range from 550.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. Oil-related characteristics of the sediments are derived from the respective amounts of hydrocarbons released by the sample during these three steps.

Abstract: A sample of the studied sediments is heated in a non-oxidizing atomosphere.The organic material of the sediment is then pyrolyzed and the released products are oxidized. The sulfur content of the sulfur compounds produced by this oxidation is continuously measured in relation with the temperature in the form of an electric signal. The overall sulfur content of the sample is utilized in combination with a parameter characterizing the sample to determine the degree of evolution of the organic material in the sediment.

Abstract: The method comprises heating a sample successively to a first temperature comprised in the range from between 200.degree. to 400.degree. C., then to a second temperature preferably from 550.degree. C. to 600.degree. C., measuring the amount of native hydrocarbons vaporized at the first temperature and the amount of hydrocarbon compounds produced by pyrolysis of the organic material of the sample at the second temperature.Characteristics of the sediments are derived from the two measured values.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of heating a sample of sediments, determining a group of two parameters S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 which represent, respectively, the amounts of at least one hydrocarbon compound and of at least one oxygen-containing compound formed by heating the organic material contained in the sediment, and evaluating from the determination of this group of parameters the capacity of the sediments to constitute a good mother rock (i.e. source) for hydrocarbons.