Abstract: A collective fluid inclusions volatiles sample is released from each of a plurality of sedimentary rock samples and analyzed as it is being released to determine composition thereof. Compositions are used for mapping the earth's subsurface. The sample is released by an automated crushing mechanism and analyzed by a system of concurrently operated mass spectrometers each scanning a specific set of mass to charge ratio responses.

Abstract: A device for testing soil samples is comprised of a closed container having an interior compartment with upper and lower portions. A valve is provided for introducing into the closed container a liquid having the general properties of butane, and a second valve is provided in the container for allowing gas in the closed container to exit therefrom. A soil sample filter container is suspended within the container above the bottom portion thereof. A condensation element is mounted in the closed container and positioned above the filter container to cause gas evaporating from the liquid in the container to liquefy as condensate on the condensation element, whereupon the condensate drips into the filter container and leaches through a soil sample therein, and then collects as a liquid in the bottom portion of the closed container. This permits a hydrocarbon residue to be left in the bottom portion of the container after the outlet valve has been opened to permit the liquid to evaporate.

Abstract: A laboratory device and method are adapted to subject a same rock sample to successive liquid treatments without any intermediary handling of the sample. The device combines a chamber comprising a first part fitted with an inlet for introducing a rock sample and liquid reagents into the chamber; a heater for regulating the temperature in the chamber and a plug fitted within an open port for protecting the chamber from an overpressure. The first part also comprises means for stirring the contents of the chamber including a liquid by introducing gas as bubbles into the liquid. A second part of the chamber is located under the first part and a selective filtering unit is interposed between the first and second parts of the chamber, the filter has a porosity selected for retaining organic material contained in the sample.

Abstract: A heating and targeting laser beam and microscope apparatus optically senses, heats to generate a effluent fluid and chemically analyzes the thermal extract fluid or fluid pyrolyzates from a microscopic particle within a heterogeneous composite sample. A transparent duct-like chamber having a bottom opening is attached to a microscope. A contact surface of the sample is raised to abut against the bottom opening, which encloses the space around the particle and also brings the particle into the common focal plane of the microscope and the converging laser beam(s). This single step avoids the complex separate focusing and sealing steps required by present day techniques.

Abstract: A method for isolating kerogen from a mineral sample in a pressurized reaction cell, which permits reaction at pressures greater than two atmospheres and provides for the removal of all liquids from the cell without significant loss of sample solids, employing multiple steps of addition and removal of concentrated hydrochloric acid, concentrated hydrofluoric acid, concentrated ammonium hydroxide, and deionized water.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the amount of fluids in a porous sample and determining petrophysical properties of those fluids. The methods employ a two component azeotropic solvent capable of dissolving both hydrocarbon and aqueous fluids in a porous sample. The methods extract the fluids from the porous sample with a soxhlet extractor using the azeotropic solvent and then separates the two components into a solvent containing hydrocarbon fluids and a solvent containing aqueous fluids. The amounts of these extracted fluids may then be determined and the petrophysical properties of the fluids determined.

Abstract: The invention is a method for the isolation of palynological materials from a rock sample in a pressurized reaction cell, which permits reaction at pressures greater than two atmospheres and provides for the removal of all liquids from the cell without significant loss of sample solids, the method employing multiple steps of addition and removal of concentrated and dilute hydrochloric acid, concentrated hydrofluoric acid, concentrated ammonium hydroxide, concentrated nitric acid and deionized water, followed by centrifugation and zinc bromide separation steps.

Abstract: A method for studying the rate and type of hydrocarbon generated from a hydrocarbon source utilizes hydrous pyrolysis to generate hydrocarbons from the sample and then utilizes cryogenic methods to remove the fluid portions to a transfer vessel. The gaseous components are removed to a further vessel of known dimensions for determination of weight. The hydrocarbons in the transfer vessel are passed through a dryer to separate the water and their makeup determined. The hydrocarbons remaining in the reactor vessel are removed by working with solvents and their weights are determined after separation and evaporation of the solvents.

Abstract: Method and kit useful in geochemical exploration for petroleum oils. The method involves contacting a soil sample with serum from a rabbit that has not been immunized with petroleum oils, and determining the amount of the bound serum as indicative of the presence of petroleum oils in the geographic region from which the sample was obtained.

Abstract: A simple, on-site, field test method and kit for aromatic contamination in a water sample is provided. In the field test, the water sample is first extracted using an alkyl halide extractant, with a Friedel-Crafts Lewis acid catalyst being added to the resulting extractant phase. A reaction product is thereby produced having a characteristic color indicative of the amount and type of aromatic contamination.

Abstract: The invention is a method of evaluating a sample of an underground formation such as drill cuttings to determine the producibility of any hydrocarbons present in the formation by solvating a sample in a polar solvent which will solvate asphaltenes, solvating the sample in an aliphatic solvent which will solvate most crude fractions without solvating asphaltenes, quantitatively measuring the emission fluorescence at a wavelength below 400 nm of both solvated samples at an excitation wavelength at which most petroleum compounds fluoresce, and determining the producibility of any hydrocarbon present in the sample by comparing the emission fluorescence of the two samples to previous correlations made between fluorescence and known producibility.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to extract oil and brine fluids from a representative porous sample. The petrophysical properties of these extracted oil and brine fluids may be determined by conventional or other testing methods. The oil fluids and brine fluids are separated from each other by separate distillation and condensation, and by removing the solvent from the oil fluids. The amounts of oil and brine fluids from the sample may then be separately determined. The apparatus uses a desiccant container at the top of a soxhlet tower beneath the cold finger (which condenses the solvent gases that have been evaporated) in a pressure soxhlet extractor to capture any brine or water and thus, separate the brine or water from the oil and/or solvent which remain in the soxhlet extraction chamber at the bottom of the soxhlet tower.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect provides a method of testing drilling mud in use which comprises periodically sampling the circulating mud and analyzing its aqueous filtrate at the rig site by ion chromatography for selected positive and negative ions; one or more other parameters of the sampled mud and/or mud filtrate (e.g. pH, temperature) may also be measured; preferably the composition of the mud filtrate thus monitored is interpreted to indicate downhole interactions, with the composition of the mud supplied to the hole being adjusted to or towards the optimum as drilling proceeds. The invention also provides a method in which the solids of the periodically sampled mud are analyzed at the rig site, e.g. for sorbed ions and/or for cation exchange capacity; the values so obtained are preferably combined with those for the mud filtrate analysis and used in the diagnosis of downhole conditions for adjustment of the composition of freshly supplied mud.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for analyzing fluid inclusions. A sectioned mineral sample is mounted on a glass slide and placed in a vacuum chamber. An optical microscope is used to examine the sample through a window in the vacuum chamber to identify a single fluid inclusion. A linear rotary feedthrough includes a diamond stylus on the end thereof that is received in the vacuum chamber. The feedthrough is manipulated by the operator to urge the diamond stylus against the identified fluid inclusion thereby rupturing the same. The gases, including evaporated volatile liquids, released from the inclusion are analyzed by a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining oil saturation in sponge coring using solvents which dissolve substantially all of the oil but none of the sponge. Two classes of such solvents are specified. One is aprotic, and the resultant concentration of oil in it is measured by proton NMR spectroscopy. The other has no C--H bonds, and the resultant concentration of oil in it is measured by infrared spectroscopy.

Abstract: Method for the determination of the content of solid carbon compounds in soil samples, particularly in humus soils, by converting the solid carbon compounds with a reactant into carbon dioxide and conveying the carbon dioxide gas into an analyzer. To reach the reaction temperature, metal particles are added to a specified amount of the dry, milled soil sample and the dry matter is heated inductively in the presence of the reactant to the reaction temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of prospecting for subterranean deposits of hydrocarbon. Earth samples are taken at various depths in a substantially vertical column of earth overlying an area suspected of containing an underground petroliferous deposit. The magnetic susceptibility of each sample is then measured (or the concentration of maghemite or greigite therein determined) to determine the relative concentration of diagenetic magnetic material therein. The relative concentration data is correlated with depth from the surface to the approximate maximum penetration depth of surface-related oxygen. An anomaly occurring in the curve produced by such correlation demonstrates the likelihood of discovering a subterranean deposit therebelow.

Abstract: A process for in situ simulation of diagenetic processes in a subterranean formation is provided. A mineral substrate is placed in the formation of interest in a sealed vessel. The vessel is opened so as to expose the mineral substrate to formation fluids. After sufficient time for the formation fluids to act upon the mineral substrate, the substrate is removed from the formation and is examined for physical and chemical effects indicative of porosity changes in the formation.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon potential of a source rock comprising hydrocarbons and insoluble organic materials capable of generating hydrocarbons upon pyrolysis or further maturation is analytically determined. In the instant invention, a particulate sample of the source rock is slurried with a solvent to extract the hydrocarbons therefrom and provide a first solution for analysis. The extracted sample is again slurried with a solvent and the resulting slurry is heated to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the insoluble organic material to liquid hydrocarbons. The liquid hydrocarbons dissolve in the solvent to provide a second solution for analysis. The first and second solutions are then analyzed independently for hydrocarbon content.

Abstract: A core analyzer includes a test cell containing a core of earthen material. The core has a length suitable for monitoring fluid moving through the core. Apparatus provides at least two fluids to the test cell in such a manner that a first fluid fills the core in the test cell and a second fluid displaces at least a portion of the first fluid. Other apparatus uses nuclear magnetic resonance to monitor the saturation of the core with the first fluid and to monitor the displacing movement of the second fluid.

Abstract: A method of two dimensional chemical flood testing includes evacuating a porous medium contained in a test cell. The porous medium in the test cell is irradiated with a beam of microwave energy at a plurality of predetermined locations on said test cell. The microwave energy that has passed through the porous medium at each location is detected at the location. The porous medium in the test cell is filled with brine. The irradiating and detecting steps are repeated, the porous medium is then flooded with crude oil, or a substitute, and again the irradiating and detecting steps are repeated. The porous medium is flooded with brine and again the irradiating and detecting steps are repeated. A calibration curve for each location is derived from the detected microwave energy at the location from the prior irradiating and detecting steps.

Abstract: A dye adsorption procedure for determining clay type and amount in subterranean formation. The procedure can be carried out at a well-site, providing rapid, accurate information for treatment of the well penetrating the formation.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon potential of a source rock comprising hydrocarbons and insoluble organic materials capable of generating hydrocarbons upon pyrolysis or further maturation is analytically determined. In the instant invention, a particular sample of the source rock is slurried with a solvent to extract the hydrocarbons therefrom and provide a first solution for analysis. The extracted sample is again slurried with a solvent and the resulting slurry is heated to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the insoluble organic material to liquid hydrocarbons. The liquid hydrocarbons dissolve in the solvent to provide a second solution for analysis. The first and second solutions are then analyzed independently for hydrocarbon content.

Abstract: A method of testing a chemical for use in an enhanced recovery of oil from an earth formation includes obtaining a test core of an earth formation. The test core is cleaned and then subjected to a predetermined sequence of events similar to that which the reservoir has experienced. The test core is flooded with a chemical to be tested and the chemical is then driven from the test core with a drive liquid. The test core is irradiated with a beam of electromagnetic energy at a microwave frequency. An indication representative of the effectiveness of the chemical in the test core is derived in accordance with the electromagnetic energy that has passed through the test core.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluation of shallow electrical anomalies to determine which are likely to be caused by seepage from a hydrocarbon reservoir at depth. The method involves geochemical lithological, and petrographic analyses of anomalous sediments to determine whether these sediments contain certain features characteristic of seepage-induced anomalies. These features include the following:(1) accumulations of seeped (non-indigenous) hydrocarbons;(2) accumulations of carbonate cements that have .delta..sup.13 C values between -10 and -58.degree./oo;(3) pyrite accumulations in a shallow, porous host rock where the pyrite is distributed within fractures or between original grains with a disseminated or cement-like texture, and where it is not associated with kerogen or coal and is not framboidal in morphology;(4) close proximity of said pyrite and carbonate accumulations; and(50 anomalous (high) induced polarization (I.P.