Oil & Gas Exploration

Utilizing Rock Volatiles Stratigraphy For Petroleum System Analysis

AHS provides unique insights into the petroleum system in oil and gas exploration/appraisal wells by directly measuring the hydrocarbons (HCs) present in the rock sample using AHS’s Rock Volatiles Stratigraphy (RVS) technique/technology. Inform your exploration and appraisal decisions by directly measuring the HCs and water present in the rock samples, including unpreserved PDC bit cuttings, from the well – ideal in cases where a new play is being developed, low resistivity pay is difficult to identify, carbonate systems where traditional analysis approaches are highly challenged, or after the fact post-mortems to understand anomalous results and if a petroleum system is even present in the case of dry holes.

Typical Oil and Gas Exploration RVS Usage

  • Pay Zone Identification
  • Resource Characterization
  • Reservoir Characterization​
  • Proximity to Pay Indicators – vertical and lateral
  • Petroleum System Assessment​
  • Identifying Migration Pathways

  • Acreage Utilization/High Grading​
  • Postmortems​
  • Identifying By-Passed Pay
  • Operational Decisions – testing zones, landing, perforations, lateral completions
  • Evaluating Seals/Faults/Chemical Compartments

Rock Volatiles Stratigraphy offered a unique opportunity to acquire these insights using legacy materials without deploying downhole tools or collecting fresh materials – understand the subsurface of a prospect before you drill.

What is RSV?

RVS is a non-intrusive technique uses a novel cyro-trap mass spectrometry system developed by AHS to gently extract, identify, and quantify volatiles in geological materials.​

Functions regardless of age of sample or mud system​

1-1.5 g of rock sample is subjected to a gentle vacuum extraction at room temperature.​

All compounds are measured at two different vacuum extraction conditions providing information on permeability and grain surface interactions. ​

Mechanical strength of the rock is also measured by uniaxial crushing.​

Over 120 different direct measurements per sample provide a detailed description of the subsurface geochemistry. ​

De-risk capital and increase confidence in your drilling with CCUS/CCS subsurface assessments via RVS. Learn more by checking out our past case studies and published works.