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DIVISIONS OF BAPEX
FROM THE INCEPTION OF BAPEX LABORATORY
STUDIES PERFORMED TILL DATE & FUTURE PROGRAME.
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) is operating as a Company of Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla). Though BAPEX started its operation from July 1989, it inherited a vast experiences from OGDC (Oil & Gas Development Corporation of Pakistan 1962-71) and Petrobangla (1972-1989). The company is engaged in carrying out Laboratory investigations including others mainly performed the analysis of on going drilling operation & Geological survey samples, (rock samples, mud, water, Gas & liquid hydrocarbon, quality tests of cement Chemicals and cement operations). Time on requirement purchase of equipment/apparatus from different sanction and training of manpower at reputed Laboratories/ facilities at home and abroad lead to the development of a new Laboratory Division, self sufficient in both facilities and expertise to conduct studies in various disciplines of Petroleum Geology: Biostratigraphy, Geochemistry, Sedimentology, Petrophysical & Analytical studies. By this time Laboratory experts conducted thesis program of 15 M.Sc. students of different disciplines.
The Laboratory Division is working with its utmost capability with most sophisticated equipment to generate and compile data as well as to produce reports with a view to help hydrocarbon exploration in the country.
BAPEX Lab is also working with Core Lab under Join Venture Agreement.
GEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
For Hydrocarbon exploration fundamentally geological study in different stages from deposition of organic matter in the sedimentary rock via maturation, generation, migration and ultimate accumulation are the main part. To investigate for the exploration the geological department works with the following aims:
- To determine the age of surface & sub surface samples.
- To determine the environment of deposition of the samples/lithological sequences.
- To find out all types of mineral especially clay minerals by XRD which are responsible for well exploration and hydrocarbon production.
- To feed the data for assessing and rationalizing the results in terms of lithology wireline log, seismic data & regional geological information to reconstruct the geological history of the area.
With the aim of different investigation this department is preserving samples of outcrop, drill cutting, core & sidewall core. It should be mention here there is a core store under the supervision of this department for analysis in future (for research work of University student, foreign interested clients).
This department is functioning to get the data of investigation by its three section:
- Palynological Section
The Palynological analysis involves to recognize pollen, spores & dinoflage lates with the help of Binocular Microscope. It is a reliable & effective tool for stratigraphic & plaeoenvironmental interpretation of marine and otherwise unfossiliferrous marginal marine & nonmarine sequences. It can be undertaken by using either qualitative or quantitative techniques.
The qualitative techniques is applied when only age is required for the samples. This technique applies mainly to field samples and pre-Tertiary section. The quantitative techniques is applied to full or partial section for determination of palynofacies, and age boundary of deposited sedimentary rock.
- Micro-Paleontological Section
Micro-paleontology involves the recogrization of planktonic & benthonic forraminifera by Stereoscopic Microscope to determine the age and paleoenvironment in sediments of mentioned to deep marine origin planktonic foraminifera are particularly useful chronostratigraphic indicators in open marine environments because of their wide geographical distribution, abundance and often restricted stratigraphic range. Larger benthonic foraminifera enable for age determination of material from shallow marine environments. when examined in thin section, these are especially used for limestone sequences. Palaeobathymetric conclusions and determined by the examination of both the benthonic planktoni foraminiferal assemblages.
- Sedimentological Section
This section deals with the history of the sediments i.e. types of sediments (Lithofacies), mineral content, source history and environment in which the sediments were deposited.
- Lithological study:
Lithology of sedimentary rock find out the types of sediments by the help of some systematic analysis, which may help to find out the lithofacies. This lithofacies has important role in hydrocarbon exploration.
- Granulometric/Heavy Mineral study:
This analysis is used to determine the environments in which the sediments were deposited. And also to find out the provenience of the sediments.
- Petrographic/Thin section study:
Some minerals which are visible under petrographic microscope determine the composition of rock. Also to find out the pore spaces of the reservoir rock.
- X-Ray diffraction method:
There are some minerals particularly clay minerals, those fine minerals are identified by XRD method. Identification of clay minerals and determination of type and their behavior used for exploration and of oil & gas.
GEOCHEMICAL DEPARTMENT
The exploration for oil and gas has become more difficult and costly in recent years and is constantly reminded of considerable problems involved in finding oil and gases in different stratigraphic traps. For successful petroleum exploration it is important to understand all the processes, Chemicals & Geochemical those are involved in the different stages from deposition of organic matter in sedimentary rocks, via maturation, generation & migration to the ultimate accumulation of hydrocarbon in the reservoir rocks. Geochemistry deals with the above all parameters and during last decade these have special been wide spread study of source rock, organic maturation process and the generation, occurrence and properties of petroleum. Findings from Geochemical investigation and compilation with other geoscience, it has been proved 30% exploration risk can be minimized.
To explore oil and gas the final stage is the most costly drilling activity. So to drill anywhere it is very important to establish the hydrocarbon prospects in the sedimentary sequence. Geochemistry deals with the following question to evaluate the probability of hydrocarbon finding in the subsurface.
- Is there any source rock that can generate hydrocarbon?
- If there then, what quantity of hydrocarbon generated and or how much hydrocarbon may be generated after its maturation?
- Oil or gas what may be produced by the identified source rock?
- What is the depth of the probable source rock at its origin?
- Identification of source from the discovered hydrocarbon reservation.
Geochemical department is functioning the above all investigation by its three section
- Source Rock Study Section:
- Oil and natural gas study section
- Analytical section.
Source Rock Study Section:
To identify oil gas rich zone it is important to know the presence of type, proper and matured kerogen in the area or adjacent area's sedimentary rock. That special sedimentary bed is called the source rock in which there is insoluble complex organic matter kerogen and form it produced soluble organic matter, "Bitumin". Due to increase of temperature by subsidence or any other effect. the amount of bitumin is increased and is expelled from the source rock to reservoir rock and is called mineral oil.
In the source rock study section modern techniques are used to identify the types of kerogen, bitumin and hydrocarbon distribution in the sedimentary rock.
This section is equiped with (i) Total organic carbon (TOC) determinator (ii) Rock Eval / Oil Show Analyser (iii) Gas chromatography, computerized GC Ms (spectrocopy detector) (iv) Gas chromatography (FID) (v) Iatroscan (T.L.C F.I.D ) (vi) Soxhlet Extraction Apparatus (vii) Thin layer chromatography (viii) Hydrous pyrolysis apparatus (ix) Flash pyrolysis Gas chromatograph with FID & FPD (x) Microscopic Study/ Coal Petrography (XI) Elemental analyzer & all these apparatus are most modern and are compareble with international standard.
- TOC Determinetor:
The most fundamental parameters to asses the source rock ptentiality is the organic richness. The minimum amount of total organic matter required for a formation to function as a source is not specific and must be evaluated and interpretated for different basin.
- Rock Eval oil show analyser
It is the most fundamental study to asses the rock for TOC, i.e., hydrocarbon potentiality.
This instrument produces data for
- Quantity of free petroleum present in the rock/ Kerogen.
- Remaining potential of the Kerogen in the rock to generate petroleum at higher label of Katgnesis.
- Quality index for early mature stage.
- Productivity index, i.e., the ratio of petroleum produced to date.
- G.C. Computerised (Mass Spectrometry detector)
Total ion chromatogram, selective ion chromatogram of Crude/Condensate, (sat, aromatic & branced cyclic) extract are being analysed in this equipment for molecular distribution to asses its source environment maturity from its molecular isomer ratio (hopanes, steranes terpenoids, phenantherene et). The most important thing Biomarker/Geochemical fossils for oil to oil, Oil to oil source correlation and identification of unknown compound by mass fractogram by mass bodardment are being carried out in this instrument. It is an computerised G.C that can store all the data for ever to study latter for further findings and revise. By this time reports have been produced by the data produced from G.C (MSD). It should be mentioned that less than 1-9% oil in the reserve posses the original character from where it was produced (plant or marine) with little alteration. These compounds are called biomarker and from this biomarker we can cocreatly forecast the source and can classify the oil.
- G.C (FID):
Seep oil, condensate, Total oil, bitumin extracted from rock (Sat and aromatic fraction) etc are being analyzed for molecular composition
Abundance of components and the fingerprint tells us the function of source kerogen, type, maturity and environment. Characterization of crude/condensate/extract (bitumin) from its molecular distribution is most important to evaluate the whole picture for source maturity i,e genetic character and at the same time petroleum products are also analysed for its specification and commercial evaluation. Crude / condensates produced from different gas/oil fields are being analyzed by this instrument.
- Iatroscan TLC FID Analyser:
For group composition like the amount of sat, aromatic and NSO compound present in the bitumen crude/Condensate and the data is used to interpret genetic character.
- Soxhlet Extraction apparatus:
Selected estimated potential source rock is extracted through different volatile solvent to get the soluble bitumen for further analysis in the GC (FID & MSD) after group composition. The amount of bitumen obtained is an important parameter for interpretation of richness of organic matter in the rock to generate oil/gas if it gets maturity.
- Thin layer chromatography:
It is a technique by which different interested components are seperated and collected for identification by GC & G.C (M.S.D)
- Hydrous Pyrolysis:
Immature kerogen in the rock attains maturity artificially to generate artifical oil and the oil is analysed by GC (MSD) to find out the hidden biomarker for interpretation.
- Flash Pyolysis GC (FID & FPD):
Selected potential rocks and separated kerogene are being analysed in this apparatus to asses the quality of the rock. The temperature is attended at a higher stage to degrade the complex compound kerogen responsible for oil/gas generation. Here the analysis is distinguishable, because in this process no compound can escape during analysis like other methods. So to evaluate source rock quality/potentiality it is most accurate.
- Microscopic Study/ CoalPetrography:
The thermal catalytic alteration of sedimentary organic matter, (kerogen) is the primary process in the genesis of petroleum. Here the kerogen is floated chemically from the source rock for observation in the Carl zeiss - Petro-200 Axioplan microscope & Leitz Laborlax -D- microscope for vitrinite reflectance and spore coloration index to determine time temperature history. Vitrinite reflectance (Ro value) the most reliable maturity parameter is determined from this study to asess the sourse rock.
Oil And Natural Gas Study Section
The information of source is lying in the discovered oil and gas. So to evaluate source and genetic character the analysis of oil and gas is a traditional method.
The data produced by analysis chemically and physically of the seep oil/gas or discovered oil/gas will give the guidance to explose for more reserve in that area or near by area. Physicochemical properties of oil/gas like molecular composition , specific gravity, calorific value , Refractive index, Viscosity, RVP, Carbon content, Fractional Distillation, Flashpoint, Pourpoint, Freeging point, aniline point, acid number etc. are carried out in this sction and from these data the interpretations are being carried out for genetic character and commercial evaluation.
The most important part in this section is natural gas analysis. Gas /Oil samples obtained from different drilling fields and production field are being carried out as a routine job. It is important to note here this section is carrying out oil/gas analysis of different enterprises of Petrobangla against service charge. From this analysis data surface plant facilities and operational functoning are being decided.
This section is equiped with G.C (T.C.D) for natural gas analysis and G.C (T.C.D & FID dual) to analyse flash gas/Condensate, distillation apparatus, R.I apparatus, Carbon content apparatus, R.V.P apparatus, Pour point, Flash point, antiline point apparatus, Viscosity apparatus etc.
Analytical Section
Minerals present in the formation water, and water / acid soluble minerals in the rock give the information to determine the environment to produce hydrocarbon in the concerned zone. With this aim the analytical section carries out experiments on the collected water from the reservoir rock and water / acid soluble extract of sedimentary rocks of different wells to get data of salainity and its nature, anionic/cataionic character and quantity i,e, total mineral analysis.
In this section chemical assay of different chemicals required is carried out. Chemical composition of drilling fluid, cement and other additives used in the drilling fluid are carried out in this section. As a rotuine job this section always carring out cement analysis for cementing job of the drilling site is very much important as the cementation job programming depends on this analysis. Specially Barite and Bentonite is analysed for its quality to use in the drilling fluid.
PETROPHYSICAL AND RESERVOIR STUDY DEPARTMENT
The analytical procedure of Petrophysical & Reservoir study Department can be devided into three stages:
- Selection and preparation of samples;
- Routine Core analysis;
- Special Core analysis of certain Petrophysical parameters.
Core Analysis
Preparation and selection of samples
Core gama surface log and colour photo
Description and selection of core samples
Visual uv research
Plug drilling and cutting
Extraction of samples
Drying at temperature 1050C
Conventional Core Analysis
- Residual fluid saturation in fresh samples
- Helium porosity
- Air permeability
- Grain density
- Volume density
Special Core Analysis
- Ambient electro-resistivity (FF-RI)
- Capillary pressure displacement gas/water (oil)
- Mercury injection and pore size distribution
- Gas/water relative permeability test
PRODUCTION CONTROL & ENVIRONMENT STUDY DEPARTMENT (PROPOSED)
BAPEX got the assignment for production and is running accordingly production of Salda gas field & Fenchugonj gas field. so, production riched laboratory analytical support for plant designing and or production arrangement for the ingoing production field and running production field it is urgent to analyze gas, condensates, water and other mud chemicals conventionally for process control and monitoring the whole system through its quality of intake well head gas and refined sales gas. By product condensate quality is to be measured for measuring reservoir quality as well as commercial evaluation of the same for its marketing.
To facilate all these activities practical demand of production control department including consequent environmental study department is the demand of the day, it is urgent to add global situation for maintaining favourable environment in the drilling field and or production field environmental study analysis is urgent for environmental impact assessment as well as environmental control. To study all these matters we must have to analyze air, water soil of the drilling point/field and or production field to assess the environment whether any emission of hydrocarbon or toxic material is going on or not or to control.
To study all this analytical activities of production control and environment assessment/study we have to open the new department and have to procure some additional instrument and technical assistance or training program that we can do the job with the present instrumental support with some additional procurement.
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