Objective
A new in-situ-degassing probe for the application in isotope-geochemical exploration for oil and gas should be developed and tested.
The probe would enable the separation of free, mainly bacterial produced soil gas from absorbed gases formed in the deep subsurface by thermocatalytic reactions from organic source rocks, in one sampling step.
A distinct reduction of cost for sampling and sample treatment for isotope-geochemical analysis in the field of oil and gas exploration is expected due to the lack of cost intensive drilling rigs, the storage of samples in liquid nitrogen and the separation and extraction of gases in the laboratory.
The probe system operates by insitu-degassing gases by an acid-vacuum treatment of soil. The developed probe meets the demands of mechanical function, tightness and easy handling in the field. Electric power supply is not necessary to operate the system.
Removal of air and evacuation of the whole probe system is performed by flushing with carbon dioxide and further adsorbtion of the carbon dioxide by concentrated potassium hydroxide solution.
The adsorbed hydrocarbon gases are liberated by decomposition of clay layers by injection of phosphoric acid. The liberated hydrocarbon are flushed through telescoped teflon tubes to the gas sampling system.
A field test over an oilfield site was performed. The usage of the acid probe was found to be very limited for the application in gas and oil exploration projects due to the following reasons :
1. Artificially formed hydrocarbons are generated by reactions of the acid with the steel material of the probe. By this reaction, the 13C/12C andD/H isototpe ratios of the described methane are strongly altered. Additionally, a distinct shift in the hydrocarbon gas composition is observed.
2. The gas yields of the soil desorbed hydrocarbons can not be estimated since the amount of desorbed soil weight is unknown and varies from site to site.
3. To eliminate the influence of different lithologies from site to site, the determination of isotope-geochemical data is routinely measured from the < 63 um fraction of sediments or soil samples. This is not possible using the acid probe.
Isotope geochemical interpretation models rely on exact gas yields, gas composition and especially 13C/12C and D/H isotope ratios of the adsorbed gaseous hydrocarbons. The reproducebility of this data is excellent by the conventional analytical laboratory methods with the disadvantage to be unflexible, time comsuming and relative complicated.
Since the analytical demands mentioned above are not met by the new developed acid probe, further modification of the probe is necessary. The usage of glass, ceramic or plastic material rather than stainless steel may overcome the generation of artificial gas.
However, alternative applications of the probe are possible in environmental projects where the existence of aliphatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen are not of interest. For instance, determination of chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons or other pollution adsorbed in the soil, which are not generated by the method, could be determined.
A new probe for in-situ degassing of soil with acid treatment was constructed.
The probe consists of a 2 m long stainless steel tube with two telescoping teflon-tubes for acid injection and gas transportation of the liberated gases.
The tip of the probe is closed by a varnished bottom plug and driven into the soil about maximal 2 m by means of a motor hammer or a heavy plastic hammer. Then the probe is lifted by 10 cm whereby the bottom is opened.
In opened volume in the soil body phosphoric acid (85%) is injected via the probe tip. The liberated gases and developed carbon dioxide of carbonates are stripping the gas to the outlet of the probe on the surface.
In a connected gas preparation line the developed carbon dioxide of the sample gas is washed out by potassium hydroxide solution (50%). The remaining gas phase contains the liberated hydrocarbon gases of the soil.
These gases are transferred by water into an evacuated gas container for further determination of the gas composition and 13C/12C-isotope ratio of methane.
After testing the probe for material corrosion and leaks it was used in soil areas above an oil field near Lehrte.
By parallel analysis of field samples and laboratory standard samples the results were compared with those of the conventional laboratory degassing method.
It was found that both methods generate different isotope-geochemical data. The data of the conventional method fits very well with the expected data in the oil field and the laboratory standard. On the other hand the new developed acid-probe generally produced shifted data which are not useful for interpretation in the oil and gas exploration.
Laboratory and blanc tests with the acid probe showed that the stainless steel produces high concentrations of hydrocarbon gases by the treatment with phosphoric acid. In the field work the gas composition and isotope ratios of this artificially formed gas is mixed with the soil gas.
As the artificially formed gas part can not be controlled and in addition gas yields can't be determined due to the unknown degassed soil body, the acid-probe was found to be not useful for the given demand.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
3160 LEHRTE
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.