Integrated Geochemical Interpretion Limited IGI Ltd

Geochemistry

IGI Ltd specialises in the integration of screening, molecular and isotopic geochemistry with a sound understanding of regional geology at basinal, license and prospect scales. These exploration studies often incorporate 1-D, 2-D and pseudo 3-D basin modelling, together with source rock volumetrics and risking. IGI also undertakes production geochemical studies, defining processes and making predictions at the reservoir scale.

IGI's studies typically commence with the creation and quality assurance of a geochemical database for the study area. Source rocks are evaluated for hydrocarbon type and yield, and measured maturity parameters reconciled against the predictions of thermal geohistory modelling. Expulsion efficiencies can be calculated and migration modelled. The amount, timing and composition of the hydrocarbon charge are thus established and may be risked. These basin or prospect-scale predictions can be substantiated using the bulk, molecular and isotopic properties of the local oil, condensate or gas occurrences.

IGI's projects are all different, and depend entirely on the nature of the problem(s) being addressed. However, many of our projects include all or most of the following aspects:

Assemble all numerate and graphical geochemical and geothermal data into a homogeneous and quality assured documented database

Establish the amounts and types of organic material and hence identify source rock units: map the organofacies of source rock horizons over the areas of interest

Determine the maturity of the identified source rocks at well locations, integrate with 1-D basin modelling and use seismic mapping to generalise into a maturity map defining source rock kitchens

Turning to hydrocarbons, establish how many oil and gas families are present using visual, graphical and statistical oil-oil correlations

Link each oil and gas family to a source rock using bulk, molecular and isotopic oil- and gas-source correlation techniques

Map potential migration paths based on basinal palaeogeometry and integrate with the geological history, structure and sedimentology using 2-D or map-based (2.5-D) basin modelling

Review evidence for the survival of the oil or gas to the present, considering intra-reservoir biodegradation, water washing, fractionation, etc.