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OIL SANDS ANALYSIS
Core Laboratories has been supplying the oil and gas industry with Oil Sands Analysis since
drilling began in this unique and challenging rock type. Millions of barrels of oil lie in shallow,
completely unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs in Western Canada. The oil present is very viscous
(sometimes 1 million centipoise) and is considered bitumen. Very shallow reservoirs
(less than 500 metres deep) are mined whereas deeper reservoirs (500 to 1000 metres) are
produced by lowering the oil viscosity using steam and then producing.
Core Laboratories offers a range of specialty analyses on this type of reservoir to aid in the
evaluation and production of these types of reservoirs.
Core Gamma
Total or Spectral Gamma Ray activity measured on core can be used to depth match the core, aid in
sample selection and provide an insight to the presence of clays.
Core Imaging
White light and Ultra-Violet digital core images provide a permanent record of the condition of
the fresh core and can be used to compare well to well and field to field. Digital core images
are easily put into a data base for more efficient data management.
Fluid Saturations
Residual fluid saturations are measured by the Dean Stark method and provide accurate estimations
of water content, bitumen content and fluids porosity. Clean and dry Dean Stark sand residue make
ideal samples for Particle Size Distribution.
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Permeability and Porosity
Selected core samples are mounted in metal sleeves for conventional Boyle’s Law Helium porosity and permeability
to air measurements. These measurements can be performed at net stress conditions.
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Oil Viscosity
Since the rock is completely unconsolidated, oil can be extracted by centrifuge on which density and
viscosity measurements can be taken.
Particle Size Distribution
The clean and dry sand left over from Dean Stark analysis can be analyzed by laser diffraction to
obtain the entire grain size distribution. This data is critical in the design of screens or liners
to minimize sand production and in the design of production pumps.
Petrology
Oil in place thin section analysis along with X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy is a
cost effective way to inspect the texture of the core and is often performed on samples on which
further testing is required (Special Core Analysis).
Formation Damage
Core Labs’ Special Core Analysis Lab performs tests on core samples to determine the optimum fluids to
use to minimize formation damage.
Electrical Properties
Archie parameters are made on sleeved samples to calibrate electrical logs by measuring the parameters
of a,m and n. This analysis can be performed in conjunction with Capillary Pressure Measurements
Methylene Blue Index (MBI)
Methylene blue, a cationic dye, can be adsorbed by negatively charged clay particles.
Adsorption of the dye in a pH adjusted sample is a swelling clay indicator in the mineral
fraction of oil sands.
Soluble Ions (SI)
Hot water extraction of oil sands is followed by pressure filtration.
The resulting water is analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Ion Chromatography (IC)
to determine ionic composition.
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