While seismic survey is the primary tool for mapping traps, it cannot answer the critical question: Does the discovered structure actually contain oil? To identify oil presence prior to drilling, surface geochemical exploration is required.
Why Classic Geochemistry Fails?
Pilot field programs conducted in the Volga-Ural basin (Bashkortostan) in 1989-1991 evaluated standard geochemical methods, including light hydrocarbon soil-gas chromatography and fluorescence analysis. The results proved that traditional methods are highly unreliable due to several key factors:
1. Low Gas Factor: The volume of hydrocarbons migrating rom the reservoir is often indistinguishable from the natural background soil-gas levels.
2. Sampling Loss: Uncontrolled degassing during soil collection introduces massive errors into the prospect evaluation.
3. Anthropogenic Noise: Man-made surface contamination leads to severe distortions during fluorescence analysis.
Our Innovation: Subsurface Secondary Alterations.
To solve these issues, we developed a method focused on secondary (epigenetic) soil alterations above seismic prospects. Initially conceptualized for «Bashneftegeofizika», the technology bridges the gap between structural seismic data and near-surface geochemistry.
The invention is rooted in the theory of vertical hydrocarbon migration. Over millions of years, the continuous upward migration of hydrocarbons alters the physicochemical properties of the overlying soil. This process shifts the pH levels, modifies the redox potential (Eh), and triggers intense carbonatization.
Key Advantages of Our DHI Technology:
1. Long-term Stability: Because these geochemical barriers formed over millions of years, the anomalies remain permanent and are unaffected by seasonal changes.
2. Immunity to Noise: The method is 100% immune to industrial and environmental surface contamination.
Unlike traditional geochemistry, our method does not rely on volatile gas detection,. Instead, we calculate a comprehensive composite metric called the Oil-Bearing Indicator (OBI), which integrates Eh (redox), pH, and overall chemical soil composition.
The technology is officially protected by a Russian Federation Patent.
