PETRO-FIND GEOCHEM LTD provides a risk-reduction service to assist oil/gas companies in making timely and informed decisions at every stage of the exploration process from land acquisition to drilling. The method is based on the detection of leakage patterns (i.e. anomalies) of light hydrocarbons (C1-C5) in soils that have migrated from underlying oil/gas reservoirs. This microseepage signal can be correlated with type of reservoir i.e. biogenic gas, thermogenic gas, gas liquids, and heavy/light oil. Why not have that second opinion, another layer of information, before making that drilling decision?

Soil gas surveys can quickly ascertain at low cost the oil and gas potential in both mature and frontier regions as well as pinpoint areas for focused exploration and follow-up drilling. Our unique hand-portable sampling system allows access to environmentally sensitive areas, forested regions, fields in crop and difficult terrain. Petro-Find has also developed a passive sampler for surveys in wet,swampy and muskeg areas. A soil gas survey is the only feasible exploration method to evaluate a large acreage block. Our lab at Innovation Place, equipped with the latest technology, can offer quick turnaround on analysis of light hydrocarbons as well as CO2, helium and hydrogen.

Soil gas surveys are ideal for monitoring of CO2EOR projects. To measure the effectiveness of storage it is important to establish baseline studies prior to injection. Follow-up surveys are conducted on a repetitive basis to identify at an early stage any major leakages along open conduits such as improperly plugged wells and fractures/faults. For examples see the August 2010 environmental study and February 2011 environmental study of a portion of the Saskatchewan Weyburn Oil Field currently undergoing EOR. For projects at the planning stage, potential sequestration sites should be screened by soil gas surveys for their storage suitability. This approach can save a great deal of time and resources, and can optimize planning.

Petro-Find welcomes proposals for overseas projects, especially for large blocks in frontier areas. One approach is to establish anomalous trends by a reconnaissance survey followed by a higher density survey to further define the aerial extent and configuration of the anomalies. Only areas with the highest potential should be followed up with seismic and drilling.

Paul Lafleur, President, is a Registered Professional Engineer in both Alberta and Saskatchewan and is licensed to consult in the field of “ Geological Engineering: mineral and energy economics; application of trace hydrocarbon and fixed gas analysis of soil gas to identify and characterize the presence of hydrocarbons and minerals.”