LABORATÓRIO DE GEOQUÍMICA/ Geochemistry Laboratory Facilities

O Laboratório de Geoquímica Orgânica e Inorgânica (LGQM) está dividido em dois ambientes distintos. Em um está localizada a infra-estrutura completa para análise de geoquímica orgânica e de isótopos estáveis, onde se encontram instalados os seguintes equipamentos: equipamento de absorção atômica da Pelkin-Elmer, um cromatógrafo com detector de massas, um ICP-MS e um espectômetro para Isótopos Estáveis da Finnigan. No segundo ambiente, localizado no LGPA, está instalado um equipamento de detecção de C e S (LECO SC-44). O LGQM se encontra em operação contínua desde sua implantação, dando suporte para monografias de graduação, dissertações e teses, bem como apoio a projetos financiados por agências de fomento (CNPq, FAPERJ, FINEP) e, quando possível, a prestação de serviços para empresas e outras instituições.

Geochemistry Laboratory Facilities

Geochemistry Laboratory Facilities employing High Resolution Technology applied to Sedimentary Geology

Introduction

During the last fifteen years, the Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Geology School at the Rio de Janeiro State University was structured to meet the techno-scientific demands from the oil and gas sector. Two strategies have been used:

i) the inclusion in the teaching staff of professionals with recognized experience in this area, particularly of professionals from Petrobras.

ii) the building of a laboratorial infrastructure to meet the oil exploration needs in almost all of its stages. Therefore, the following laboratories are operating:

a. The Inorganic and Organic Geochemistry Laboratory is divided into two distinct areas. The first area comprises the infrastructure necessary for the Organic Geochemistry analyses as well as for the Stable Isotopes analyses and it is equipped with: the Perkin Elmer Elan DRC II ICP-MS, the Soxhlet Solvent Extraction Equipment, the Perkin Elmer A Analyst 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, the Agilent 6890 Gas Spectrometer System with the Network 5973 Mass Selective Detector (GC-MS) and the Thermo Finnigan Delta V Advanced Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS). The second area comprises the Carbon and Sulphur analyses and it is equipped with the LECO SC - 444 Carbon Sulphur Analyzer. This laboratory is qualified to produce the following data: Trace Elements contents, major and minor elements; Biomarker; Delta 13C, Delta 18O in organic matter, TOC, S and IR contents. Since its opening the Geochemistry Laboratory is fully operational and its supports the analyses essential to the graduation course monographs, dissertations and theses as well as the projects financed by governmental fostering agencies. Occasionally, the Laboratory renders services to private companies and other institutions.

b. Laboratory of Organic Petrography and of Sedimentary Petrography, equipped with 5 petrographic microscopes f for research (Zeiss, Leica and Nikkon); 5 stereomicroscopes (Zeiss and Leica). All these optical equipments are adapted to capture images. Such equipments are used in the studies for the determination of the organic matter type (palinofacies), spore color index, vitrinite reflectance index, palinologic analyses. Besides, the modal petrographic analysis of resevoir rocks.

c. Laboratory of 3-D analogous studies with data processing equipment for laser scan image which allows a detailed study of the depositional architecture.
d. Sample Preparation Laboratory for maceral analyses with infra-structure for palinologic laminae preparation and organic petrography.

The following researches have been perfomed by the Departament:

i) FACIES ANALYSIS
* Analogous outcrop studies in the Paraná and Parnaíba Paleozoic basins.
* Detailed faciologic analyses of terrigenous and carbonatic deposits (Paraná, Campos and Segipe/Alagoas basins).
* Detailed gamma spectrometric studies of outcrops and cores (Paraná and Sergipe/Alagoas basins).

ii) GEOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS RELATED TO THE ORGANIC MATTER
* Characterization of the content and type of the organic matter (Different Paleozoic and Marginal basins).
* Characterization of the geochemical signature of the oils by means of biomarkers (Different Paleozoic and Marginal basins).
* Carbon and Oxygen isotopic studies (Paraná and Sergipe/Alagoas basins).

iii) HIGH RESOLUTION STRATIGRAPHY
* Chemical Stratigraphy based on stable isotopes and major, minor and trace elements (Paleozoic and Cretaceous basins).
* Biostratigraphic analyses correlated to geochemical analyses and sedimentologic analyses (Paleozoic basins).
* Th/U, Th/K relationships in sedimentary sections (Paleozoic and Cenozoic basins).

All the items approached in the researches carried out at the Department are based on a holistic perspective within the Basin Analysis context and also on a high resolution stratigraphic framework.