Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for geochemical analysis of rocks to enhance oil and gas production forecasting

Tarana Nurubeyli^1,2,3, Arif Hashimov¹, Zulfugar Nurubayli², Kamil Nuriyev¹, Nijat Imamverdiyev³

¹Institute of Physics, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan

²Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Baku, Azerbaijan

³Khazar University, Baku, Azerbaijan

Min. miner. depos. 2025, 19(3):43-50

https://doi.org/10.33271/mining19.03.043

Full text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Purpose. This study aims to improve the accuracy of forecasting oil and gas deposits by analyzing the spatial distribution and dynamics of hydrocarbon gas concentrations within wells using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Methods. Core samples were collected from various regions of Azerbaijan. The samples underwent microwave mineralization and were analyzed using the quadrupole mass spectrometer Agilent ICP-MS 7700e. The study of gas composition and mineralogical characteristics of rocks considered factors influencing hydrocarbon migration, including pH environment, redox potential, temperature, and pressure.

Findings. It was established that hydrocarbon gas concentrations increase in depth due to the presence of oil and gas reservoirs and under the influence of geochemical zoning. It was shown that the migration of hydrocarbons and trace elements affects the mineralogical composition of rocks. The analysis of the elemental composition of cores helped reduce the number of unproductive wells from 70% to 30%, leading to a 10% reduction in exploration costs.

Originality. The novelty of this study lies in integrating lithochemical analysis with highly sensitive geochemical methods, such as ICP-MS, to examine the composition and properties of rocks in detail. For the first time, a correlation between geochemical anomalies and hydrocarbon migration zones has been identified for oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan.

Practical implications. The research findings can be used to optimize geological exploration and improve the accuracy of oil and gas field forecasting. The methodology can be adapted for regions with similar geological conditions, enhancing exploration efficiency and reducing costs.

Keywords: oil and gas fields, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, geochemical method, hydrocarbon migration, exploration well

REFERENCES

Ken, E.P., & Martin, G.F. (2002). Applications of petroleum geochemistry to exploration and reservoir management. Organic Geochemistry, 33(1), 5-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(01)00125-5
Lawson, M.M., Formolo, M.J., Summa, L., & Eiler, J.M. (2022). Geochemical applications in petroleum systems analysis: New constraints and the power of integration. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 468, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP468.6
Balaram, V. (1996). Recent trends in the instrumental analysis of rare earth elements in geological and industrial materials. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 15(5), 475-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-9936(96)00058-1
Bati, Z. (2015). Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the upper Eocene and lower Oligocene of the Kirmizitepe Section, Azerbaijan, South Caspian Basin. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 217, 9-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.03.002
Aghayeva, V., Sachsenhofer, R.F., van Baak, C.G.C., Bayramova, Sh., Ćorić, S., Frühwirth, M.J., Rzayeva, E., & Vincent, S.J. (2023). Stratigraphy of the Cenozoic succession in eastern Azerbaijan: Implications for petroleum systems and paleogeography in the Caspian Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 150, 106148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106148
Lei, C., Yin, S., Ye, J., Wu, J., Wang, Z., & Gao, B. (2024). Geochemical characteristics and hydrocarbon generation modeling of the Paleocene source rocks in the Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea Basin. Journal of Earth Science, 35, 642-654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1528-6
Munoz-Lopez, D., Cruset, D., Verges, J., Cantarero, I., Benedicto, A., Mangenot, X., Albert, R., Gerdes, A., Beranoaguirre, A., & Travé, A. (2022). Spatio-temporal variation of fluid flow behavior along a fold: The Bóixols-Sant Corneli anticline (Southern Pyrenees) from U-Pb dating and structural, petrographic and geochemical constraints. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 143, 105788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105788
Bjørlykke, K. (2015). Petroleum geoscience: From sedimentary environments to rock physics. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer Berlin, 662 p. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34132-8
Hunt, J.M. (2019). Petroleum geochemistry and geology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 743 p.
Chen, Z. (2009). Geochemical modeling of reaction paths and geochemical reaction. Networks Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 70(1), 533-569. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2009.70.12
Mohammed, B.A., & Aminu, B.M. (2015). Geochemical investigation of vertical migration of petroleum through mudstones I: Origin of the hydrocarbon shows. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 23(1), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.4314/njbas.v23i1.10
Ehrenberg, S.N., Eberli, G.P., Keramati, M., & Moallemi, S.A. (2006). Porosity-permeability relationships in interlayered limestone-dolostone reservoirs. AAPG Bulletin, 90(1), 91-114. https://doi.org/10.1306/08100505087
Liu, J., Wang, L., Chen, F., et al. (2023). Molecular characterization of hydrocarbons in petroleum by ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry. Energies, 16(11), 4296-4310. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114296
Souza, L., Silva, S., Filgueiras, P., Filgueiras, P.R., dos Santos, F.D., Vasconcelos, G.A., Lacerda Jr, V., Vaz, B.G., & Romão, W. (2020). Study of the effect of inhibitors solutions on the chemical composition of waxes by rheology tests and high resolution mass spectrometry. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 31(4), 627-637. https://doi.org/10.21577/0103-5053.20190221
Nurubeyli, T.K. (2020). The effect of plasma density on the degree of suppression of analyte signals in ICP-MS. Technical Physics, 65(12), 1963-1968. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063784220120166
Nurubeyli, T.K., Zeynalov, J.I., Mammadova, G.N., & Imamverdiyev, N.E. (2024). Improving methods for sample preparation of transformer oils by ICP-MS. International Journal on “Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering”, 58(16(1)), 21-26.
Nurubeyli, T.K., Jafar, N.Sh., & Mammadova, G.N. (2025). Improving methods for sample preparation of biological fluids by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 507, 117355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2024.117355
Nurubeyli, T.K., Hashimov, A.M., Imamverdiyev, N.E., & Mammadova, G.N. (2025). Complex physicochemical analysis of transformer oil parameters using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics, 2, 79-84. https://doi.org/10.20998/2074-272X.2025.2.10
Popoola, S.O., Ibitola, M.P., Appia, Y.J., & Titocan, M.I. (2015). Geochemical and statistical approach to assessing trace metal contamination in Lagos Lagoon sediments. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International, 3(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.9734/JGEESI/2015/20333
Awad, H.A., Zakaly, H.M.H., El-Taher, A., & Sebak, M.A. (2022). Determination of lanthanides in phosphate rocks by instrumental neutron activation analysis. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2466, 050002-050014. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0088670