The application of hyperspectral core imaging for oil and gas

Abstract

Hyperspectral core imaging as a commercial technology is fairly new to the oil and gas industry, providing a rapid and non-destructive method for mapping mineralogy of drill core and cuttings. The technology makes use of infrared spectrometers that collect imagery across the visible, near infrared, short-wave infrared and thermal (long-wave) infrared range that contains information related to a variety of mineral species, and in some cases including mineral chemistry and texture. In this paper we illustrate how the mineralogical information can be used directly for a variety of applications relevant to reservoir quality, including mineral map-ping, sedimentological mapping and upscaling of micro information to the well scale. Statistical analysis allows the data to be used to segment cores into different rock types, and via calibration to quantitative mineralogical techniques, the data can be used to construct continuous curves of quantitative mineralogy, total organic content and production parameters.