Identification and quantification of alkene-based drilling fluids in crude oils by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization detection

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1148; no. 1; pp. 100 - 107
• Main Authors: Reddy, Christopher M., Nelson, Robert K., Sylva, Sean P., Xu, Li, Peacock, Emily A., Raghuraman, Bhavani, Mullins, Oliver C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 27.04.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alkenes; Alkenes - chemistry; Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, Gas - methods; Chromatography, Gel; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Drilling fluids; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Flame Ionization - methods; Fuels; Gas chromatographic methods; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; GC × GC; Models, Theoretical; Olefins; Petroleum - analysis; Petroleum exploration; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Reproducibility of Results; Alkenes; GC × GC; Olefins; Drilling fluids; Petroleum exploration; GC x GC; Chemical analysis; Two dimensional chromatography; Hydrocarbon; Aliphatic compound; Drilling fluid; Flame ionization detector; Gas chromatography; Alkene; Olefin; Crude oil; Qualitative analysis; Ethylenic compound; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.001

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC × GC-FID) was used to measure alkene-based drilling fluids in crude oils. Compared to one-dimensional gas chromatography, GC × GC-FID is more robust for detecting alkenes due to the increased resolution afforded by second dimension separations. Using GC × GC-FID to analyze four oil samples from one reservoir contaminated with the same drilling fluid, C 15, C 16, C 17, C 18 and C 20 alkenes were identified. The drilling fluid that contaminated these samples also differed from another commercially obtained fluid, which only contained C 16 and C 18 alkenes. These results should motivate the petroleum industry to consider GC × GC-FID for measuring drilling fluids.