The Educational and Scientific Laboratory of Petrographic Research at Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas is a specialized microscopic unit where petrographic studies of rocks and detailed analysis of the fracturing of reservoir rocks in thin sections are conducted. The laboratory is equipped with digital microscopic systems that allow not only observation of the rock structure in polarized light but also documentation of results in digital format—photographing microsections, measuring fracture and pore parameters, and creating illustrative materials for scientific reports and publications.
Research Directions
In the laboratory, the following types of research are conducted:
- Petrographic analysis of rocks in transmitted and reflected light — determination of mineral composition, structure and texture of the rock, degree of catagenetic transformations.
- Study of fracture networks in reservoir rocks in thin sections — assessment of fracture density, orientation, aperture, and filling, which directly determines the filtration properties of the reservoir.
- Research of reservoir pore space — determination of porosity type, nature of cementation, and degree of secondary alteration of pore space.
- Identification of cement minerals and clay minerals affecting reservoir permeability and its behavior when interacting with formation fluids and technological fluids.
Laboratory Equipment
Digital Microscope WEBBERS G50s 10 — modern digital microscope for examining microsections with the capability to display images on a monitor and save snapshots in digital format. Provides convenient group work with students, allowing the image of the section to be simultaneously available to all present.
Microscope Konus Academy — trinocular optical microscope for petrographic studies in transmitted polarized light. The trinocular head allows for the attachment of a camera or digital eyepiece to document results without losing optical observation quality.
Microscopic photosystem BIOREX-3 Trinocular with CCD-camera DCM500 and 3.2× adapte r— a digital complex for microphotography of thin sections. The DCM500 camera (USB 2.0) connects directly to the computer and allows obtaining high-quality digital images of minerals, pores, and cracks with the ability for subsequent calibrated measurement of geometric parameters on the images. Similar capabilities are provided by the DCM510 camera, used in conjunction with the laboratory’s trinocular microscopes.
Educational Process and Scientific Activity
Practical classes in petrography of sedimentary rocks, lithology, and oil and gas geology are conducted in the laboratory. Students study the mineral composition and structure of reservoir rocks, master methods for describing thin sections and quantitatively assessing petrographic parameters, which are essential competencies for geological study of oil and gas fields and calculating hydrocarbon reserves.
In scientific terms, the laboratory provides petrographic support for geological studies of core material from wells, studies of secondary changes in reservoir rocks, and assessment of their reservoir properties based on microscopic analysis data.