Thermochronology

Thermochronology is a discipline that allows the reconstruction of time and temperature (t-T) history of rocks.

The state-of-the-art and well-established techniques of Fission Track Analyses and (U-Th)/He dating) are used by our company to determine the cooling (subsidence) and heating (uplift) paths rock samples have experienced from the time they formed millions of years ago, to their current position in a basin, well or rock outcrop.

For E&P industry applications, thermochronological analyses are particularly useful as they allow reconstruction of the subsidence and uplift, and assessment of maximum burial temperatures from surface down to ~200°C, corresponding to the upper ~10km of the Earth’ crust, coinciding with the oil and gas formation window.

Why SakhraGeo?

Our company has extensive expertise in various aspects of thermochronology, from rock sample preparation, data acquisition and data interpretation-integration. We provide Fission Track Analyses and (U-Th)/He dating on any rock type that contains datable minerology (eg, Apatite, Zircon or Titanite), which usually allows such dating techniques on igneous, metamorphic and clastic rock types.

To maximise thermochronology full potential for oil and gas exploration, we have developed a unique approach of integrating thermochronological analyses with regional structural and sedimentological data and subsurface geological information.

Owing to state of the art isotope analytical techniques, we are able to provide a turn-around time of 2 – 3 months from whole rock sample to data and reporting.

SakhraGeo has conducted an Apatite Fission Track study on several outcrop samples from Algeria on behalf of Shell E&P. We provided for the entire process, from mineral separation to data acquisition to reporting.