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The Petroleum Geochemistry Research Laboratory (PGRL) provides analytical capabilities and technical expertise in support of research and assessment projects within the Energy Resource Program (ERP) with a commitment to the provision of quality petroleum organic geochemistry and mineralogy data. PGRL is active in the development and in the distribution of petroleum organic geochemistry rock and na

To access our Geochemistry Database which contains the analytical data for over 200,000 samples, please click here.

Please click on an analysis listed below to see a PDF of the analytical method for that analysis.  

 

Analyses Performed
Requested Analysis Most Common Sample Types
(note if different)
Container Type Amount of Sample Comments
API Gravity Oil  Glass 10 mg  
Fractionation  Oil or Rock Extract Glass 100 mg  
FTIR Rock or Oil Glass 1 mg  
GCFID_Arom Aromatic Fraction Glass NA  
GCFID_Sat Saturate Fraction Glass NA  
GCFID_WhOil Oil or Rock Extract Glass 10 mg  
Isotope_C Oil, Oil Fraction, Solids Glass for oil or oil fractions,
various for solid samples
10 mg for oil and oil
fractions, variables for 
solids
 
Isotope_C Natural Gas Isotube or stainless steel
cylinder
50 psi samples must have minimally
>2 mol% of compound(s) for analysis
Isotope_HD Natural Gas Isotube or stainless steel cylinder 50 psi samples must have >10 mol% C1 for analysis
MSD_BIOM_SAT  Saturate Fraction Glass 50 mg  
MSD_BIOM_ARO Aromatic Fraction Glass 50 mg  
Outside Lab Analysis* Variable Variable Variable contact prior to submittal
Programmed Pyrolysis Solid Variable 10 g please grind to ~60 mesh, or request sample prep on the sample submittal form
Sample Prep** Variable Variable Variable variable
SEM*** Solid Variable   contact prior to submittal
Total Carbon Solid Variable 10 g please grind to ~60 mesh, or request sample prep on the sample submittal form
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Solid Variable 10 g please grind to ~60 mesh, or request sample prep on the sample submittal form
XRD Solid Variable 5 g please grind to ~60 mesh, or request sample prep on the sample submittal form

*In-house method not available, samples sent to outside lab
**Includes various techniques (the following is an incomplete list: crushing and sawing)
***SEM Analysis requires Mineralogy lab manager approval prior to acceptance (aboehlke@usgs.gov)

 

Sample Submittal Procedure

Be sure sample names are clearly identified on samples before beginning. 

The login form is an excel spread sheet with macros that run the drop down list. 
Fill out login form (available for download below) with required information: submitter information, analysis requested (Must be English language), Field Id, Sample Type, Lat/Long Qualifier, Lat/Long, and units.  All other information, like depth, should be filled in where possible. 

Sample Login Form Ver. 2.1

Items with a drop down list must be selected from the list. 

Naming convention for file should be last name, underscore, and a unique identifer (Example: Smith_Anadarko1)

Send login form to energylabs@usgs.gov
Please send a packing list detailing the unique names for the samples in the  box with the samples.

Send samples to:
U.S. Geological Survey 
Attn: PGRL
One Denver Federal Center
Building 810, Entrance E-11, MS 977
Denver, CO 80225

or if you are located on the DFC you can bring the samples to Bldg. 20, A-wing.

Once samples arrive they will be matched up and checked against the login form for accuracy.  If there are any discrepancies or questions you will be contacted before the samples are logged in. 

Confirmation of login will be sent to submitter via email. 

The submitter must verify all information is correct.  If it is not, send email to energylabs@usgs.gov with a detailed description of what is wrong.

Note:  All sample login questions and lab related questions need to be sent to energylabs@usgs.gov