Page designed and maintained by Hazel Mottram.Last modified 25/01/02

52428
Jülich
Germany

Brian Horsfield and Heinz Wilkes continue to lead the scientific investigations under the flag of FZJ, but from GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam . FZJ continues as official administrative partner in DeepBUG.

The Institute of Petroleum and Organic Geochemistry at FZJ has pursued comprehensive research and development programs for more than twenty years, and throughout this time has received postdocs, postgraduates and guest scientists from nations within the European Community, Africa, Asia and North America. The Institute is renowned for its organic geochemical research programme which is founded on regional/field studies, laboratory experimentation and the numerical simulation of geological processes (basin modelling).

Its analytical facilities are extensive, well staffed and proven to be well-suited to detailed earth science investigations. These facilities encompass medium pressure- and high performance-liquid chromatography (MPLC and HPLC), 13C-nmr and IR spectroscopy, gas chromatography (GC) coupled to numerous detection systems and mass spectrometers, open- and closed-system pyrolysis techniques coupled on-line to GC and GC-MS instruments, organic petrological microscopes (fluorescence and polarised light modes) and petrophysical techniques (N2 adsorption and mercury porosimetry). Because these methods have been applied to a wide variety of geological samples (siliciclastic and carbonate rocks, coals and crude oils), a large interactive database has been built for use as a reference in research projects.

Experimental facilities include a state-of-the-art triaxial flow-rig for studying diffusive and pressure-driven flow processes under elevated pressures and temperatures. Fluid flow processes are simulated by 2-d and 3-d deterministic models and ray tracing. The Organic Geochemistry Group has co-ordinated the Joule II project JOU 2-CT93-0341, and participant in three phases of EU funding of the European Network of Organic Geochemistry (Human Capital and Mobility Programme) as well as scientific co-ordinator of industry-sponsored projects on degradation and transport processes in sedimentary basins in co-operation with Amoco, Arco, BEB Erdgas u. Erdàl, Exxon, IMP, Mobil, Norsk Hydro, Liaohe Petroleum Company, Pemex, Saga, Statoil and Total.