In order to isolate the bitumen-oil fraction from impregnated sediments, Kirk Petrophysics provide a new technique as an alternative to commonly used method of extraction using organic solvent through Soxhlet (Dean Stark) apparatus.

The technique involves a fully automated computer controlled Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) instrument widely employed in micro-biological laboratories all around the world to perform contemporaneous multiple elution’s on liquid-solid samples. Intensive analysis and research allowed validating a procedure to use the technique in the oil industry and to employ it to liberate bitumen from tore sand samples.

This method for oil extraction is a powerful tool for the oil exploration industry. Its main goal is its capability to run multiple analyses in a relatively short time allowing, thus, a strict control on the exploration operations.