Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry

Mgr. Eva Francù, Ph.D.
Head of the Laboratory

The Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry of the Czech Geological Survey provides analysis of oils, gas, volatile hydrocarbons and organic matter in sediments, rocks and soils.

Methods and Provided Parameters

The analyses are designed to provide data used in evaluation of environmental risks, oil and gas exploration, production monitoring, and geochemical documentation of outcrops in geological mapping campaigns. The “for target screening” of selected contaminants (e.g. PAH, PCB) indicative of specific type of pollution is included in the environmental projects. Oil and gas exploration requires analysis of the hydrocarbon source potential, thermal maturity, and molecular fossils for correlation of oils and source rocks. The efficiency of underground gas storage seals or dissipation of coal-seam gas to the surface are monitored using high resolution chemical composition in combination with isotopic composition of methane, CO2 or higher hydrocarbons in free, soil or dissolved gas. Geological mapping includes molecular indicators (biomarkers) of lacustrine and marine facial types of depositional environments.

The laboratory methods are complemented by Ecoprobe 5 (RS Dynamics) for soil gas geochemistry of gases and volatile compounds.