Applications of spectral fingerprinting of hydrocarbons and other organics

Abstract

A method of obtaining a spectra on a hydrocarbon containing sample, that may include (A) Contacting the sample with an ionic liquid to create a prepared sample, and/or may also include (B) Processing the prepared sample through a spectroscopic system to obtain a spectra corresponding to the sample, wherein the spectra is suitable for determining the presence of and identity of any organic materials present sample. The sample may comprise soil, fluids, plants, drill cuttings, drilling mud, cores, water, blood, food, formation tester samples, or combinations thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of obtaining a spectra on a hydrocarbon well drill cutting, comprising the steps of:
 (A) Contacting the drill cutting with an ionic liquid to create a prepared sample; and,   (B) Processing the sample through a spectroscopic system to obtain a spectra corresponding to the drill cutting, wherein the spectra is suitable for determining the presence of and identity of any organic materials present in the drill cutting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drill cutting is in powder form as it is being contacted with the ionic fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid is a calibrated ionic liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a multivariate analysis processing to the obtained spectra to extract information from the obtained spectra, said information corresponding to the drill cutting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the information corresponding to the drill cutting, to a database comprising other information on other drill cuttings. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 Prior to step (A), first removing any organics from the surface of the drill cutting; and,   Before or after step (A), obtaining a spectra on the organics.