Laboratory Head: Dr. Ali Shekarifard

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This laboratory was established in 2013 at the Petroleum Engineering Institute with the primary objective of conducting geochemical studies on elements and key processes within petroleum systems to support exploration, production, and field development challenges. Its operations began with the launch of the organic petrography and basin modeling sections. Another key focus of this laboratory is thermal analysis and exploration assessment of unconventional reservoirs (oil shale and shale oil), for which it is currently undergoing equipment installation and setup.

The laboratory comprises five main sections:

  •    Sample Preparation and Bitumen Extraction
  •    Organic Petrography
  •    Basin Modeling
  •    Pyrolysis
  •    Molecular Geochemistry and Biomarkers​​​​​​​

The laboratory is equipped to conduct:

    Microscopic studies of thin sections and polished blocks (using transmitted and reflected light) of rocks and kerogen, including:

  •    Palynofacies analysis
  •    Kerogen identification and classification
  •    Thermal maturity assessment based on the Thermal Alteration Index (TAI)
  •     Petroleum basin modeling through burial history reconstruction and thermal maturity modeling.