Organic geochemical research analytics of the petroleum industry: enhanced data density and method flexibility using gas chromatograph multiple detector coupling

In traditional organic geochemical investigations analyses are usually segmented in rather time-consuming single working steps that also require off-line preparation for each analytical instrument which can add to analytical bias. Since industry laboratories need to be precise, as well as cost- and time-efficient, we present a flexible and modular analytical concept which enables the user to perform advanced organic geochemical methods on a single gas chromatograph coupled to multiple detectors. The coupled analytical system can perform analyses of natural gas composition up to n-butane, stable carbon isotopes of natural gas compounds up to n-butane, identification and quantification of major compounds in oils and extracts, and compound-specific isotopes of oil and extracts. The analytical methodologies are appropriate for enhancement to broaden the application spectrum of coupled detectors.