CLUSTER ANALYSIS –A HIGH THROUGHPUT X-RAY DIFFRACTION METHOD FOR MINERAL IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION
Due to numerous drilling sites, many geology laboratories are facing a significant increase in the number of core, scale and corrosion samples. New methodologies to increase efficiency are definitely needed. Cluster analysis is a high throughput method to enhance current X-ray Diffraction testing procedures.
Cluster analysis with Rigaku’s PDXL program allows users to pre-sort large sets of X-Ray diffraction data into clusters of similarity based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Cluster results are displayed visually in dendograms separated by on Eigen values of similarity. Picking the most similar patterns allows pre-separation of data to increase efficiency in analysis. One data set from each category can be analyzed instead of the entire group. This eliminates data sets that are basically replicates. By eliminating unnecessary repetitive analysis, time can be spent on the more pertinent data sets that are dissimilar or unusual. Remaining, individual samples can be analyzed in batches based on the representative template from each cluster group.
Cluster Analysis results are compared to traditional methods from existing core labs in two cases studies of varying oil field shale and scale samples. One study consists of 27 Bulk mineral core samples (FTS International Corporation). Core samples from neighboring wells are sampled at varying depths. Original analysis time is 3 hours per sample. Using Rigaku’s Cluster Analysis Software, analysis time per sample can be decreased to 13 minutes. The second case study (Baker Hughes Upstream Chemical Field laboratory) consists of 56 scale and corrosion samples. Although many samples in this study are unusual, similarities and efficacies are discovered. In both cases, analysis time can be significantly decreased.