Fingerprinting techniques using stable isotopes in formation-waters have been developed that overcome many of the problems with previous source-identification methods. Over the past 20 years, isotope fingerprinting techniques have been used repeatedly by the oil industry in Western Canada and abroad in a wide variety of exploration and production operations including for: Drill-Stem-Testing; completion operations; production monitoring; waterflood monitoring; stray-fluid identification during/after stimulation operations; reservoir continuity; geological correlation studies, and more. This presentation will review stable isotope fingerprinting techniques using a number of examples from petroleum operations and demonstrate why isotope ratio mass spectrometry is (often) superior to standard water chemistry characterization methods.
Ben Rostron is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. He founded Isobrine Solutions Inc. in 2004 as a spin-off of his research into fingerprinting formation-waters using stable isotopes. Ben obtained a B.A.Sc. in geological engineering from the University of Waterloo (1986), and an M.Sc. (1990) and Ph.D. (1995) in geology from the University of Alberta. His research interests are in the area of large-scale fluid flow: petroleum hydrogeology; regional groundwater flow; hydrochemistry; stable isotopes; numerical modelling; and geological carbon sequestration.
Tom has 35 years’ of experience in the petroleum industry, specialising in the delivery of forensic and problem solving /method development capabilities for BP Fuels and Lubricants businesses globally. He was also a member of the BP Science Council representing Analytical Science and led a BP wide Analytical Science network. Tom has published over 30 citable papers, 4 book chapters and has given over 60 presentations at conferences. He is a past Vice President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Analytical Division and a past Chairman of the RSC Separation Science Group. In addition, Tom is a recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal by the Chromatographic Society and a technical achievement award by the Energy Institute.
PIN 27.2 Apr/May 2026
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