TECH Center Lab

TECH Center & Lab

Customized laboratory solutions for the full lifecycle of energy projects. The OMV Tech Center Lab (TCL) in Austria is a highly specialized energy technology center that ensures the safety, sustainability and future development of our global operations.

Our expertise covers fields including:

  • Geosciences
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Geochemistry
  • Microbiology


  • Petrophysics
  • Flow Assurance
  • Reservoir Engineering
  • Materials Sciences
  • Corrosion Management

Our mission

Our mission is to provide tailor-made laboratory solutions and interdisciplinary expertise in the energy sector. We aim to deliver the best value for our customers and the environment by enabling better business decisions through high-quality data, global expertise, innovation, and practical operational competence.

Our strategic focus

We’re building on our 70 years of energy expertise to drive the energy transformation. We believe the most innovative and effective solutions are found at the intersection of technical disciplines. That’s why the TECH Center Lab integrates a wide range of technical expertise in one location, covering areas from geoscience and fluid dynamics to chemistry, materials, and corrosion technologies.

We serve both internal and external clients around the world, working on projects including:

  • Ensuring safe geothermal and hydrogen operations.
  • Advancing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) initiatives.
  • Assisting with emissions monitoring.
  • Maximizing the value of traditional energy projects.
  • Maximizing the value of new technologies.

"At the TECH Center Lab, we draw on decades of interdisciplinary expertise to fuel innovation, providing the best value for our customers and the environment.” Theresa Schröckenfuchs, Head of Department TECH Center Lab

Service offer

Our integrated product portfolio covers technical expertise, customized laboratory services, and consulting in the following areas:

Core and drill cuttings storage

We store over 40,000 meters of rock samples and thousands of drill cuttings from our international operations since 1930, which form the basis for every energy subsurface study we carry out. We also offer storage space for external clients.

Core handling and sampling

Core samples are essential for laboratory analyses. We provide professional core handling and customized sampling programs.

Geoscience core analyses

Our experts provide comprehensive geoscience core studies and analytics for all lithotypes. Analyses help identify prospects, de-risk wells, define reservoir and seal quality, refine well log interpretation, and confirm suitability for injectivity and storage.

Geoscience drill cuttings analyses

When cores are costly or unavailable, drill cuttings provide critical information about the subsurface. We have developed a unique process to extract maximum data from drill cuttings, covering mineralogy, petrography, and advanced analytics.

Geochemistry (inorganic)

We conduct geochemical modeling based on laboratory testing under subsurface conditions. These results are critical for evaluating the suitability of reservoirs for geothermal applications, CCS projects, and enhanced recovery injection capabilities.

Advanced analytics and microscopy

We analyze rock samples, cements, nanomaterials, polymers, plastics, solid carbon, gas/fluid stream solids, scale deposits and more using techniques including polarized light microscopy, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray spectrometry (XRF) and x-ray diffraction (XRD).

Petrophysics

We clean and extract porous sample materials and conduct petrophysical analyses (porosity, permeability, fluid saturations, capillary pressure, thermal conductivity etc.) to analyze and describe subsurface rock formations and fluid behavior, leading to improved reservoir management, energy production and storage.

Fluid flow in porous media

From relative permeability and capillary pressure analysis to wettability assessment and reservoir condition corefloods, our experts provide comprehensive data for optimal Geothermal, H2 and CCS reservoir management and enhanced oil recovery.

HPHT PVT fluid phase behavior

We perform state-of-the-art pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) phase behavior studies at realistic field and subsurface conditions up to 200°C and 1000 bar, which are critical for reservoir management and facility design. Our PVT studies include equation-of-state (EOS) modeling for gas, condensate, heavy oil, geothermal water samples, hydrogen streams, and carbon dioxide streams (including impurities and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)).

Operations, field, and implementation support

Our services extend beyond the laboratory. Our teams are experienced with operations and energy processes and can provide support with high-pressure sampling, testing, analytics, technology testing, process implementation and consulting in the field.

Analysis and characterization of aqueous media (water)

We have decades of experience characterizing water samples, including those taken from: subsurface formation water, oilfield water, process water, drinking water, wastewater, water in heating and cooling circuits or boiler feed water. Our methods are specialized for high salinity, water treatment, and detecting key components to determine water sources.

Analysis and characterization of liquid hydrocarbons

We measure all the necessary parameters to accurately describe liquid hydrocarbons. These include among others: Dewatering and Water Content Determination (Centrifuge, Karl Fischer Titration, Distillation, HDA 627 according to ADTM D 86), Pour and Flash Point, Total Acid Number (TAN), Total Base Number (TBN), SARA, Gas Chromatography (DHA C1-C9, SimDis C9- C90), isolation and characterization of inorganic and organic deposits. Results provide essential data for facility, production, flow assurance, and reservoir engineers.


Analysis of natural gas and other gaseous samples

We analyse the exact composition of natural gas samples, CO2, H2 or other gas streams using gas chromatography. Our analyses include precise concentrations of all gas components, dissolved gases in water, combustible components in air samples, as well as quality control and interpretation of online measurements and gas isotope data.

Production chemistry

We carefully evaluate production chemicals provided by manufacturers, testing them in our lab and using our operational expertise. Based on this assessment, we choose the right products and determine the optimal quantities for facilities. Our goal is to ensure top performance, safe operations, and cost optimization for each production chemical program.  

Microbiological assessment and control

Microorganisms can contribute to recovery efficiency and storage, but they often cause issues such as clogging (biofilms), acidification (H2S), and biocorrosion. We provide expertise and solutions to avoid cost increases and resolve storage, production and facility issues related to microorganisms - especially for H2 Storage and Geothermal projects. Our methods include real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction tests (qPCR), Biological Activity Reaction Tests (BART), most probable number serial dilution (MPN), epifluorescence microscopy, adenosine triphosphate ATP-ADP Tests and others.

Scale mitigation and control (inorganic deposits)

Inorganic scales can significantly hinder flow in pipelines and facilities in both geothermal and classic energy operations. We provide expertise and solutions to manage risk, reduce costs, and increase production, including scale modeling, and supporting the selection, testing and implementation of scale inhibitors.

Organic flow assurance
(paraffin control)

We provide specialized services to guarantee flow isn’t hindered by organic deposits such as wax and asphaltenes. We simulate real field conditions under high pressure and temperature and quantify the amount of solids within the analyzed system (high pressure microscope and near-infrared solid detection systems).

Process chemistry and emission monitoring

We use a combination of on-site analytical tools and comprehensive laboratory methods to accurately monitor emissions and optimize their removal and utilization. Contact us for more details.

Well treatment, testing and completion support

Optimizing and extending the life of assets is crucial in the energy sector. Our well treatment expertise and specialized laboratory methods - like our mobile field unit to perform water injectivity testing via core floods under live conditions - can help to enhance productivity and injectivity.

Material failure analysis

We conduct failure analyses for all facilities, including upstream, refineries, and renewable energy. We offer comprehensive metallography and microscopy, as well as mechanical testing and advanced analytics (SEM, XRD, XRF and chemical analyses).

Corrosion management

With decades of experience in corrosion management, we ensure asset integrity for extended field life, sustainable operations, and significant cost savings. We perform corrosion inhibitor selection for various use cases, including batch inhibition, oil and gas, geothermal wells, and heat exchangers. We also offer direct and indirect online and intermittent corrosion monitoring and consulting.

Material selection and asset integrity services

We offer customized material selection for all energy projects, covering both metallic and non-metallic materials for surface and subsurface applications. By reviewing standards and literature, combined with testing and simulation, we ensure compliance and enable the use of novel materials that provide a monetary and competitive advantage. We specialize in high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, especially in challenging environments, such as where H2S and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) are present.

FAQs

  • Are your services relevant for all types of energy projects?
    Yes, we provide services for both traditional energy projects and renewable energy projects, including geothermal, hydrogen production and storage, and CCS.
  • Can you handle special requirements, or do you only provide the services listed above?
    Every project is tailored to our clients’ needs. We start by understanding your specific requirements and the framework conditions. Then, we design a customized project to ensure our solutions meet these needs.
  • Do you provide services for industries outside of energy?
    Yes, if the requested services are within our areas of expertise.
  • How do you ensure the quality of your services meets industry standards?
    We have been ISO 9001:2015 certified since 1997 and follow stringent quality management practices. Our participation in round-robin tests, international committees, and conferences, along with collaborations with universities, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and R&D activities, ensures our technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Contact

Theresa Schröckenfuchs
Head of TECH Center Lab

Theresa.schroeckenfuchs@omv.com

OMV Energy
Trabrennstrasse 6-8
1020 Wien/Vienna
Austria