Abstract: Clay mineral analysis has been widely applied in the studies of petroleum geology, exploitation, drilling and production engineering. In clay mineral laboratory experiments, it is a systematic procedure from sampling, pretreatment to analysis and identification. Any problem in the procedure will cause error or incorrect understanding of given identified results. This paper illustrates such possible problems and offers corresponding resolves. Taking rock diagenetic stage division and oil threshold determination as examples, this paper reveals the practicable conditions and application limitation using the clay mineral analysis in petroleum geologic study.

Key words: clay mineral, analysis, identification, systematical procedure, petroleum geology, application limitation