A Framework for Developing Semiquantitative Chemical Methods for Offshore Environments Using Smartphones

Summary In oil and gas (O&G) offshore production units, specialized equipment and qualified analysts are not available. Therefore, simple and easy-to-implement chemical analysis methodologies are essential, making the digital image-based analytical methodology (DIBAM) a promising technique. However, in order for DIBAM to achieve satisfactory results, certain preliminary steps must be followed. In this paper, we share our knowledge on the key aspects required for the development of DIBAMs, including the selection of chemical methodologies, type of sample holder, image acquisition chamber, and, finally, image processing. We present a DIBAM developed following the proposed guidelines, demonstrating that a semiquantitative method can be achieved with a maximum error of 10%—a reasonable margin for the rapid resolution of offshore issues.