Velocity dependence of strength and healing behaviour in simulated phyllosilicate-bearing fault gouge

Despite the fact that phyllosilicates are widespread in fault zones, little is known about the strength of phyllosilicate-bearing fault rocks under brittle–ductile transitional conditions. In this study, we explored the steady state strength and healing behaviour of a simulated phyllosilicate-bearing fault rock, i.e. muscovite plus halite and brine, at room temperature, normal stresses of 1–9 MPa, atmospheric fluid pressure and sliding velocities of 0.001–13 μm/s, using a rotary shear apparatus. While 100% halite and 100% muscovite samples exhibit rate-independent frictional/brittle behaviour, the strength of mixtures containing 10–50% muscovite is both normal stress and sliding velocity dependent. At low velocities (< 1 μm/s), strength increases with increasing velocity and normal stress, and a mylonitic foliation develops. This behaviour results from pressure solution in the halite grains, which accommodates frictional sliding on the phyllosilicate foliation. The pervasive muscovite foliation, which coats all halite grains, prevents significant healing. At high velocities (> 1 μm/s), velocity-weakening frictional behaviour occurs, along with the development of a structureless, intermixed, cataclastic microstructure. The steady state porosity of samples deformed in this regime increases with increasing sliding velocity. We propose that this behaviour involves competition between dilatation due to granular flow and compaction due to pressure solution. Towards higher sliding velocities, dilatation increasingly dominates over pressure solution compaction, so that porosity increases and frictional strength decreases. During periods of zero slip, pressure solution compaction occurs, causing a significant strength increase on reshearing. Our results imply that cataclastic overprinting of mylonitic rocks in natural fault zones does not require any changes in temperature or effective pressure conditions, but can simply result from oscillating fault motion rates. Our healing data suggest that foliated, aseismically creeping fault segments will remain weak and aseismic, whereas segments that have slipped seismically will rapidly re-strengthen and remain in the unstable, velocity-weakening regime.     

Experimental pressure solution-deposition on quartz grains: the crucial effect of the nature of the fluid

Experimental deformation by pressure solution was performed on an aggregate of small grains subjected to deviatoric stress (50 MPa) for a long time (several weeks or months) at relatively high temperature and pressure in contact with various fluids (air, water, 0.1 to 1 N NaOH for quartz, water and 5% NH₄Cl for calcite). The change in shape of the grains by solution—deposition depended; on the duration of the experiment (with the same fluid) and on the concentration of the solid in solution (with the same duration but various fluids). Significant shape changes were obtained for quartz grains, but only with both long duration and very good solvents (1 N NaOH). By comparison with previously obtained results on the change of shape of fluid inclusions (where the kinetics of dissolution was the rate controlling process), the limiting process of the deformation of the quartz grains was inferred to be the rate of diffusion along grain boundaries saturated with trapped fluid.     

Effects of phosphate ions on intergranular pressure solution in calcite: An experimental study

Intergranular pressure solution (IPS) is a coupled chemical-mechanical process of widespread importance that occurs during diagenesis and low-temperature deformation of sedimentary rocks. Laboratory experiments on IPS in halite, quartz, and calcite have largely concentrated on the mechanical aspects of the process. In this study, we report the effects of pore fluid chemistry, specifically varying phosphate ion concentration, on the mechanical compaction by IPS of fine-grained calcite powders at room temperature and 1 to 4 MPa applied effective stress. Phosphate was investigated because of its importance as a biogenic constituent of sea and pore waters. Increasing the pore fluid phosphate concentration from 0 to 10⁻³ mol/L systematically reduced compaction strain rates by up to two orders of magnitude. The sensitivity of the compaction strain rate to phosphate concentration was the same as the sensitivity of calcite precipitation rates to the addition of phosphate ions reported in the literature, suggesting that the rate of IPS in phosphate-bearing samples was controlled by calcite precipitation on pore walls. The results imply that IPS and associated porosity/permeability reduction rates in calcite sediments may be strongly reduced when pore fluids are enriched in phosphates, for example, through high biologic productivity or a seawater origin. Future modeling of IPS-related processes in carbonates must therefore take into account the effects of pore fluid chemistry, specifically the inhibition of interfacial reactions.     

Siliciclastic grain breakage and displacement due to carbonate crystal growth: an example from the Lueders Formation (Permian) of north-central Texas, U.S.A.

The Lueders Formation (mid-Permian) in Baylor County, Texas, is an intercalated suite of fluvial siliciclastic, shallow marine siliciclastic, and shallow marine carbonate strata. There are at least two generations of carbonate cements (probably originally composed of calcite) in the fluvial sandstones where fractured grains are observed. These cements represent the initial stages of caliche formation. Cementation is envisioned as a two step process. In the first step, calcite cements form from supersaturated fluids in a freshwater, vadose environment as a meniscus cement at grain contacts. Areas of cement formation are restricted to these sites because fluid distribution is restricted to these sites. Stresses generated by the growth of cements at grain contacts are transmitted through and concentrated at quartz/quartz grain point-contacts until the stress is sufficient to fracture quartz grains, even though the ultimate strength of calcite is less than that of quartz, per unit area. This process occurs too rapidly to be accommodated by pressure solution. In the second phase of cementation, cement nucleation is no longer restricted by vadose conditions. In this phase, calcite growth can no longer result in quartz grain breakage; rather, the quartz grains are dispersed in poikilotopic calcite cement.     

Extreme ductile deformation of fine-grained salt by coupled solution-precipitation creep and microcracking: Microstructural evidence from perennial Zechstein sequence (Neuhof salt mine,Germany)

Microstructural study revealed that the ductile flow of intensely folded fine-grained salt exposed in an underground mine (Zechstein-Werra salt sequence, Neuhof mine, Germany) was accommodated by coupled activity of solution-precipitation (SP) creep and microcracking of the halite grains. The grain cores of the halite aggregates contain remnants of sedimentary microstructures with straight and chevron shaped fluid inclusion trails (FITs) and are surrounded by two concentric mantles reflecting different events of salt precipitation. Numerous intra-granular or transgranular microcracks originate at the tips of FITs and propagate preferentially along the interface between sedimentary cores and the surrounding mantle of reprecipitated halite. These microcracks are interpreted as tensional Griffith cracks. Microcracks starting at grain boundary triple junctions or grain boundary ledges form due to stress concentrations generated by grain boundary sliding (GBS). Solid or fluid inclusions frequently alter the course of the propagating microcracks or the cracks terminate at these inclusions. Because the inner mantle containing the microcracks is corroded and is surrounded by microcrack-free outer mantle, microcracking is interpreted to reflect transient failure of the aggregate. Microcracking is argued to play a fundamental role in the continuation and enhancement of the SP–GBS creep during halokinesis of the Werra salt, because the transgranular cracks (1) provide the ingress of additional fluid in the grain boundary network when cross-cutting the FITs and (2) decrease grain size by splitting the grains. More over, the ingress of additional fluids into grain boundaries is also provided by non-conservative grain boundary migration that advanced into FITs bearing cores of grains. Described readjustments of the microstructure and mechanical and chemical feedbacks for the grain boundary diffusion flow in halite-brine system are proposed to be comparable to other rock-fluid or rock-melt aggregates deforming by the grain boundary sliding (GBS) coupled deformation mechanisms.     

Effects of orientation on the diffusive properties of fluid-filled grain boundaries during pressure solution

An unresolved issue in the study of pressure solution in rock materials is the dependence of grain boundary structure and diffusive properties on the mutual orientation of neighbouring grain lattices. We report electrical measurements yielding the diffusivity of differently oriented halite–glass and halite–halite contacts loaded in the presence of brine. The halite–glass contact experiments show pressure solution of the halite and an effect of halite lattice orientation on grain boundary transport. Post-mortem observations show an orientation-dependent grain boundary texture controlled by the periodic bond chains in the halite structure. It is inferred that this texture determines the internal grain boundary structure and properties during pressure solution. In the halite–halite experiments neck-growth occurred, its rate depending on twist-misorientation. The results imply that deformation by pressure solution may lead to lattice-preferred orientation development, and that polymineralic rocks may deform faster at lower stresses than monomineralic rocks.     

The effects of diagenesis on the reservoir characters in sandstones of the Late Cretaceous Pab Formation,Kirthar Fold Belt,southern Pakistan

The Maastrichtian Pab Formation in the southern part of Pakistan is composed of fine- to very coarse-grained texturally mature quartz arenite and subordinate sublitharenite varieties. The sandstones have undergone intense and complex diagenetic episodes due to burial and uplift. Diagenetic modifications were dependent mainly on the clastic composition of sandstone, burial depth and thrust tectonics. Diagenetic events identified include compaction, precipitation of calcite, quartz, clay minerals and iron oxide/hydroxide, dissolution and alteration of unstable clastic grains as feldspar and volcaniclithic fragments as well as tectonically induced grain fracturing. The unstable clastic grains like feldspar and lithic volcanic fragments suffered considerable alteration to kaolinite and chlorite. Dissolution and alteration of feldspar and volcanic lithic fragments and pressure solution were the main sources of quartz cements. Mechanical compaction and authigenic cements like calcite, quartz and iron oxide/hydroxide reduced the primary porosity, whereas dissolution of clastic grains and cements has produced secondary porosity. Chlorite coatings on clastic grains have prevented quartz cementation. Coarse-grained, thick bedded packages of fluviodeltaic, shelf delta lobe and submarine channels facies have higher average porosity than fine-grained, thin bedded and bioturbated sandstone of deeper shelf and abyssal plain environments and these facies are concluded to be possible future hydrocarbon prospects.     

Textural evolution of synthetic anhydrite-halite mylonites

The rheology and textural evolution of mylonites for both crustal and mantle rocks are generally poorly understood. Stress and strain partitioning between shear zones and wall-rock, foliation development, flow mechanisms, and constitutive relations are little known. To address these problems, we have begun an experimental study in which anhydrite and halite aggregates are deformed in simple shear. Homogeneous mixes at intervals of 10 vol.% of anhydrite and halite powders of 90 to 180-μ m grain-size comprise the 1-mm-thick zone between the 35 °-precut surfaces in 2 by 4 cm right-circular cylinders of anhydrite. All specimens are confined under 200 MPa (P_c) and tested at 300 °C (T), producing an aggregate of near-zero porosity. All specimens are shortened at an axial displacement rate of 5×l0⁻⁶ cm/s to shear strains of about 2.0. Most stress-strain curves have a similar form. They are characterized by an initial linear response that is followed by a work-hardening region that leads to a plateau of constant stress whilst strain continues to accumulate. This apparent steady-state behavior is followed by a drop in stress to a second apparent steady-state stress. The strain at this stress drop and the magnitude of the drop increase with increasing anhydrite content. The second (lower) steady-state stress for all mixes approaches that of sheared pure halite. Optical examination of the fabrics shows that straining under the initial apparent steady-state is accommodated by both mineral phases. A foliation evolves as defined by mineral segregation and grain elongation of halite at 15 ° to 30 ° to the shear-zone walls. Anhydrite grains rotate until their (001) 010 slip system parallels the foliation. The anhydrite also exhibits twin lamellae, kinks and microfractures. Following the stress drop, rheologic behavior is dominated by dynamic recovery in halite, the recrystallized grain size increasing, consistent with the lower stress level.     

Dolomite-calcite textures in early carbonatites of the Kovdor ore deposit,Kola peninsula,Russia: their genesis and application for calcite-dolomite geothermometry

In early calcite carbonatites of the Kovdor ore deposit four morphological types of dolomite are represented. In the first type, dolomite microcrystals occur as lamellae enclosed by optically continuous calcite. In the second, dolomite microcrystals occur as segmented rods, plates and xenomorphic grains, enclosed by optically discontinuous calcite, and in the third, dolomite is represented by grains of various morphologies, situated along calcite grain boundaries. The fourth type of dolomite occurs as a fine-grained aggregate, which develops along grain boundaries and cleavage cracks of calcite. From microscopic, scanning electron microscope and microprobe studies of these different types of dolomite microcrystals, as well as the calcite associated with them, it can be concluded that the first type of dolomite was exsolved from magnesian calcite during cooling. The second, and the third types of dolomite microcrystals were formed by recrystallization. The fourth type of dolomite was formed by metasomatic dolomitization. As the result of these two processes-recrystallization and metasomatic dolomitization-early dolomite microcrystals seldom occur. The composition of the early-formed primary magnesian calcite yielded temperatures of exsolution of dolomite from magnesian calcite between 665 and 700°C.     

Syntaxial overgrowths in muddy crinoidal limestones: cathodoluminescence sheds new light on an old problem

Lower Carboniferous shallow water limestones of Asbian and Brigantian age in Britain commonly contain abundant interparticle micrite and characteristically display large syntaxial calcite overgrowths on crinoid and echinoid grains. These overgrowths appear to have developed at the expense of the micrite and are widely regarded as neomorphic replacements. However, cathodoluminescence of these has revealed growth features which indicate that they are not neomorphic but originated as passive cement fills of solution voids surrounding echinoderm grains. We introduce the term solution corona for these grain selective voids and consider that three processes may have contributed to their development, namely: high-Mg calcite stabilization of host grains, crystal ripening, and meteoric dissolution. Cyclic subaerial emergence was a critical factor in these processes, and we contrast the morphology of the overgrowths in question with forms produced in basinal limestones which never experienced comparable early meteoric conditions. These early-formed solution coronas around echinoderm grains are therefore a useful indicator of meteoric diagenesis and have important implications for porosity evolution. The syntaxial cements which fill the solution coronas show distinct phases of growth in cathodoluminescence which reflect a progression from near-surface meteoric conditions to deep burial with pressure solution.     

Contrasting diagenesis of two Carboniferous Oolites from South Wales: a tale of climatic influence

Two oolites in the Dinantian (Mississippian/Lower Carboniferous) of Glamorgan, SW Britain, were deposited in similar depositional environments but have contrasting diagenetic histories. The Brofiscin and Gully Oolites occur in the upper parts of shallowing-upward sequences, formed through strandplain progradation and sand shoal and barrier growth upon a southward-dipping carbonate ramp. The Brofiscin Oolite is characterized by a first-generation cement of equant calcite spar, preferentially located at grain-contacts and forming non-isopachous fringes around grains, interpreted as meteoric vadose and phreatic in origin. Isopachous fibrous calcite fringes of marine origin are rather rare and occur only at a few horizons. Burial compaction was not important and porosity was occluded by poikilotopic calcite spar. Fitted grain-grain contacts locally occur and could be the result of near-surface vadose dissolution-compaction. Syntaxial overgrowths on echinoderm debris are common. Pre-compaction overgrowths are cloudy (inclusion-rich) and probably of meteoric origin, and post-compaction overgrowths are inclusion-free. By contrast, the Gully Oolite has little first-generation cement. However, marine fibrous calcite is common in oolitic intraclasts, as isopachous fringes of acicular calcite crystals closely associated with peloidal internal sediment; and early equant, drusy calcite spar occurs in the uppermost part of the Gully, beneath a prominent palaeokarst where pedogenic cements also occur. The major feature of Gully diagenesis is burial compaction, resulting in extensive grain-grain dissolution and microstylolitic grain contacts, and post-compaction poikilotopic spar occluded remaining porosity. The Brofiscin Oolite is pervasively dolomitized up-dip but the Gully Oolite for the most part only contains scattered pre-compaction dolomite rhombs and late veins of baroque dolomite, with less pervasive dolomitization. The difference in diagenetic style of the two Dinantian oolites is attributed to prevailing climate. The paucity of early meteoric cements in the Gully is a result of an arid climate, and this is supported by the nature of the capping palaeokarst. The abundant meteoric cements in the Brofiscin reflect a more humid climate, and effective meteoric recharge also resulted in up-dip pervasive mixing-zone dolomitization. The style of early diagenesis in these two oolites exerted a major control on the later burial diagenesis: in the Brofiscin, the early cements inhibited grain-grain dissolution and pressure solution, while these processes operated extensively in the Gully Oolite. Thus, prevailing climate can influence a limestone's diagenetic history from near-surface through into deep burial.     

矿物成分和细观结构与岩石材料力学性质的关系

岩石材料的宏观力学性质取决于其矿物成分和细观结构。使用材料试验机,测定了岩浆岩、化学沉积岩以及碎屑沉积岩9种岩样的力学性质参数。采用X射线衍射方法,测定了相应岩样的矿物成分。使用扫描电镜,观测了相应岩样的细观结构。分析了矿物成分和细观结构分别与力学性质参数的定性关系。对各组岩样的研究分析表明:存在于颗粒边界的裂隙会显著降低岩样的抗拉强度,长石矿物是岩样脆性的主要来源,颗粒大小和面理结构会对岩石的内摩擦角造成显著的影响,细晶花岗岩中较高的方解石含量使其抗压强度和弹性模量较小,细晶花岗岩中石英含量较高,其粘聚力较大;石盐晶体的细小与紧密堆积,造成了相应岩样的膨胀或蠕变特性,有机质的存在会对岩盐的力学性能产生显著的弱化;岩样中颗粒间的弱带,会弱化岩石材料的力学性能。深灰色泥岩中石英胶结物的次生加大现象,使得深灰色泥岩的力学性能得到提高。      

Ca-Mg inter-diffusion in synthetic polycrystalline dolomite-calcite aggregate at elevated temperatures and pressure

This study measures the reaction rate of dolomite and aragonite (calcite) into Mg-calcite at 800, 850, and 900°C and 1.6 GPa. The dry synthetic dolomite-aragonite aggregate transformed very rapidly into dolomite-calcite polycrystalline aggregate while Mg-calcites formed at a relatively slow rate, becoming progressively richer in Mg with run time. We modeled the reaction progress semi-empirically by the first-order rate law. The temperature dependence of the overall transport rate of MgCO₃ into calcite can be described by the kinetic parameters (E?=?231.7 kJ/mol and A _o ?=?22.69 h^?1). Extrapolation using the Arrhenius equation to the conditions during exhumation of UHPM rocks indicates that the reaction of dolomite with aragonite into Mg-saturated calcite can be completed as the P-T path enters the Mg-calcite stability field in a geologically short time period (<1 Ky). On the other hand, the extrapolation of the rate to prograde metamorphic conditions reveals that the Mg-calcite formed from dolomitic marble in the absence of metamorphic fluid may not reach Mg-saturation until temperatures corresponding to high-grade metamorphism (e.g., >340°C and >10 My). SEM-EDS analysis of individual calcite grains shows compositional gradients of Mg in the calcite grains. The Mg-Ca inter-diffusion coefficient at 850°C is around 1.68?×?10^?14 m²/sec if diffusion is the major control of the reaction. The calculated closure temperatures for Ca-Mg inter-diffusion as a function of cooling rate and grain size reveal that Ca/Mg resetting in calcite in a dry polycrystalline carbonate aggregate (with grain size around 1 mm) may not occur at temperatures below 480°C at a geological cooling rate around 10°C/My, unless other processes, such as short-circuit interdiffusion along grain boundaries and dislocations, are involved.     

Halite oolites and ripples in the Dead Sea, Israel

Clastic features in recent halite deposits are observed along the beaches of an artificially dammed part of the Dead Sea. These features include halite oolites (termed halolites in this paper) and ripples. Halite precipitates initially either at the brine surface or on the floor. It is suggested that moderate increase of wave agitation shifts the balance towards brine-surface crystallization, and keeps the growing halite grains in constant motion. In this way rippled structures are formed. A further increase of wave energy leads to the growth of coated halite grains. The accumulation of the various halite grains along the beach, to form soft rippled floor and oolitic beach ridge is brought about during shoreward winds. During calm periods the bulk of the halite crystallizes directly on the floor. It develops into a hard crust which assumes the morphology of the substrate, including the ripple forms.     

Monitoring in situ stress/strain behaviour during plastic yielding in polymineralic rocks using neutron diffraction

Attempts to use rock deformation experiments to examine the elastic and plastic behaviour of polymineralic rocks are hampered by the fact that usually only whole sample properties can be monitored as opposed to the separate contribution of each phase. To circumvent this difficulty, room-temperature, uniaxial compression experiments were performed in a neutron beam-line on a suite of calcite + halite samples with different phase volume proportions. By collecting diffraction data during loading, the elastic strain and hence stress in each phase was determined as a function of load to bulk strains of 1–2%. In all cases, the calcite behaved elastically while the halite underwent plastic yielding. During the fully elastic part of the deformation, the composite elastic properties and the within-phase stresses are well-described both by recent shear lag models and by analyses based on Eshelby's solution for the elastic field around an ellipsoidal inclusion in a homogeneous medium. After the onset of yielding, the halite in situ stress/total strain curve may be reconstructed using the rule of mixtures. At calcite contents of greater than 30%, the in situ halite response may be significantly weaker or stronger than that obtained at lesser calcite contents. The results highlight the potential that such techniques offer for developing an explicitly experimental approach for determining the influence of microstructural variables on the mechanical properties of polymineralic rocks.     

Hyperfiltration-induced precipitation of calcite

Hyperfiltration is sometimes cited as a mechanism to explain high degrees of calcite cementation at shale/sandstone contacts. To test this cementation mechanism, a series of experiments were performed in which solutions undersaturated with respect to calcite were hydraulically forced through a Ca-bentonite at different flow rates. Calcite precipitate was observed on the bentonite membrane from hyperfiltrated stock solutions having initial calcite saturation indices of 0.91 and 0.59. Supersaturation conditions at the clay's high-pressure interface are likely provided by establishment of a concentration polarization layer.In the subsurface, the driving force for hyperfiltration is a differential hydraulic pressure gradient acting across a shale membrane. This hydraulically-induced flux of solution causes a build-up of solute at the shale's high-pressure interface to levels that may exceed saturation indices of common cementing minerals like calcite. Although the source of the hydraulic pressure is likely due to compaction within the sedimentary pile, directional flow constraints suggest that hyperfiltration-induced precipitation of calcite occurs at sand/shale boundaries away from areas of active compaction.     

Fabric and seismic properties of carrara marble mylonite

Shear deformation in calcite-rich rocks can produce strong lattice preferred orientations (LPO), which result in a high anisotropy of bulk seismic properties because of the high elastic anisotropy of calcite (32% Vp anisotropy). Deformed rocks often show also strong shape preferred orientations (SPO). Theories for averaging the elastic properties have not yet satisfactorily predicted the contribution to the seismic anisotropy caused by the SPO alone.A calcite mylonite from Carrara (Italy) was investigated, which is characterised by a strong SPO and a weak LPO. It was composed of about 80% calcite, then white mica, quartz and hematite. Flattening of mica and of calcite grains defined the mylonitic foliation, and elongation of calcite grains defined the lineation. On average calcite grains have aspect ratios of about 2.5:1.6:1, and grain sizes of about 10 μm. At 400 MPa confining pressure, the measured Vp (km/s) parallel to the lineation (X direction) was highest (6.63), lower in the intermediate Y direction (6.47); the Vp normal to the foliation (Z direction) was lowest (6.30). This yielded a Vp anisotropy of 5%. The LPO, determined by automated electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), was very weak (texture index 1.1), with intensities between 0.6 and 1.6 m.r.d. in the c-axis pole figure. Extrapolation of the texture index to an infinite number of orientation measurements indicated that the observed variations were mostly random noise in the orientation distributions and that the bulk rock texture was random. The Vp anisotropy of the Voigt, Reuss and Hill averages calculated from this calcite LPO is predicted to be close to zero. Adding 5% of muscovite with (001) perfectly aligned parallel to the foliation, we calculated a total anisotropy of 2.8%. The anisotropy calculated for the special directions X, Y and Z remained at 2.6% only.It was concluded that the measured seismic anisotropy cannot be explained by the LPO of calcite and by 5% of mica alone. It is also attributed to the strong SPO and to further grain boundary effects.     

Diagenetic features of Jurassic Fort Member sandstone,Jaisalmer formation,western Rajasthan

Jaisalmer Formation consists of 360m thick succession of medium to coarse grained sandstones with interbeds of shale, claystone and occasional lignite that rest over Lathi Formation, is the basal part of the Jaisalmer basin. The rocks are exposed amidst desert, low mounds and shallow stone quarries. Sandstones were deposited in shallow marine to deltaic environments. The studied sandstones consist of abundant quartz followed by feldspar, mica, chert, rock fragments and heavy minerals. The study mainly deals with identification of various diagenetic features such as compaction, cementation and porosity evolution. During mechanical compaction rearrangement of grains took place and point, long and suture contacts were formed. The sandstones are cemented by iron oxide, silica overgrowth, carbonate and clay. Porosity has developed due to dissolution of iron, carbonate cement and feldspar grains. Dissolution and alteration of feldspar, lithic fragments and pressure solution were the main source of quartz cements. The sandstones show good amount of existing optical porosity with an average of 7.19%. Porosity reduction is mainly due to early stage of mechanical compaction and subsequent pervasive calcite and iron oxide cementation. Further, porosity reduced due to deposition of clay cement.     

Diagenesis impact on a deeply buried sandstone reservoir (Es1 Member) of the Shahejie Formation,Nanpu Sag,Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Diagenesis has a significant impact on reservoir quality in deeply buried formations. Sandstone units of the Shahejie Formation (Es₁ Member) of Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China is a typical deeply buried sandstone with large hydrocarbon accumulations. The methodology includes core observations and thin section studies, using fluorescence, scanning electron microscope (SEM), cathodoluminescence (CL), fluid inclusion and isotope and electron probing analysis as well as the numerical determination of reservoir characteristics. The sandstones consist of medium to coarse-grained, slight to moderate sorted lithic arkose and feldspathic litharenite. Porosity and permeability values range from 0.5 to 30% and 0.006 to 7000 mD, respectively. The diagenetic history reveals mixed episodes of diagenesis and deep burial followed by uplift. The main diagenetic events include compaction, cementation alteration, dissolution of unstable minerals and grain fracturing. Compaction resulted in densification and significantly reduced the primary porosity. Quartz, calcite and clay are the dominant pore-occluding cement and occur as euhedral to subhedral crystals. Alteration and dissolution of volcanic lithic fragments and pressure solution of feldspar grains were the key sources of quartz cement whereas carbonate cement is derived from an external source. Clay minerals resulted from the alteration of feldspar and volcanic lithic fragments. Porosity and permeability data predict a good inverse relationship with cementation whereas leaching of metastable grains, dissolution of cement and in some places formation of pore-lining chlorite enhanced the reservoir quality. The best reservoir is thicker sandstone bodies that are medium to coarse-grained, well-sorted sandstone with low primary ductile grains with a minor amount of calcite cement. The present study shows several diagenetic stages in the Es₁ Member, but the overall reservoir quality is preserved.     

Characterization of contact properties in biocemented sand using 3D X-ray micro-tomography

The mechanical efficiency of the biocementation process is directly related to the microstructural properties of the biocemented sand, such as the volume fraction of calcite, its distribution within the pore space (localized at the contact between grains, over the grain surfaces) and the contact properties: coordination number, contact surface area, contacts orientation and types of contact. In the present work, all these micromechanical properties are computed, for the first time, from 3D images obtained by X-ray tomography of intact biocemented sand samples. The evolution of all these properties with respect to the volume fraction of calcite is analyzed and compared between each other (from untreated sand to highly cemented sand). Whatever the volume fraction of calcite, it is shown that the precipitation of the calcite is localized at the contacts between grains. These results are confirmed by comparing our numerical results with analytical estimates assuming that the granular medium is made of periodic simple cubic arrangements of grains and by considering two extreme cases of precipitation: (1) The calcite is localized at the contact, and (2) the grains are covered by a uniform layer of calcite. In overall, the obtained results show that a small percentage of calcite is sufficient to get a large amount of cohesive contacts.