Reconstruction of the diagenesis of the fluvial-lacustrinedeltaic sandstones and its influence on the reservoir quality evolution

The reservoir quality of Jurassic and Triassic fluvial and lacustrine-deltaic sandstones of the Yanchang Oil Field in the Ordos Basin is strongly influenced by the burial history and facies-related diagenetic events. The fluvial sandstones have a higher average porosity (14.8%) and a higher permeability (12.7 × 10⁻³ μm²) than those of the deltaic sandstones (9.8% and 5.8 ×10⁻³) μm², respectively). The burial compaction, which resulted in 15% and 20% porosity loss for Jurassic and Triassic sandstones, respectively, is the main factor causing the loss of porosity both for the Jurassic and Triassic sandstones. Among the cements, carbonate is the main one that reduced the reservoir quality of the sandstones. The organic acidic fluid derived from organic matter in the source rocks, the inorganic fluid from rock-water reaction during the late diagenesis, and meteoric waters during the epidiagenesis resulted in the formation of dissolution porosity, which is the main reason for the enhancement of reservoir-quality.     

Overpressure development and oil charging in the central Junggar Basin,Northwest China: Implication for petroleum exploration

The Junggar Basin is one of the largest and most petroliferous superimposed petroleum basins in China. The central depression area has become the frontier field for petroleum exploration. The characteristics of potential source rocks and reservoir sandstones, and the pressure regime in the central Junggar Basin were studied. Permian shales are dominated by hydrogen-rich, oil-prone algal organic matter, and Jurassic mudstones are dominated by hydrogen-poor, higher-plant derived organic matter. These source rocks are widespread and have been mature for hydrocarbon generation, suggesting good to excellent exploration potential, both for crude oils and for natural gases. The deeply buried Jurassic sandstones usually have low porosity and permeability. However, sandstones beneath the Jurassic/Cretaceous unconformity display relatively high porosity and permeability, suggesting that meteoric water leaching had improved the quality of the sandstones. Overpressure developed over much of the central Junggar Basin. The overpressured rocks are characterized by slightly increased interval transit time, low sandstone permeability, increased organic matter maturity, and high relative hydrocarbon-gas contents. Mudstones in the overpressured system have quite the same clay mineral compositions as mudstones in the lower part of the normally pressured system. Overpressure generation in the central Junggar Basin is best to be explained as the result of hydrocarbon generation and fluid retention in low-permeability rocks. Petroleum generated from Permian and Jurassic source rocks could migrate laterally through preferential petroleum migration pathways and accumulated in structural traps or lithological traps in the overpressured system, or migrate vertically through faults/hydraulic fractures into the overlying, normally pressured system and accumulate in structural or lithological traps. Therefore, commercial petroleum reservoirs could be potentially found in both the overpressured system, and in the normally pressured system.     

Petrography, diagenesis and provenance of Eocene Tyee Basin sandstones, southern Oregon Coast Range: New view from sequence stratigraphy

Abstract Sandstone petrography considered within a sequence stratigraphic framework provides a better understanding of the characteristics of the Eocene Tyee Basin, an accretionary and forearc sequence, southern Oregon Coast Range. Detailed comparison of the relative abundance of major framework grains documents a marked difference in the sandstone composition of each depositional sequence. Such a difference is mainly due to an abrupt change in provenance, from a local Klamath Mountains metasedimentary source to a more distant extrabasinal Idaho Batholith‐Clarno volcanic arc source. Furthermore, the composition of framework grains varies systematically from the lowstand systems tract to the highstand systems tract within a depositional sequence. This suggests that relative sea level change in the depositional basin, and tectonics in the source area, can affect the patterns of sedimentation and sandstone composition. In addition, the Eocene Tyee Basin sandstones have a down‐section distribution of authigenic minerals, consisting of early formed zeolites and late‐stage quartz, as well as a change in the abundance of smectite to mixed‐layer chlorite/smectite with increasing burial depth. The down‐section distribution of authigenic minerals is also causally linked to the compositional variation of framework grains in each depositional sequence with increasing burial temperature. Much primary porosity has been filled with these authigenic minerals, which diminishes the permeability of potential reservoir rocks. Reservoir‐quality porosities and permeabilities, however, are present locally in the basin. The development of these reservoir‐quality sandstones within the Eocene Tyee Basin sequence is due to a complex burial diagenesis, which is directly related to temporal and spatial variations in original detrital mineralogy, in sedimentation pattern, and in burial temperature in the basin.     

含流体砂岩地震波频散实验研究

为了研究孔隙流体对不同渗透率岩石地震波速度的影响,在实验室利用跨频带岩石弹性参数测试系统得到了应变幅值10-6的2~2000Hz频段下的地震波速度和1 MHz频率下的超声波速度,利用差分共振声谱法得到了频率600Hz岩石干燥和完全饱水情况下岩石声学参数.实验表明,在低饱和度下,致密砂岩在地震和超声频段下没有明显的频散;在高饱和度下纵波速度的频散变得明显.从干燥到完全水饱和条件,不同频率测量的致密砂岩的体积模量随岩石孔隙度增高而降低,且体积模量的变化量受岩石微观孔隙结构的影响较大.高孔、高渗砂岩无论在低含水度下还是在高含水饱和度下频散微弱,并且在地震频段下围压对于岩石纵横波速度的影响要大于频率的影响.高孔、高渗砂岩和致密砂岩不同含水饱和度下的频散差异可应用于储层预测,油气检测等方面,同时该研究可以更好地帮助理解岩石的黏弹性行为,促进岩石物理频散理论的发展,提高地震解释的精度.     

饱和储层砂岩中流体粘度引起的超声波速度频散实验研究(英文)

在实验室对5块储层砂岩进行了模拟地层压力条件下的超声波速度测试。砂岩样品采自WXS凹陷的W地层,覆盖了从低到高的孔隙度和渗透率范围。实验选用了卤水和4种不同密度油作为孔隙流体,结合温度变化,实现了对流体粘度引致的速度频散研究。对实验结果的分析表明:(1)对于高孔隙度和渗透率的样品,无论是哪种流体饱和,观察到的超声波速度测试值和零频率Gassmann预测值的差异较小(约2-3%),基本上可以用Biot模型解释;对于中等孔隙度和渗透率的样品,低粘度流体(<约3mP?S)的频散效应也可以用Biot模型得到合理解释;(2)对于低、中孔隙度和渗透率样品,当流体粘度增加时,喷射流机制起主导作用,导致严重的速度频散(可达8%)。对储层砂岩的微裂隙纵横比进行了估计并用于喷射流特征频率的计算,当高于该特征频率时,Gassmann理论的假设条件受到破坏,实验室测得的高频速度不能直接用于地震低频条件下的W地层砂岩的Gassmann流体替换研究。     

Compressional- and shear-wave velocities as a function of confining stress in dry sandstones

A laboratory study was carried out to investigate the influence of confining stress on compressional- and shear-wave velocities for a set of rock samples from gas-producing sandstone reservoirs in the Cooper Basin, South Australia. The suite of samples consists of 22 consolidated sublitharenites with helium porosity ranging from 2.6% to 16.6%. We used a pulse-echo technique to measure compressional- and shear-wave velocities on dry samples (cylindrical 4.6 × 2 cm) at room temperature and at elevated confining stress (≤ 60 MPa). Compressional- and shear-wave velocities in samples increase non-linearly with confining stress. A regression equation of the form V = A ? Be^?DP gives a good fit to the measured velocities with improved prediction of velocities at high confining stresses compared with equations suggested by other studies. The predicted microcrack-closure stresses of the samples show values ranging from 70 MPa to 95 MPa and insignificant correlation with porosity, permeability or clay content. There is a positive correlation between change in velocity with core porosity and permeability, but this association is weak and diminishes with increasing confining stress. Experimental results show that pore geometry, grain-contact type, and distribution and location of clay particles may be more significant than total porosity and clay content in describing the stress sensitivity of sandstones at in situ reservoir effective stress. The stress dependence of Cooper Basin sandstones is very large compared with data from other studies. The implication of our study for hydrocarbon exploration is that where the in situ reservoir effective stress is much less than the microcrack-closure stress of the reservoir rocks, the variation of reservoir effective stress could cause significant changes in velocity of the reservoir rocks. The velocity changes induced by effective stress in highly stress-sensitive rocks can be detected at sonic-log and probably surface-seismic frequencies.     

Comparison of stress-dependent geophysical,hydraulic and mechanical properties of synthetic and natural sandstones for reservoir characterization and monitoring studies

Synthetic rock samples can offer advantages over natural rock samples when used for laboratory rock physical properties studies, provided their success as natural analogues is well understood. The ability of synthetic rocks to mimic the natural stress dependency of elastic wave, electrical and fluid transport properties is of primary interest. Hence, we compare a consistent set of laboratory multi-physics measurements obtained on four quartz sandstone samples (porosity range 20–25%) comprising two synthetic and two natural (Berea and Corvio) samples, the latter used extensively as standards in rock physics research. We measured simultaneously ultrasonic (P- and S-wave) velocity and attenuation, electrical resistivity, permeability and axial and radial strains over a wide range of differential pressure (confining stress 15–50 MPa; pore pressure 5–10 MPa) on the four brine saturated samples. Despite some obvious physical discrepancies caused by the synthetic manufacturing process, such as silica cementation and anisotropy, the results show only small differences in stress dependency between the synthetic and natural sandstones for all measured parameters. Stress dependency analysis of the dry samples using an isotropic effective medium model of spheroidal pores and penny-shaped cracks, together with a granular cohesion model, provide evidence of crack closure mechanisms in the natural sandstones, seen to a much lesser extent in the synthetic sandstones. The smaller grain size, greater cement content, and cementation under oedometric conditions particularly affect the fluid transport properties of the synthetic sandstones, resulting in lower permeability and higher electrical resistivity for a similar porosity. The effective stress coefficients, determined for each parameter, are in agreement with data reported in the literature. Our results for the particular synthetic materials that were tested suggest that synthetic sandstones can serve as good proxies for natural sandstones for studies of elastic and mechanical properties, but should be used with care for transport properties studies.     

Low enthalpy geothermal energy resources in Denmark

The deep oil exploration drillings in Denmark have shown that especially the Danish Embayment contains low enthalpy geothermal resources associated with warm aquifers. The most promising reservoirs have been found in highly permeable Upper Triassic sand and sandstone beds, which cover at least 5000 km² at depths of 2000–3000 m and at temperatures of 60–100°C. The porosity of the main reservoir is of 15–25%, and the permeability is presumed to be approximately 1 darcy (10^–12 m²) or higher. A layer thickness of 30–60 m has been observed on a number of localities. Also the Middle Jurassic and the Lower Triassic contain reservoirs of interest. A major geothermal exploration work is planned with seismic investigations, drillings to depths of 2000–4000 m and probably establishment of pilot district heating plants.     

The effect of clay distribution on the elastic properties of sandstones

The shape and location of clay within sandstones have a large impact on the P‐wave and S‐wave velocities of the rock. They also have a large effect on reservoir properties and the interpretation of those properties from seismic data and well logs. Numerical models of different distributions of clay – structural, laminar and dispersed clay – can lead to an understanding of these effects. Clay which is located between quartz grains, structural clay, will reduce the P‐wave and S‐wave velocities of the rock. If the clay particles become aligned or form layers, the velocities perpendicular to the alignment will be reduced further. S‐wave velocities decrease more rapidly than P‐wave velocities with increasing clay content, and therefore Poisson's ratios will increase as the velocities decrease. These effects are more pronounced for compacted sandstones. Small amounts of clay that are located in the pore space will have little effect on the P‐wave velocity due to the competing influence of the density effect and pore‐fluid stiffening. The S‐wave velocity will decrease due to the density effect and thus the Poisson's ratio will increase. When there is sufficient clay to bridge the gaps between the quartz grains, P‐wave and S‐wave velocities rise rapidly and the Poisson's ratios decrease. These effects are more pronounced for under‐compacted sandstones. These general results are only slightly modified when the intrinsic anisotropy of the clay material is taken into account. Numerical models indicate that there is a strong, nearly linear relationship between P‐wave and S‐wave velocity which is almost independent of clay distribution. S‐wave velocities can be predicted reasonably accurately from P‐wave velocities based on empirical relationships. However, this does not provide any connection between the elastic and petrophysical properties of the rocks. Numerical modelling offers this connection but requires the inclusion of clay distribution and anisotropy to provide a model that is consistent with both the elastic and petrophysical properties. If clay distribution is ignored, predicting porosities from P‐wave or S‐wave data, for example, can result in large errors. Estimation of the clay distribution from P‐wave and S‐wave velocities requires good estimates of the porosity and clay volume and verification from petrographic analyses of core or cuttings. For a real data example, numerical models of the elastic properties suggest the predominance of dispersed clay in a fluvial sand from matching P‐wave and S‐wave velocity well log data using log‐based estimates of the clay volume and porosity. This is consistent with an interpretation of other log data.     

有效应力变化对致密砂岩孔隙结构及弹性波响应的影响规律

致密砂岩气藏具有裂缝发育和有效应力高的特征,研究不同有效压力下孔、裂隙介质地震波传播特征,有利于地震解释与地下储层的识别.但是前人的研究较少考虑岩石内部微观孔隙结构特征与孔隙、裂隙间流体流动的关系.本文首先通过选取四川盆地典型致密砂岩岩样,在不同有效压力下对岩石样本进行超声波实验测量.然后基于实验测得的纵、横波速度进行裂隙参数反演,得到不同有效压力下致密砂岩样本的裂隙孔隙度.再将裂隙孔隙度和样本岩石物理参数代入双重孔隙介质模型,模拟得到不同有效压力下饱水致密砂岩样本纵横波速度频散和衰减的变化规律.结果表明模型预测的速度频散曲线与纵波速度实验测量结果能够较好的吻合.最后统计分析了致密砂岩裂隙参数,得到了致密砂岩储层裂隙参数随有效压力及孔隙度变化特征.依据实际岩石物理参数建立模型,其裂隙参数三维拟合结果能够较好描述致密砂岩裂隙结构与孔隙度、应力的关联,可为实际地震勘探中预测储层裂缝性质提供基础依据.     

Origin of natural sulphur-bearing immiscible inclusions and H_2S in oolite gas reservoir, Eastern Sichuan

Fluid inclusions as captured in homogeneous fluids in rocks and minerals have been extensively studied and successfully applied to exploring the metalloge- netic temperature and pressure of metallic ore deposits and in investigating hydrocarbon generation, migra- tion, etc.[1―6]. In regard to multiple forms of immis- cible inclusions in rocks and minerals, a significant amount of research has already been conducted toward the immiscible inclusions and “boiling” inclusions in CO2-H2O system…     

The stress sensitivity of shaley sandstones

The link between the stress sensitivity of shaley sandstones and their porosity and clay content is investigated. This is achieved by firstly fitting a compliance‐based stress‐sensitivity law to laboratory measurements of ultrasonic velocity taken from four sets of reservoir sandstones, extracted from a variety of depositional settings. Correlations are then sought between the independent parameters of this law and the porosity or clay fraction of the rocks, which are then subsequently interpreted in terms of framework or pore‐space‐related microstructural clay models. The general conclusion drawn from the results is that both of the parameters defining the stress‐sensitivity law (the asymptotic modulus and the stress‐dependent excess compliance) clearly vary with porosity. However, only the asymptotic modulus shows a convincing trend with clay and there is little observed variation of the stress‐dependent compliance with clay. There is therefore a resultant variation of stress sensitivity with clay, but it is controlled only by the asymptotic modulus. The analysis also concludes that all four data sets fall into a framework‐related category of clay model.     

Quantification of Exhumation from Sonic Velocity Data, Cooper Basin, Australia, and Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration

Exhumation (defined as rock uplift minus surface uplift) in the Cooper Basin of South Australia and Queensland has been quantified using the compaction methodology. The sonic log, which is strongly controlled by the amount of porosity, is an appropriate indicator of compaction, and hence is used for quantifying exhumation from compaction. The traditional way of estimating exhumation based on the degree of overcompaction of a single shale unit has been modified and five units ranging in age from Permian to Triassic have been analysed. The results reveal that exhumation increases eastwards from the South Australia into the Queensland sector of the basin. The results show that exhumation in Late Triassic – Early Jurassic times, after the Cooper Basin deposition, seems to be 200–400 m higher than exhumation in Late Cretaceous – Tertiary times, after the Eromanga Basin deposition. This study has major implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Maturation of source rocks will be greater for any given geothermal history if exhumation is incorporated in maturation modelling. Exhumation values can also be used to improve porosity predictions of reservoir units in undrilled targets.     

Joint elastic‐electrical properties of reservoir sandstones and their relationships with petrophysical parameters

We measured in the laboratory ultrasonic compressional and shear‐wave velocity and attenuation (0.7–1.0 MHz) and low‐frequency (2 Hz) electrical resistivity on 63 sandstone samples with a wide range of petrophysical properties to study the influence of reservoir porosity, permeability and clay content on the joint elastic‐electrical properties of reservoir sandstones. P‐ and S‐wave velocities were found to be linearly correlated with apparent electrical formation factor on a semi‐logarithmic scale for both clean and clay‐rich sandstones; P‐ and S‐wave attenuations showed a bell‐shaped correlation (partial for S‐waves) with apparent electrical formation factor. The joint elastic‐electrical properties provide a way to discriminate between sandstones with similar porosities but with different clay contents. The laboratory results can be used to estimate sandstone reservoir permeability from seismic velocity and apparent formation factor obtained from co‐located seismic and controlled source electromagnetic surveys.     

Joint elastic‐electrical effective medium models of reservoir sandstones

Improvements in the joint inversion of seismic and marine controlled source electromagnetic data sets will require better constrained models of the joint elastic‐electrical properties of reservoir rocks. Various effective medium models were compared to a novel laboratory data set of elastic velocity and electrical resistivity (obtained on 67 reservoir sandstone samples saturated with 35 g/l brine at a differential pressure of 8 MPa) with mixed results. Hence, we developed a new three‐phase effective medium model for sandstones with pore‐filling clay minerals based on the combined self‐consistent approximation and differential effective medium model. We found that using a critical porosity of 0.5 and an aspect ratio of 1 for all three components, the proposed model gave accurate model predictions of the observed magnitudes of P‐wave velocity and electrical resistivity and of the divergent trends of clean and clay‐rich sandstones at higher porosities. Using only a few well‐constrained input parameters, the new model offers a practical way to predict in situ porosity and clay content in brine saturated sandstones from co‐located P‐wave velocity and electrical resistivity data sets.     

Paleogeothermal gradient and geologic thermal history of the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang

Synthetical research has been done on the geological thermal history of the Turpan-Hami Basin by using vitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusion geothermometry and fission track. The geotcmperature of the Turpan-Hami Basin has the character that suggests higher temperature in the past, in the east and south of the basin, and in the areas of large-fracture, and lower temperature in the present day and in the west and north of the basin. This feature is controlled by the difference of burial depth of basement and heat flow values, which made Permian source rock mature in the late Triassic and Jurassic source rock mature at the end of Jurassic and the early Tertiary. Project supported by the Chinese Tnrpan-Hami Oil Field cooperation project.     

秦皇岛32-6油田明化镇组河流相储层地球物理参数影响因素研究

秦皇岛32-6油田明化镇组储层为河流相沉积,单砂体规模小,砂体间接触关系复杂,受到地震分辨率限制,对叠置砂体储层地震响应规律认识不明确,导致基于地震信息的储层砂体解释错误.通过数值正演模拟,可以正确认识砂体储层的地震响应规律,提高砂体储层预测的准确率.所以,在进行地震响应正演模拟前,非常有必要对该区储层地球物理参数影响因素展开研究,通过分析研究区14口测井资料,建立了岩石物理参数(孔隙度、泥质含量、合流体性)与地球物理参数(速度、密度、波阻抗等)之间的相关关系,分析了不同沉积微相对地球物理参数的控制作用,并给出了相应的数学表达式,为正确认识河流相储层砂体地震响应规律奠定了准确的地球物理参数基础.     

含流体致密砂岩的纵波频散及衰减:基于双重双重孔隙结构模型描述的特征分析

致密砂岩普遍具有低孔、低渗及微裂缝发育的地质特征,并且呈现出很强的非均匀性.致密砂岩储层与常规砂岩储层比较,具有明显的岩石物理性质、渗流力学性质方面的差异.致密砂岩内部的非均匀性对弹性波频散、衰减有显著影响,其中包括孔隙结构的非均匀性,即岩石内部孔隙参数的不均一性,以及孔隙内部不相混溶流体的非均匀分布;此外,非均匀性的尺度也决定了波出现显著频散与衰减的频段.综合考虑致密砂岩孔隙结构非均匀性及流体斑块状饱和的非均匀性,本文采用双双重孔隙介质结构模拟了致密砂岩的弹性波响应,分析了同时具备两类非均质性岩石中的波传播特征.调查分析了两组分别来自中国鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格气田及四川盆地广安气田的不同类型致密砂岩储层的岩芯超声波实验数据,给出了岩石样本的弹性波速度频散与衰减曲线.结果显示理论模型预测结果与完全饱和、部分饱和岩石的实验数据吻合良好.对两个地区致密砂岩岩芯数据进行对比分析,苏里格致密砂岩样本总体上比广安致密砂岩渗透率高,在各孔隙度范围内,特征模拟显示苏里格样本的裂隙尺寸明显大于广安样本.广安致密砂岩在低孔隙度范围内发育了更多、更小的颗粒裂隙/接触.致密砂岩的速度频散与衰减结果受流体黏度、晶体破裂及流体斑块状饱和的共同影响.此外,孔隙度越大,部分饱和岩石中斑块状饱和机制对总衰减的贡献越低,与之相对,结构非均质性所占的比重则有所增强.     

Detrital heavy minerals from Lower Jurassic clastic rocks in the Joetsu area,central Japan: Paleo‐Mesozoic tectonics in the East Asian continental margin constrained by limited chloritoid occurrences in Japan

Detrital chloritoids were extracted from the Lower Jurassic sandstones in the Joetsu area of central Japan. The discovery of detrital chloritoids in the Joetsu area, in addition to two previous reports, confirms their limited occurrence in the Jurassic strata of the Japanese islands. This finding emphasizes the importance of the denudation of chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic belts in Jurassic provenance evolution, in addition to a change from an active volcanic arc to a dissected arc that has already been described. Possible sources for the detrital chloritoids from the Jurassic sandstones are the Permo–Triassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks distributed in dispersed tectonic zones (Hida, Unazuki, Ryuhozan and Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks), which are in fault contact with Permian to Jurassic accretionary complexes in the Japanese islands. This is because all of these pre‐Jurassic chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks have a Carboniferous–Permian depositional age and a Permo–Triassic metamorphic age, whereas a Permian–Triassic metamorphic age on the Hitachi Metamorphic Rocks remains unreported. In addition, most metamorphic chloritoids imply a former stable land surface that has evolved into an unstable orogenic area. Therefore, the chloritoid‐yielding metamorphic rocks might form a continuous metamorphic belt originating from a passive continental margin in East Asia. Evidence from paleontological and petrological studies indicates that the Permo–Triassic metamorphic belt relates to a collision between the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and the North China Craton. The evolution of the Permian–Jurassic provenance of Japanese detrital rocks indicates that the temporal changes in detritus should result from sequences of collision‐related uplifting processes.     

Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic transition in Kuqa Depression-Tianshan, Northwest China: Evidence from sandstone detrital and geochemical records

Succeeding to multiply collisions of different blocks in Late Paleozoic[1―5], complex intracontinental structural deformation occurred in the Tianshan area during Mesozoic-Cenozoic[6―16], which controlled coeval basin-range evolution and resulted in intensive modi- fication and adjustment of the Paleozoic oil-gas reser- voirs[17―19]. The Kuqa Depression is a secendary struc- tural unit of the Tarim basin, in which Mesozoic- Ce- nozoic deposits occur in thickness of 6000―7000 m. The Kuq…