苏北盐城天然气储层成岩作用研究

盐城凹陷天然气储层为成分成熟度很低的砂砾岩、砾状砂岩、砂岩和少量粉砂岩,砂岩类型主要为长石岩屑砂岩和少量岩屑长石砂岩。成岩矿物主要类型有粘土矿物、石英、钠长石、碳酸盐、硬石膏和石膏等。储层以次生孔隙发育为特点,以粒间孔隙和骨架颗粒溶孔最为发育,溶解作用发育程度与泥质岩在成岩过程中粘土矿物和有机质的演化关系极其密切。盐城天然气进入储层发生在始新世———新近纪,主要成藏期发生在4.5~10Ma。天然气储层成岩演化阶段处于晚成岩A亚期。储层性质明显地受到沉积相和成岩作用的影响。沉积物粒度较粗、厚度较大的河道砂的储集物性明显优于各种粒度较细、厚度较薄的席状砂体。     

南海北部湾盆地迈陈凹陷中南部古近系储层特征与控制因素——以区域探井Y井为例

北部湾盆地迈陈凹陷中南部Y井井壁取心分析、岩屑样品的薄片鉴定结果及地球物理测井综合评价表明,其钻遇的不同层位层段的储层类型主要以含泥质较高的砂岩、粉砂岩及泥质粉砂岩为主,少量砾岩,多属于近—中物源快速沉积充填、储集物性偏差的储集层类型,且成岩程度偏低(处在早成岩A或B期或中成岩A期),总体上属于岩性较细、泥质含量偏高、孔渗参数偏低的中孔中渗和低孔低渗及低孔特低渗型砂岩储层类型。其中,钻遇的渐新统涠洲组砂岩储层总体上偏细且泥质含量较高,砂岩有效孔隙度和渗透率偏低,属于储集物性较差储层;始新统流沙港组二段砂岩属于差—较好储层,储层孔隙类型以粒间孔为主,其次为粒间溶孔,还发育有少量或微量长石溶孔和粒内溶孔,具有一定的孔渗性;古新统长流组砂岩孔隙类型以粒间孔、粒间溶孔为主,发育少量长石溶孔及粒内溶孔,储层致密储集物性偏差。总之,本区储层发育主要受控于碎屑物物源供给远近与沉积相及成岩作用,但总体上储层成岩程度较低,加之溶蚀作用及胶结作用普遍,故严重影响了储层储集物性。     

西湖凹陷西部斜坡带储层成岩作用及孔隙演化

以大量岩心观察为基础,结合室内电镜扫描和物性特征分析,对西部斜坡带储层成岩序列与孔隙演化进行了研究,认为储层岩石类型主要为长石岩屑砂岩及岩屑长石砂岩,储集空间以粒间溶孔和粒内溶孔为主,属中孔中渗一低孔低渗型储层。成岩作用及孔隙演化对储层物性有重要影响,该区主要经历了压实、胶结、溶解以及交代等多种成岩作用,其中压实作用和交代作用对储层起破坏作用,溶解作用对储层改善起建设性作用。成岩阶段可划分为早成岩A期、B期和晚成岩A1期、A2期及B期,目前储层处于晚成岩A2期,原生孔隙大部分被破坏,次生孔隙发育,并在2900～3200m和3600。4000m处形成两个次生孔隙发育带。     

西永2井中新世白云岩储层特征及成岩作用

西永2井中新世发育厚度较大的藻礁白云岩,以此为研究对象,通过岩心薄片、扫描电镜、X衍射分析及岩心CT扫描等研究手段,结合常规储层物性分析方法等,研究了西沙群岛中新世藻礁白云岩储层特征及成岩作用,结果表明:西永2井中新世藻礁白云岩储层发育良好,储集岩主要以粉晶—细晶白云岩为主,晶间溶孔、藻架孔、铸模孔、晶间孔和生物体腔孔为主要的储集空间,孔隙度变化较大,主要集中在8.39%~37.71%;渗透率为(0.17~3 291.9)×10~(-3)μm~2,具有高孔、高渗显著特征。储层在成岩阶段经历了压实作用、胶结作用、白云岩化作用、重结晶作用及多期溶蚀作用。压实作用及胶结作用使得原生孔隙大幅减少,对储层形成具有破坏作用,白云岩化作用、重结晶作用和溶蚀作用改变孔隙结构,进而提高储层的有效孔隙度。研究表明西永2井中新世白云岩处冰期海退阶段,受大气淡水林滤作用影响,而多期溶蚀作用产生了大量的次生孔隙成为现今主要的储集空间。     

冀中坳陷深县凹陷东营组砂岩储层特征及影响因素

冀中坳陷深县凹陷东营组砂岩储层岩石类型以长石岩屑砂岩或岩屑长石砂岩为主,岩石成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低,反映了近物源和多物源的特征。通过对研究区的岩心化验分析资料、薄片和扫描电镜资料的分析,认为深县凹陷东营组储集空间类型主要包括原生孔隙和次生孔隙两类,其中以原生的粒间孔隙为主。研究区岩性孔渗资料的统计结果表明,储层的物性较好,基本为中高孔中渗型储层,根据深县凹陷储层评价标准,可以将深县凹陷储层分为4类,东营组储层主要是Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类储层。深县凹陷东营组主要为辫状河流相沉积,其沉积作用直接决定着储集砂体的类型、展布范围以及后期成岩改造作用。而储层储集性能主要受原始沉积作用及后期成岩作用共同控制,控制储层孔隙演化的成岩作用主要为机械压实作用和胶结作用。     

东海西湖凹陷南端砂岩储层特征及其控制因素

本研究区始新统—中新统地层内大套砂质岩储层发育，砂层厚度为２—３０ｍ。分析结果表明：具有一定储集和渗透能力的砂层主要分布在井深１９００—３２００ｍ（Ｃ—１井、ＣＨ—１井深度可达３６００ｍ），即花港组和龙井组，岩性以细砂岩、粉砂岩为主，还有少量中砂岩。其中的细砂岩、粉砂岩具有粒度分选好，胶结物含量低（＜１０％）、孔隙、渗透条件好（φ为１０—２８％、ｋ为＜１—１８００×１０￣（－３）ｕｍ￣２）；以次生粒间扩大孔、粒内孔、铸模孔和粘土矿物中的微孔及少量原生孔为其储集空间。胶结物以粘土矿物为主，其次为碳酸盐和氧化硅胶结物。本区砂岩体储层物性除受原始地质条件、储集岩的成份、结构、埋藏深度等控制外，同时受成岩后生作用的影响，压实作用和胶结作用使其物性降低，而骨架颗粒（长石为主）和胶结物的溶蚀改善了其储集条件。     

巴西桑托斯盆地盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层特征

巴西盐下湖相碳酸盐岩是现今海外油气勘探的热点领域,但中国关于该类储层特征的研究相对薄弱。通过综合应用岩心、薄片、物性测试等资料,系统研究了储层岩石类型、储集空间类型、储层物性特征、成岩作用类型及其对物性的影响情况。研究表明微生物灰岩和生物碎屑灰岩是盆地的主要储层类型,其中微生物灰岩由叠层石和鲕粒灰岩互层组成,生物碎屑灰岩由贝壳灰岩组成。盐下微生物灰岩储层的孔隙类型以溶孔、晶间孔、粒间孔等次生孔隙和受过改造的原生孔隙为主;生物碎屑灰岩储层的孔隙类型以铸模孔、溶孔、溶洞及晶间孔为主。盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层整体物性较好,具有中-高孔渗特征;白云岩化和溶蚀作用是改善盐下湖相碳酸盐岩储层的主要成岩作用类型,储层主要处于中成岩阶段,少量处于早成岩阶段。     

中拐地区二叠系致密砂岩成岩作用及其控制因素

准噶尔盆地中拐地区二叠系佳木河组为扇三角洲环境下形成的富火山岩岩屑的致密砂岩储层。综合运用岩心观察、薄片鉴定、物性测试等对佳木河组储层成岩作用特征及其控制因素进行了研究,结果表明:佳木河组储层机械压实作用和胶结作用强,导致储层致密化;浊沸石、片沸石和方沸石是主要胶结作用产物;受佳木河组顶部不整合及烃源岩演化影响,发育弱酸性大气水溶蚀和晚期有机酸溶蚀2期溶蚀作用,浊沸石和方沸石溶孔是其主要表现形式,溶蚀面孔率平均为0.74%。而储层岩性、沸石胶结和逆掩断层活动控制佳木河组储层压实作用;火山岩岩屑是沸石胶结的物质基础,沉积相带和岩性控制不同区域沸石胶结物类型的差异性;弱酸性大气水淋滤是导致佳木河组储层溶蚀的主要原因。     

鄂尔多斯盆地环江油田延长组长8段致密储层特征及主控因素分析

为揭示鄂尔多斯盆地环江油田延长组长8段致密砂岩储层特征及控制因素,通过岩心、薄片鉴定、扫描电镜、X衍射等资料研究了储层的岩石学特征、成岩作用、孔隙和物性特征,并讨论了致密砂岩的成因机理。结果表明:长8段岩石类型主要为长石岩屑砂岩和岩屑长石砂岩,储集空间主要为粒间孔(包括残余粒间孔与粒间溶孔)、溶孔(长石溶孔与岩屑溶孔),储层孔隙度平均为9.6%;渗透率平均为0.67×10~(-3)μm~2。为典型的低孔——超低孔、超低渗的致密储层。储层物性受控于多种因素,其中沉积条件是不同砂岩物性差异的基础,沉积后持续快速的埋藏和较多的塑形颗粒共同导致强烈的压实和孔隙的大量损失,硅质和钙质胶结则充填压实剩余孔隙,加之伊利石对孔吼的堵塞,最终形成致密砂岩。     

墨西哥湾深水储层特征

为了借鉴墨西哥湾深水勘探的经验，对墨西哥湾深水储层的特征进行了初步归纳和总结。综合分析认为，墨西哥湾深水储层主要有2种：河道砂体和浊积砂体，河道砂体又可细分为伴有堤坝的河道砂体、横向连片的河道砂体、横向和纵向连片的河道砂体3种类型，其中以横向和纵向连片的河道砂体储集性能最好；浊积砂体按照地层年代又可划分为年轻的和年老的，其中年老的浊积砂体储集性能更好一些。     

Quantitative impact of diagenesis on reservoir quality of the Triassic Chang 6 tight oil sandstones,Zhenjing area,Ordos Basin,China

The Upper Triassic Chang 6 sandstone, an important exploration target in the Ordos Basin, is a typical tight oil reservoir. Reservoir quality is a critical factor for tight oil exploration. Based on thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), stable isotopes, and fluid inclusions, the diagenetic processes and their impact on the reservoir quality of the Chang 6 sandstones in the Zhenjing area were quantitatively analysed. The initial porosity of the Chang 6 sandstones is 39.2%, as calculated from point counting and grain size analysis. Mechanical and chemical compaction are the dominant processes for the destruction of pore spaces, leading to a porosity reduction of 14.2%–20.2% during progressive burial. The porosity continually decreased from 4.3% to 12.4% due to carbonate cementation, quartz overgrowth and clay mineral precipitation. Diagenetic processes were influenced by grain size, sorting and mineral compositions. Evaluation of petrographic observations indicates that different extents of compaction and calcite cementation are responsible for the formation of high-porosity and low-porosity reservoirs. Secondary porosity formed due to the burial dissolution of feldspar, rock fragments and laumontite in the Chang 6 sandstones. However, in a relatively closed geochemical system, products of dissolution cannot be transported away over a long distance. As a result, they precipitated in nearby pores and pore throats. In addition, quantitative calculations showed that the dissolution and associated precipitation of products of dissolution were nearly balanced. Consequently, the total porosity of the Chang 6 sandstones increased slightly due to burial dissolution, but the permeability decreased significantly because of the occlusion of pore throats by the dissolution-associated precipitation of authigenic minerals. Therefore, the limited increase in net-porosity from dissolution, combined with intense compaction and cementation, account for the low permeability and strong heterogeneity in the Chang 6 sandstones in the Zhenjing area.     

Diagenetic model of the Bajo Barreal formation (Cretaceous) in the southwestern flank of the Golfo de San Jorge Basin (Patagonia, Argentina)

This paper analyses the diagenetic evolution of sandstones belonging to the Bajo Barreal Formation (Cretaceous) in the Golfo de San Jorge Basin (Patagonia, Argentina). The Bajo Barreal Formation includes the main reservoirs, which are located along the western area of the basin and is composed of sandstones, conglomerates, mudstones, tuffaceous mudstones and some layers of tuffs. The principal reservoirs comprise medium-to coarse-grained sandstones, which are dominated by feldspathic litharenites and contain minor amounts of litharenites and lithic arkoses. The authigenic minerals include kaolinite, smectite, chlorite, quartz overgrowths, microquartz and calcite, with minor proportions of megaquartz, siderite, analcime, laumontite, feldspar overgrowths and illite/smectite and chlorite/smectite mixed layers. Secondary porosity is much more important than primary porosity and is produced by the dissolution of feldspar, lithic clasts and clay cements. The diagenetic history of the Bajo Barreal sandstones can be divided into seven diagenetic stages, each of which is characterized by a specific assemblage of authigenic minerals and diagenetic processes. Eogenetic conditions occur in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. Stage 1 corresponds to shallow burial characterized by the physical reduction of primary porosity by compaction; during stage 2, rim clay cements of chlorite, smectite and clinoptilolite, as well as thin quartz overgrowths, were formed. The precipitation of pore-filling cements of kaolinite, chlorite and smectite occurred during stage 3, while stage 4 records the intense dissolution of feldspar, lithic fragments and kaolinite cements. Mesogenesis occurs in diagenetic stages 5 and 6. The former corresponds to a new phase of authigenic kaolinite, while the latter records the significant dissolution of feldspar, lithic clasts and previous cements, which produced the highest values of secondary porosity. Finally, stage 7 corresponds to the highest degree of diagenesis in the Bajo Barreal Formation (mesogenesis), which resulted in the precipitation of cements of zeolites and calcite, as well as quartz and plagioclase overgrowths.     

Lithologic characteristics and diagenesis of the Devonian Jauf sandstone at Ghawar Field, Eastern Saudi Arabia

The Lower Devonian Jauf Formation in Saudi Arabia is an important hydrocarbon reservoir. However, in spite of its importance as a reservoir, published studies on the Jauf Formation more specifically on the reservoir quality (including diagenesis), are very few. This study, which is based on core samples from two wells in the Ghawar Field, northeastern Saudi Arabia, reports the lithologic and diagenetic characteristics of this reservoir. The Jauf reservoir is a fine to medium-grained, moderate to well-sorted quartz arenite. The diagenetic processes recognized include compaction, cementation (calcite, clay minerals, quartz overgrowths, and a minor amount of pyrite), and dissolution of the calcite cements and of feldspar grains. The widespread occurrences of early calcite cement suggest that the Jauf reservoir lost a significant amount of primary porosity at a very early stage of its diagenetic history. Early calcite cement, however, prevented the later compaction of the sandstone, thus preserving an unfilled part of the primary porosity. Based on the framework grain–cement relationships, precipitation of the early calcite cement was either accompanied or followed by the development of part of the pore-lining and pore-bridging clay cement. Secondary porosity development occurred due to partial to complete dissolution of early calcite cements and feldspar. Late calcite cement occurs as isolated patches, and has little impact on reservoir quality of the sandstones.In addition to calcite, several different clay minerals including illite and chlorite occur as pore-filling and pore-lining cements. While the pore-filling illite and chlorite resulted in a considerable loss of porosity, the pore-lining chlorite may have helped in retaining the porosity by preventing the precipitation of syntaxial quartz overgrowths. Illite, which largely occurs as hair-like rims around the grains and bridges on the pore throats, caused a substantial deterioration to permeability of the reservoir. Diagenetic history of the Jauf Formation as established here is expected to help better understanding and exploitation of this reservoir.     

Depositional and diagenetic controls on deeply-buried Eocene sublacustrine fan reservoirs in the Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China

This paper investigates the reservoir potential of deeply-buried Eocene sublacustrine fan sandstones in the Bohai Bay Basin, China by evaluating the link between depositional lithofacies that controlled primary sediment compositions, and diagenetic processes that involved dissolution, precipitation and transformation of minerals. This petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical study recognizes a complex diagenetic history which reflects both the depositional and burial history of the sandstones. Eogenetic alterations of the sandstones include: 1) mechanical compaction; and 2) partial to extensive non-ferroan carbonate and gypsum cementation. Typical mesogenetic alterations include: (1) dissolution of feldspar, non-ferroan carbonate cements, gypsum and anhydrite; (2) precipitation of quartz, kaolinite and ferroan carbonate cements; (3) transformation of smectite and kaolinite to illite and conversion of gypsum to anhydrite. This study demonstrates that: 1) depositional lithofacies critically influenced diagenesis, which resulted in good reservoir quality of the better-sorted, middle-fan, but poor reservoir quality in the inner- and outer-fan lithofacies; 2) formation of secondary porosity was spatially associated with other mineral reactions that caused precipitation of cements within sandstone reservoirs and did not greatly enhance reservoir quality; and 3) oil emplacement during early mesodiagenesis (temperatures > 70 °C) protected reservoirs from cementation and compaction.     

东海陆架盆地西湖凹陷南部花港组砂岩储层成岩流体演化特征：来自岩石、矿物及同位素地球化学的约束

渐新世花港组是东海陆架盆地西湖凹陷发育的最主要储层，基于普通薄片、铸体薄片、扫描电镜和荧光显微观察，结合同位素地球化学对东海陆架盆地西湖凹陷花港组砂岩储层的成岩作用、成岩序列及成岩流体演化进行了研究。结果表明，花港组砂岩储层目前处于中成岩阶段B期，主要经历了机械压实、绿泥石粘土摸、酸性及碱性溶蚀作用，石英次生加大，碳酸盐胶结和自生高岭石胶结等成岩作用。研究区发育有三期碳酸盐胶结物，早期菱铁矿胶结物，中期铁方解石和晚期铁白云石。根据碳酸盐胶结物的碳氧同位素特征分析认为早期碳酸盐胶结物是由过饱和的碱性湖水沉淀造成的，而晚期碳酸盐胶结物的形成与有机酸密切相关。研究区存在两类溶蚀作用，酸性溶蚀作用和碱性溶蚀作用，早期的酸性溶蚀作用主要是有机酸对长石、岩屑及早期碳酸盐胶结物的溶蚀，晚期的碱性溶蚀作用主要是发生于碱性环境下流体对石英及硅质胶结物的溶蚀。研究区发育有两期油气充注，早期发生于晚中新世，早期发生于晚中新世，早于中期碳酸盐胶结，晚于长石溶蚀和石英胶结充注，充注量较大，第四纪以来研究区发生了第二次充注，第二次充注发生于铁白云石胶结之后，此时储层已非常致密。     

Prediction of diagenetic facies using well logs – A case study from the upper Triassic Yanchang Formation,Ordos Basin,China

Understanding diagenetic heterogeneity in tight sandstone reservoirs is vital for hydrocarbon exploration. As a typical tight sandstone reservoir, the seventh unit of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin (Chang 7 unit), central China, is an important oil-producing interval. Results of helium porosity and permeability and petrographic assessment from thin sections, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence analysis demonstrate that the sandstones have encountered various diagenetic processes encompassing mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation by carbonate, quartz, clay minerals, and dissolution of feldspar and lithic fragments. The sandstones comprise silt-to medium-grained lithic arkoses to feldspathic litharenites and litharenites, which have low porosity (0.5%–13.6%, with an average of 6.8%) and low permeability (0.009 × 10⁻³ μm² to 1.818 × 10⁻³ μm², with an average of 0.106 × 10⁻³ μm²).This study suggests that diagenetic facies identified from petrographic observations can be up-scaled by correlation with wire-line log responses, which can facilitate prediction of reservoir quality at a field-scale. Four diagenetic facies are determined based on petrographic features including intensity of compaction, cement types and amounts, and degree of dissolution. Unstable and labile components of sandstones can be identified by low bulk density and low gamma ray log values, and those sandstones show the highest reservoir quality. Tightly compacted sandstones/siltstones, which tend to have high gamma ray readings and relatively high bulk density values, show the poorest reservoir quality. A model based on principal component analysis (PCA) is built and show better prediction of diagenetic facies than biplots of well logs. The model is validated by blind testing log-predicted diagenetic facies against petrographic features from core samples of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, which indicates it is a helpful predictive model.     

Reservoir characterization of Scollard-age fluvial sandstones,Alberta foredeep

A detailed laboratory study of 53 sandstone samples from 23 outcrops and 156 conventional core samples from the Maastrichtian-Paleocene Scollard-age fluvial strata in the Western Canada foredeep was undertaken to investigate the reservoir characteristics and to determine the effect of diagenesis on reservoir quality. The sandstones are predominantly litharenites and sublitharenites, which accumulated in a variety of fluvial environments. The porosity of the sandstones is both syn-depositional and diagenetic in origin. Laboratory analyses indicate that porosity in sandstones from outcrop samples with less than 5% calcite cement averages 14%, with a mean permeability of 16 mD. In contrast, sandstones with greater than 5% calcite cement average 7.9% porosity, with a mean permeability of 6.17 mD. The core porosity averages 17% with 41 mD permeability. Cementation coupled with compaction had an important effect in the destruction of porosity after sedimentation and burial. The reservoir quality of sandstones is also severely reduced where the pore-lining clays are abundant (>15%). The potential of a sandstone to serve as a reservoir for producible hydrocarbons is strongly related to the sandstone’s diagenetic history. Three diagenetic stages are identified: eodiagenesis before effective burial, mesodiagenesis during burial, and telodiagenesis during exposure after burial. Eodiagenesis resulted in mechanical compaction, calcite cementation, kaolinite and smectite formation, and dissolution of chemically unstable grains. Mesodiagenesis resulted in chemical compaction, precipitation of calcite cement, quartz overgrowths, and the formation of authigenic clays such as chlorite, dickite, and illite. Finally, telodiagenesis seems to have had less effect on reservoir properties, even though it resulted in the precipitation of some kaolinite and the partial dissolution of feldspar.     

The diagenetic history of Oligocene-Miocene sandstones of the Austrian north Alpine foreland basin

Diagenesis is an essential tool to reconstruct the development of reservoir rocks. Diagenetic processes - precipitation and dissolution - have an influence on pore space. The present paper aims to study the diagenetic history of deep-marine sandstones of the Austrian Alpine Foreland Basin. To reach that goal, sediment petrology and diagenetic features of more than 110 sandstone samples from water- and gas-bearing sections from gas fields within the Oligocene-Miocene Puchkirchen Group and Hall Formation has been investigated. Special emphasis was put on samples in the vicinity of the gas-water contact (GWC). The sediment petrography of sandstones of Puchkirchen Group and Hall Formation is similar; hence their diagenesis proceeded the same way. In fact, primary mineralogy was controlled by paleo-geography with increasing transport distance and diverse detrital input.Sediment petrographically, investigated sandstones from the water-bearing horizon seemed quite comparable to the gas-bearing sediments. In general, they can be classified as feldspatic litharenites to litharenites and display porosities of up to 30% and permeabilities of up to 1300 mD. The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of bulk carbonate cements from these sandstones range from−3.8 to +2.2 and from −7.5 to +0.2‰ [VPDB]. However, near the Gas-Water Contact (GWC) a horizon with low porosities (<3%) and permeabilities (<0.1 mD) is present. This zone is completely cemented with calcite, which has a blocky/homogenous morphology. A slight, but significant negative shift in δ18O isotopy (−2.5‰) is evident.During early diagenesis the first carbonate generations formed. First a fibrous calcite and afterwards a micritic calcite precipitated. Further siliciclastic minerals, such as quartz and feldspar (K-feldspar and minor plagioclase), exhibit corroded grains. Occasionally, clay minerals (illite; smectite, chlorite) formed as rims around detrital grains. Late diagenesis is indicated by the formation of a low permeable zone at the GWC.     

Depositional and Diagenetic History and Petroleum Geology of the Jurassic Norphlet Formation of the Alabama Coastal Waters Area and Adjacent Federal Waters Area

The discovery of deep (20,000 ft) gas reservoirs in eolian sandstone of the Upper Jurassic Norphlet Formation in Mobile Bay and offshore Alabama in the late 1970s represents one of the most significant hydrocarbon discoveries in the nation during the past several decades. Estimated original proved gas from Norphlet reservoirs in the Alabama coastal waters and adjacent federal waters is 7.462 trillion ft3 (Tcf) (75% recovery factor). Fifteen fields have been established in the offshore Alabama area. Norphlet sediment was deposited in an arid environment in alluvial fans, alluvial plains, and wadis in updip areas. In downdip areas, the Norphlet was deposited in a broad desert plain, with erg development in some areas. Marine transgression, near the end of Norphlet deposition, resulted in reworking of the upper part of the Norphlet Formation. Norphlet reservoir sandstone is arkose and subarkose, consisting of a simple assemblage of three minerals, quartz, albite, and K-feldspar. The present framework grain assemblage of the Norphlet is dominantly diagenetic, owing to albitization and dissolution of feldspar. Despite the simple framework composition, the diagenetic character of the Norphlet is complex. Important authigenic minerals include carbon ate phases (calcite, dolomite, Fe-dolomite, and breunnerite), feldspar (albite and K-feldspar), evaporite minerals (anhydrite and halite), clay minerals (illite and chlorite), quartz, and pyrobitumen. The abundance and distribution of these miner als varies significantly between onshore and offshore regions of Norphlet production. The lack of sufficient internal sources of components for authigenic minerals, combined with unusual chemical compositions of chlorite (Mg-rich), breunnerite, and some minor authigenic minerals, suggests that Louann-derived fluids influenced Norphlet diagenesis. In offshore Alabama reservoirs, porosity is dominantly modified primary poros ity. Preservation of porosity in deep Norphlet reservoirs is due to a combination of factors, including a lack of sources of cement components and lack of pervasive early cement, so that fluid-flow pathways remained open during burial. Below the dominantly quartz-cemented tight zone near the top of the Norphlet, pyrobitumen is a major contributor to reduction in reservoir quality in offshore Alabama. The highest reservoir quality occurs in those wells where the present gas water contact is below the paleohydrocarbon water contact. This zone of highest reservoir quality is between the lowermost occurrence of pyrobitumen and the present gas water contact.