Reprint of: Diagenetic controls on evolution of porosity and permeability in lower Tertiary Wilcox sandstones from shallow to ultradeep (200–6700 m) burial,Gulf of Mexico Basin,U.S.A.

Reservoir quality is a critical risk factor in deep to ultradeep reservoirs at depths >4.5 km. Analysis of Paleogene Wilcox sandstones on the upper Texas Gulf Coast provides insight into the evolution of reservoir quality during shallow to ultradeep burial diagenesis. Reduction of porosity and permeability with burial in Wilcox sandstones was evaluated using subsurface samples from 200 to 6700 m, at temperatures of 25–230 °C. Diagenesis and petrophysical properties were interpreted from petrographic data and core analyses. Wilcox sandstones are mostly lithic arkoses and feldspathic litharenites having an average composition of Q₅₉F₂₂R₁₉. Provenance did not change significantly during Wilcox deposition in this area, nor does average sandstone composition vary among lower, middle, and upper Wilcox sandstones. However, composition does vary with sequence-stratigraphic position; lowstand slope-fan deposits contain more rock fragments than do deposits from highstand or transgressive systems tracts. Given observations from this onshore dataset, Wilcox sandstones deposited in deepwater environments in the Gulf of Mexico are likely to contain more rock fragments than their linked highstand equivalents.     

Fossilisation of a silica diagenesis reaction front on the mid-Norwegian margin

The diagenetic transformation of biogenic silica from opal-A to opal-CT was recognised on seismic reflection data over an area of 78 × 10³ km² on the mid-Norwegian margin. The opal-A/CT diagenetic boundary appears as a positive, high amplitude reflection that generally cross-cuts the hosting stratigraphy. We demonstrate that it is not a sea bottom simulating reflection (BSR) and also that is not in thermal equilibrium with the present day isotherms. We present arguments that three styles of deformation associated with the opal-A/CT reflection – polygonal faulting, regional anticlines and synclines and differential compaction folding – indicate that the silica diagenesis reaction front is fossilised at a regional scale. Isochore maps demonstrate the degree of conformity between the opal-A/CT reflection and three seismic horizons of Late Miocene to Early Pliocene age that potentially represent the paleo-seabed when ‘fossilisation’ of the reaction front took place. The seismic interpretational criteria for recognition of a fossilised diagenetic front are evaluated and the results of our study are integrated with previous studies from other basins of the NE Atlantic in order to determine if the arrest of silica diagenesis was diachronous along this continental margin.     

平湖油气田低渗透储层测井评价研究

平湖油气田P11储层开发是平湖油气田增储提产的重要目标,也是当前平湖油气田开发面临的难题之一。由于埋藏深,储层物性条件差,试油自然产能低下,储层流体性质复杂,气油比低,凝析油含量高,密度大,储层温度高,压力系数高,给测井解释和评价带来很大困难,对开发方案的实施提出了挑战。根据岩心分析资料,从成岩作用、沉积作用等方面对平湖组放鹤亭P11储层低渗原因进行了分析;对P11储层的测井响应特征进行了总结,对P11储层＂四性＂关系、孔隙度结构进行剖析,对储层孔隙度、渗透率、饱和度等参数进行了研究,得到一套适合P11储层测井解释评价的方法,为P11储层的开发提供参数依据和测井解释服务。     

SHRIMP U–Pb geochronology of authigenic xenotime and its potential for dating sedimentary basins

SHRIMP (Sensitive High‐Resolution Ion MicroProbe) analytical procedures have been developed to enable dating of the small, early diagenetic xenotime overgrowths that commonly occur on zircons in siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. The method will be particularly useful in Precambrian terranes, where diagenetic xenotime dating could play a role equivalent to biostratigraphic dating in the Phanerozoic. Reliable ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb data are more readily obtained than ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U, which also favours application to the Precambrian. However, it is demonstrated that ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U dating of larger overgrowths (>10 μm) is also viable and applicable to Phanerozoic samples. SHRIMP Pb/Pb geochronology of authigenic xenotime in an unmetamorphosed Palaeoproterozoic sandstone in the Kimberley Basin has constrained diagenesis to a precision of ± 7 Ma. In contrast, greenschist‐facies metasediments of the Archaean Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, contain both authigenic and alteration xenotime that record a complex history of growth from early diagenesis to the last major thermal event to affect the basin.     

Interaction of glucose and cellulose with hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides

This paper describes simulation experiments in which glucose and cellulose were reacted with polysulphide and hydrogen sulphide at ambient temperatures in an aqueous environment. Organic sulphur containing compounds were formed that yield several thiophenes upon pyrolysis/evaporation. The experiments show that interaction of carbohydrates with hydrogen sulphide or polysulphides is a possible way for carbohydrates to react in very recent sediments. From the results of this study it can be concluded that carbohydrate carbon can be preserved in sediments in a form that is resistant to microbial attack and that will have a greater potential for survival during diagenesis than the carbohydrate precursor.     

Non-aromatic biomarkers associated with a Palaeogene salt formation (Bresse, France)

This study provides information on non-aromatic hydrocarbons contained in thick Palaeogene halite sequences in the Bresse region (France). The presence of almost uniquely biological markers and the absence of thermogenic compounds denote the low maturity of the corresponding samples consistent with Rock-Eval pyrolysis data. The distribution of n-alkanes enables the distinction of three main biological signatures: algal (mode in nC17–nC18); terrestrial (mode in nC29–nC31) and bacterial (mode in nC25–nC26 with no odd-even carbon number predominance). As to the cyclic biomarkers, hopanes and hopenes are largely predominant over steranes and diasterenes in samples having received appreciable amounts of terrestrial inputs (Type B) and conversely for the samples containing high proportions of algal debris (Type A, Type C).     

Steroid and triterpenoid distributions in bransfield strait sediments: Hydrothermally-enhanced diagenetic transformations

Recent sediments from Bransfield Strait, Antarctica have been analyzed for triterpenoid and steroid hydrocarbons, sterols and steroid ketones to consider the effects of hydrothermal fluids on the sedimentary organic matter. The steroid distributions in unaltered and altered sediments are controlled more by inputs from source organisms than by the effects of hydrothermal activity, which is suggested to be limited to low temperature alteration. Nevertheless, chemical reactions occurred in altered sediments and include dehydration of sterols to sterenes, isomerization of triterpenes and sterenes, rearrangement of sterenes to diasterenes and reductive processes leading to generation of phytane from phytol via phytenes.     

米仓山碱性岩中的主要矿物研究及其成因信息

米仓山碱性岩中的主要矿物为富铝的(次硅)铝铁质透辉石、钙质角闪石、霞石等,且大量出现霞石,但无或极少有碱性暗色矿物。研究表明:氧逸度低是碱性岩浆不能结晶出碱性暗色矿物的原因。本区这种无碱性暗色矿物的碱性岩是在封闭体系及深成条件下结晶的,而其它地区含有碱性暗色矿物的岩石则是在开放体系中形成的。     

内蒙古中部二叠纪碱性花岗岩及其地球动力学意义

西伯利亚板块南缘白音乌拉－东乌珠穆沁旗带的碱性花岗岩（Ｒｂ－Ｓｒ年龄２７６－２８６Ｍａ）生成于张性的构造环境，较西伯亚板块同中朝板块之间晚泥盆世－早石炭世的碰撞事件晚约６０Ｍａ，属于造山后的Ａ型花岗岩，可作为造山作用结束的标志。但在中朝板块北缘晚石炭世－二叠纪只发育钙碱性的晚造山花岗岩，直到三叠纪才出现碱性正长岩。相邻两大板块边缘之间岩浆活动的非对称性可能是受板块间面积和质量差别的制约。     

Identification and occurrence of novel C36–C54 3,4-dialkylthiophenes with an unusual carbon skeleton in immature sediments

A series of novel long-chain 3,4-dialkylthiophenes (C₃₆–C₅₄) was identified in a number of sediments ranging from Pleistocene to Cretaceous. The identifications were based on mass spectral characterisation, desulphurisation and mass spectral data of synthesised model compounds. These organic sulphur compounds are probably formed by sulphur incorporation into mid-chain dimethylalkadienes with two methylenic double bonds. These putative precursor lipids are unprecedented and may be considered rather unusual. The distribution of 3,4-dialkylthiophenes in sediments varies considerably with the depositional palaeoenvironment, indicating that these compounds have a potential as molecular markers reflecting changes in palaeoenvironment.