Diagenesis of the palaeo-oil-water transition zone in a Lower Pennsylvanian carbonate reservoir: Constraints from cathodoluminescence microscopy,microthermometry, and isotope geochemistry

Oil-water transition zones in carbonate reservoirs represent important but rarely studied diagenetic environments that are now increasingly re-evaluated because of their potentially large effects on reservoir economics. Here, data from cathodoluminescence and fluorescence microscopy, isotope geochemistry, microthermometry, and X-ray tomography are combined to decipher the diagenetic history of a 5-m-long core interval comprising the oil-water transition zone in a Lower Pennsylvanian carbonate reservoir. The aim is to document the cementation dynamics prior, during, and after oil emplacement in its context of changing fluid parameters. Intergrain porosity mean values of 7% are present in the upper two sub-zones of the oil-water transitions zone but values sharply increase to a mean of 14% in the lower sub-zone grading into the water-saturated portions of the reservoir and a very similar pattern is observed for permeability values. In the top of the water-filled zone, cavernous porosity with mean values of about 24% is found. Carbonate cements formed from the earliest marine to the late burial stage. Five calcite (Ca-1 through 5) and one dolomite (Dol) phase are recognized with phase Ca-4b recording the onset of hydrocarbon migration. Carbon and oxygen cross-plots clearly delineate different paragenetic phases with Ca-4 representing the most depleted δ¹³C ratios with mean values of about −21‰. During the main phase of oil emplacement, arguably triggered by far-field Alpine tectonics, carbonate cementation was slowed down and eventually ceased in the presence of hydrocarbons and corrosive fluids with temperatures of 110–140 °C and a micro-hiatal surface formed in the paragenetic sequence. These observations support the “oil-inhibits-diagenesis” model. The presence an earlier corrosion surface between phase Ca-3 and 4 is best assigned to initial pulses of ascending corrosive fluids in advance of hydrocarbons. The short-lived nature of the oil migration event found here is rather uncommon when compared to other carbonate reservoirs. The study is relevant as it clearly documents the strengths of a combined petrographic and geochemical study in order to document the timing of oil migration in carbonate reservoirs and its related cementation dynamics.     

High-resolution characterization and integrated study of a reservoir formation: the danian carbonate platform in the Aquitaine Basin (France)

This paper provides an example of an integrated multi-scale study of a carbonate reservoir. The Danian Lower R2 carbonate reservoir is located in the South of the Aquitaine Basin (France) and represents a potential underground gas storage site for Gaz de France. The Danian Lower R2 reservoir was deposited as a prograding carbonate platform bordered by a reef barrier. The effects of sedimentary and diagenetic events on the reservoir properties, particularly dolomitization, were evaluated. In this study, the reservoir quality has been assessed by seismic analyses at the basin scale, by log-analysis at the reservoir scale, by petrographic methods and by petrophysical tools at the pore-core scale.Two dolomitization stages, separated by a compaction event with associated fracturing and stylolites, have been identified. These diagenetic events have significantly improved the Lower R2 carbonate reservoir properties. It is demonstrated that the reservoir quality is mainly controlled by the pore-geometry, which is determined by various diagenetic processes. The permeability values of the reservoir range over 4 orders of magnitude, from 0.1 to 5600 mD and the porosity values range between 2 and 42%. Reservoir unit 4 (a karstic dolomite) shows the best reservoir properties with average porosity values ranging between 11.1% and 19.3% and an average permeability ranging between 379 and 766 mD. Reservoir unit 2 (a fine-grained limestone) shows the worst reservoir properties. The cementation factors range from 1.68 to 2.48. The dolomitic crystal carbonate texture (mainly units 3 and 4) shows the highest value of the cementation factor (1.98–2.48) and formation factor (9.54–36.97), which is due to its high degree of cementation. The saturation exponents vary between 1.2 and 3.4. Using these experimental electrical parameters and the resistivity laterolog tool we predicted the water saturation in the various reservoir units. The permeability was predicted by combining the formation factor with the micro-geometric characteristic length. The best fit is obtained with the Katz and Thompson's model and for a constant of 1/171.     

鄂尔多斯盆地南部马家沟组孔隙类型及其演化

经数百片岩心薄片观察和扫描电镜分析认为,鄂尔多斯盆地南部马家沟组发育微缝、晶间缝、溶缝、破裂缝以及微孔、粒间孔、晶间孔、晶间溶孔、溶孔和溶洞等多种储集空间类型,其中晶间孔和晶间溶孔是主要的孔隙类型。在孔隙演化过程中白云石化、去膏化和溶蚀作用对形成孔隙有利,而胶结作用、岩溶压实作用、膏化作用及去白云石化作用使孔隙消失,为破坏性成岩作用。低重结晶及中等重结晶作用有利于孔隙的形成,但强重结晶作用不利于孔隙的形成。据盆地南部马家沟组碳酸盐岩经历的成岩环境、成岩阶段及相应成岩作用特征,将其孔隙演化分成早期原生孔隙形成与减少、中期和晚期次生孔隙形成及充填三个阶段。从演化过程来看,中期表生成岩阶段及晚期深埋藏成岩阶段对有效储集空间的最终形成具有决定意义。     

Authigenic clays in East Africa: Regional trends and paleolimnology at the Plio–Pleistocene boundary, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Ultrafine clays (<0.1 m) from six East African basins show wide chemical variability that can be conveniently described as the octahedral cation index (OCI), calculated as octahedral element ratio Mg/(Al+Fe). Values range from dioctahedral clays with OCI < 0.1 (upland soils/detrital sources) to trioctahedral clays with OCI > 4 (saline, alkaline lake deposits). The association of Mg-rich clays with saline, alkaline conditions provides a paleochemical proxy in sedimentary contexts. The octahedral chemistry of central-basin clays from paleolake Olduvai (1.79 Ma) records two lake expansions, with an intervening lake contraction, over 18,000 years. The initial lake expansion correlates well with the marine record of increased African humidity, but the subsequent drying episode does not, suggesting that some high-frequency environmental oscillations in East Africa may occur independent of obliquity and precession control. The clay record correlates well with the fossiliferous and archaeologically rich stratigraphy of the lake margin, and suggests that fossils and artifacts accumulated on the exposed lake margin over <4000 years. The chemistry of clays is a potentially powerful tool to add to multi-proxy studies in basins with alkaline waters, particularly in stratigraphic intervals that lack pollen, calcareous, or siliceous microfossils.     

Reef-capping laminites in the Upper Silurian carbonate- to-evaporite transition, Michigan Basin, south-western Ontario

Silurian pinnacle reefs in the subsurface of the south‐western Ontario portion of the Michigan Basin display a variety of laminated carbonates (laminites) within predominantly muddy reef‐capping facies in the upper part of the Guelph Formation and the overlying A‐1 Carbonate of the Salina Group. Laminites, which are limestone, dolomite or partially dolomitized limestones, have a range of morphologies, from simple planar to a variety of wavy and serrated forms. Individual laminae are composed mainly of micrite, microspar or replacive dolomite, and vary internally from isopachous and continuous over the diameter of the core to non‐isopachous and often discontinuous. Clotted and peloidal micrite, sometimes defining small knobs and chambers, is interpreted as being microbial in origin and occurs within all types of laminites. Fibrous cement locally comprises laminite clasts in breccias or coats clasts in breccias, and also occurs as spherulites in the interparticle spaces in breccias. Although similar laminites have been described from elsewhere in the Michigan Basin and interpreted as caliche, travertine and abiotic subtidal stromatolites, the laminites in south‐western Ontario are most realistically regarded as microbial. The causes for the variations in morphology and characteristics of the constituent laminae are uncertain, although fluctuations in local microenvironmental conditions would have been important, set against a backdrop of an increasingly restricted overall setting. Caliche or travertine origins for these laminites are unlikely in general, except perhaps locally at the subaerial exposure surface at the tops of pinnacle reefs.     

Morphology, mineralogy and magnetic susceptibility of epikarst-Terra Rossa developed in late Quaternary aeolianite deposits of southeastern Saurashtra, India

The nature and development of epikarst and soil development in aeolianites under a monsoonal climatic regime has not yet been described. Late Quaternary aeolianites of the southeastern coast of Saurashtra in western India show a wide array of epikarst and red-soil formation, and serve to typify the character of aeolianite weathering under a monsoonal climate. Three varieties of epikarst are identified that represent down-profile increase in groundwater flow. Five types of Terra Rossae represent a transition from the karstified limestone to soil development. Terra Rossae differ in the content of residual aeolianite and show both simple and complex profiles. The latter at places shows ped development. The results show that an ontogenetic (growth) sequence exists from incipient epikarst to complex palaeosols. This ontogenetic sequence represents an incremental increase in the groundwater budget of the region in response to changing intensification of the Indian monsoon rainfall. Magnetic properties of the Terra Rossae formed under a monsoonal climate are described for the first time. The magnetic susceptibility together with its frequency-dependent and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) represents both the concentration of single domain and ultrafine superparamagnetic (SP) magnetite. The formation of single domain and superparamagnetic magnetite and hematite are linked genetically to weathering of the aeolianite that leads to the formation of Terra Rossa.     

江汉盆地白垩系渔洋组砂岩的成岩作用及其热力学分析

江汉盆地白垩系渔洋组砂岩存在五种类型的成岩作用。其中,与油气运移有关并对储层孔隙演化产生重要影响的是硬石膏的胶结与交代作用和后期方解石再次胶结作用。为了更好的研究成岩作用发生的控制因素以及成岩环境的变化,我们通过细致的热力学推导,绘制出包含方解石、白云石和硬石膏等矿物相在内的五组分相图。通过相图分析可以看出,pH 值在成岩作用过程中有着重要的作用。方解石和白云石的胶结及交代作用代表了偏中性或碱性的成岩环境;而硬石膏的胶结及交代作用则表明成岩环境由中性或碱性向酸性转变,例如酸性的油气前锋流体的注入。另外,成岩环境中阳离子(Ca~(2 )、Mg~(2 ))和阴离子(CO_3~(2-)、SO_4~(2-))的浓度对方解石、白云石和硬石膏的胶结、溶解及交代作用也有重要影响。     

油气充注对成岩作用的影响

油气充注对成岩作用的影响有三个方面 :抑制石英和伊利石的胶结作用、油气中所有机酸对深部孔隙的溶蚀改造作用、油气超压对压实的缓冲作用。英国北海Miller油气藏等的资料显示 ,油气充注较早时 ,油区的石英胶结速率比水区的明显要低 ,石英的胶结丰度比一般预测值低 ,而孔隙度比一般的预测值要高。我国渤海湾盆地东营凹陷油田资料显示 ,无论浅部或深部 ,凡是含油砂岩 ,其长石类及碳酸盐类矿物的溶解都十分强烈 ,次生孔隙很发育 ,而不含油的砂岩 ,其矿物溶解及次生孔隙发育一般较差 ;油层的方解石、白云石含量一般比水层低 ,深层尤为明显。干酪根生成油气时的流体体积增加 ,可大大增加孔隙流体压力 ,产生超压 ,并可传递到储集层 ,因而大大增加对压实作用的抵抗能力。上述三方面实质上都为深部油气成藏改善了储层基础 ,对深部油气勘探具有非常现实的意义。     

莫索湾地区侏罗系三工河组储集层沉积及成岩作用特征

主要根据5口评价井，莫101、莫102、莫103、莫104、莫105井及盆5、盆6井的取心资料、电测曲线、综合录井资料以及地震资料分析研究，得出研究区侏罗系三工河组J1s2^2；地层的岩石学特征，认为储层的岩石类型为细中粒岩屑砂岩及不等粒岩屑砂岩，细粒岩屑砂岩少量．沉积相为三角洲前缘亚相，并指出它们在纵向上的沉积序列特征及砂体展布特征．通过大量的分析化验数据分析了成岩作用类型，划分了其成岩序列及成岩阶段．指出压实作用、粘土矿物及敏感性及软碎屑等因素不同程度的影响了储集层。     

Early and pervasive dolomitization by near-normal marine fluids: New lessons from an Eocene evaporative setting in Qatar

The upper Palaeocene–lower Eocene Umm er Radhuma Formation in the subsurface of Qatar is dominated by subtidal carbonate depositional packages overlain by bedded evaporites. In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, peritidal carbonate depositional sequences with intercalated evaporites and carbonates in Umm er Radhuma have been previously interpreted to have been dolomitized via downward reflux of hypersaline brines. Here, textural, mineralogical and geochemical data from three research cores in Qatar are presented which, in contrast, are more consistent with dolomitization by near-normal marine fluids. Petrographic relationships support a paragenetic sequence whereby dolomitization occurred prior to the formation of all other diagenetic mineral phases, including chert, pyrite, palygorskite, gypsum, calcite and chalcedony, which suggests that dolomitization occurred very early. The dolomites occur as finely crystalline mimetic dolomites, relatively coarse planar-e dolomites, and coarser nonplanar dolomites, all of which are near-stoichiometric (50.3 mol% MgCO₃) and well-ordered (0.73). The dolomite stable isotope values (range −2.5‰ to +1‰; mean δ¹⁸O = −0.52‰) and trace element concentrations (Sr = 40 to 150 ppm and Na = 100 to 600 ppm) are compatible with dolomitization by near-normal seawater or mesohaline fluids. Comparisons between δ¹⁸O values from Umm er Radhuma dolomite and the overlying Rus Formation gypsum further suggest that dolomitization did not occur in fluids related to Rus evaporites. This study provides an example of early dolomitization of evaporite-related carbonates by near-normal seawater rather than by refluxing hypersaline brines from overlying bedded evaporites. Further, it adds to recent work suggesting that dolomitization by near-normal marine fluids in evaporite-associated settings may be more widespread than previously recognized.