A Natural Gamma Spectrometry approach to derive clay mineral composition and depositional environment of a reservoir facies in Ramnad sub-basin,Cauvery basin,southern India

The Ramnad sub-basin is one of the most explored for hydrocarbons in Cauvery basin. A number of exploratory wells have been drilled to delineate hydrocarbon bearing horizons. Nannilam Formation of Santonian–Campanian age hosts considerable thickness of reservoir facies. The reservoir facies is mainly clastics such as sandstone and siltstone with lot of clay content. In addition to normal logs, the NGS (Natural Gamma Ray Spectrometry) logs are widely employed to estimate sediment composition and broad depositional environment of reservoir facies. The present study employs and analyses NGS logs of four well sections from Kanjirangudi area of Ramnad sub-basin to determine the clay mineral composition and depositional environment of Nannilam Formation. Thorium (Th), potassium (K) and uranium (U) concentrations and their interrelationships reveal that montmorillonite, illite and kaolinite are the dominant clay minerals. The clay mineral composition suggests that the sediments of the Nannilam Formation were derived from a provenance of acid igneous rocks during warm, humid and tropical conditions. Also, the ratios of Th/K indicate a deep open marine condition under which the sediments of the Nannilam Formation were deposited. These results would aid a better understanding and characterization of reservoir facies in the sub-basin.