Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs and Controls of Reservoir Quality: A Case Study of He 8 Sandstones in the Linxing Area, Eastern Ordos Basin, China

Abstract

Determining the process of densification and tectonic evolution of tight sandstone can help to understand the distribution of reservoirs and find relatively high‐permeability areas. Based on integrated approaches of thin section, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cathode luminescence (CL), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N2 porosity and permeability, micro‐resistivity imaging log (MIL) and three‐dimensional seismic data analysis, this work discussed the reservoir characteristics of the member 8 of the Permian Xiashihezi Formation (He 8 sandstones) in the Linxing area of eastern Ordos Basin, determined the factors affecting reservoir quality, and revealed the formation mechanism of relatively high‐permeability areas. The results show that the He 8 sandstones in the Linxing area are mainly composed of feldspathic litharenites, and are typical tight sandstones (with porosity <10% and permeability <1 mD accounting for 80.3% of the total samples). Rapid burial is the main reason for reservoir densification, which resulted in 61% loss of the primary porosity. In this process, quartz protected the original porosity by resisting compaction. The cementation (including carbonate, clay mineral and siliceous cementation) further densified the sandstone reservoirs, reducing the primary porosity with an average value of 28%. The calcite formed in the eodiagenesis occupied intergranular pores and affected the formation of the secondary pores by preventing the later fluid intrusion, and the Fe‐calcite formed in the mesodiagenetic stage densified the sandstones further by filling the residual intergranular pores. The clay minerals show negative effects on reservoir quality, however, the chlorite coatings protected the original porosity by preventing the overgrowth of quartz. The dissolution of feldspars provides extensive intergranular pores which constitute the main pore type, and improves the reservoir quality. The tectonic movements play an important role in improving the reservoir quality. The current tectonic traces of the study area are mainly controlled by the Himalayan movement, and the high‐permeability reservoirs are mainly distributed in the anticline areas. Additionally, the improvement degree (by tectonic movements) of reservoir quality is partly controlled by the original composition of the sandstones. Thus, the selection of potential tight gas well locations in the study area should be focused on the anticline areas with relatively good original reservoir quality. And the phenomena can be referenced for other fluvial tight sandstone basins worldwide.