Differential diagenetic evolution and hydrocarbon charging of the tight limestone reservoir of the Da’anzhai Member in the central Sichuan Basin, China

Abstract

The tight lacustrine carbonate reservoir of the Da’anzhai Member, Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation, in the central Sichuan Basin is a typical tight oil reservoir, and it is one of the crucial petroleum exploration targets in the Sichuan Basin. The porosity of the limestone ranges from 0.5% to 2%, and the permeability ranges from 0.001 to 1 mD. The Da’anzhai limestone experienced multiple diageneses, including compaction, cementation, dissolution, and recrystallization. Different diageneses occurred in the burial process due to the various fabrics and depositional environments, eventually forming distinct rock types; therefore, the pore evolution and hydrocarbon charging characteristics are inconsistent. In our research, there are two stages of major maturation and hydrocarbon expulsion in the source rocks of the Da’anzhai Member. The first large-scale expulsion of hydrocarbon is oil-based and gas-supplemented, whereas the second expulsion is dominated by gas. Hydrocarbon-filling characteristics are different in different types of reservoir rocks. Compared with the bioclastic grainstone and crystalline limestone, we have considered that the argillaceous shell packstone and bioclastic packstone deposited in the shallow and semideep lake environment still contain residual intergranular pores, which have not become fully compacted and are partly filled with hydrocarbons. The presence of hydrocarbon fluid hindered the secondary porosity reduction and was helpful for reserve space preservation.