Facies, petrophysical and geochemical properties of gravity-flow deposits in reservoir analogs from the Itararé Group (late Carboniferous), Paraná Basin, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Since many reservoirs do not allow direct observation due to their depth and/or difficulty of sampling, studies of analogs have been commonly used as a tool to understand the spatial distribution of reservoir properties. The Parana Basin is 1.6 million km2 large and has two known petroleum systems. However, there are only 124 irregularly distributed wells drilled in the basin, among which 22 contain gas or oil shows and 10 have sub commercial accumulations. The Permo-Carboniferous Itarare Group, due to the exploration history, is the best exploratory target in the basin because it has thick intervals of sandstones with moderate to good reservoir quality and also because it often lies directly on gas-prone source rocks of the Devonian Ponta Grossa Formation. In order to increase knowledge about Itarare Group reservoirs, as well as to better understand its heterogeneities, this study aims to integrate petrophysical data with facies and facies associations using both outcrop and cores from shallow wells in southeastern Parana Basin. By doing this it is expected to fill a gap of quantitative data in previous studies on reservoir analogs in the Itarare Group. Cores and outcrops were analyzed in sandstones in order to integrate surface and subsurface data, and to understand the lateral continuity according to stratigraphic correlations. Equipment such as gamma-ray spectrometer, portable x-ray fluorescence, and a minipermeameter were used for the acquisition of quantitative data. Sedimentological description of cores and outcrops as well as thin section description were also carried out. The facies with the greatest reservoir potential are medium to fine-grained, massive (Sm) and normally-graded (Sg) sandstones. In one outcrop locality (Rio dos Cedros), the Sg facies presents the best reservoir properties such as secondary porosity of 32% and average permeability of 1439 mD. The geochemical data allowed evaluating the gamma-ray variation in relation to chemical elements, such as iron oxide. In outcrop, API radiation is higher in relation to the cores, as well as Al2O3 and Fe2O3. These values are related to the large amount of intraclasts and cementation by iron oxides-hydroxides. Despite in the great amount of iron presents in the Rio dos Cedros samples, the porosity is mainly secondary, generated by the feldspars dissolution. The correlation between the cores and outcrops allowed the evaluation of the influences of mass transport deposits in the petrophysical properties of sandstones. In cores, sandstones interbedded with these deposits have high permeability, but it is not possible to evaluate its lateral continuity. In outcrops it was possible to observe that these deposits affect lateral continuity, permeability and porosity. We conclude that the best reservoir facies in the Itarare Group will be associated with sites within the basin that are away from the slope region and the influence of mass-transport processes.