Microfacies and reservoir quality of the Middle Cretaceous Rumaila Formation in the AD oilfield, central Mesopotamian Basin, southern Iraq

Abstract

• Ten carbonate microfacies deposited in five sedimentary facies belts are identified in the Rumaila Formation. • Rapid sedimentary facies changes were organized into three RST and two TST caused by frequent relative sea-level changes. • Reservoir quality is related with carbonate microfacies types. • Differential early diagenesis causes distinct contrasts of pore evolution for the same primary rock texture. • Reservoir quality of the Rumaila is jointly controlled by sedimentary facies variation and differential early diagenesis. The Middle Cretaceous Rumaila Formation comprises a thick carbonate succession and forms an important reservoir unit in the Central Mesopotamian Basin. Microfacies analysis was performed based on the cores and thin sections observations to investigate the sedimentary and diagenesis evolution, and physical properties and mercury injection capillary pressure measurements were conducted to evaluate the reservoir quality. Ten microfacies types are identified showing that Rumaila carbonates deposited in five sedimentary facies belts: (i) platform-margin rudist shoals, (ii) platform interior grain shoals, (iii) platform interior inter-shoal, (iv) slope & toe-of-slope, and (v) deep shelf. These facies are organized into three regressive systems tracts and two transgressive systems tracts. Microfacies types present prominent vertical variations but are relatively stable in lateral extension, revealing a wide carbonate shelf sedimentary environment with frequent fluctuations of relative sea-levels. There is a good correlation between microfacies types and reservoir quality, ten microfacies types are classified as three classes with distinct reservoir quality. Thereinto, the microfacies rudist grainstone, bioclastic peloidal grainstone and worn rudist grainstone bear the best reservoir quality. The Rumaila Formation provides a typical case that reservoir quality and reservoir heterogeneity are jointly controlled by sedimentary facies variation caused by frequent relative sea-level changes, and differential early diagenesis. The frequent changes of relative sea-levels lead to the rapid changes of sedimentary facies (rock texture) and the frequently stacking of limestones with different primary porosity. Differential early diagenesis resulted in distinct contrasts of pore evolution for the same rock textures, which further enhance reservoir heterogeneity and also illustrate the destruction of cements on reservoir quality. This study provides an insight into reservoir quality prediction in the study area and other carbonate reservoirs undergone similar sedimentation and diagenesis process.