Origin of crystal dolomite and its reservoir formation mechanism in the Xixiangchi Formation, Upper Cambrian in Southeastern Sichuan basin

Abstract

This paper takes the thick and widely distributed crystal dolomite of Xixiangchi Formation, Upper Cambrian in Southeastern Sichuan basin as an example, the reservoir characteristics and main controlling factors of crystal dolomite have been analyzed systematically, and the genesis and reservoir formation mechanism of crystal dolomite have been discussed. It shows that the main reservoir rocks of crystal dolomite include powder crystalline dolomite and finely crystalline dolomites, and the intercrystal pores and dissolved intercrystal pores are the main reservoir spaces, with few dissolved vugs and fractures developed in the reservoir. The pore structure analysis shows that the throats of crystal dolomite reservoir are mainly lamellar, reflecting a good configuration between pores and throats, medium- low porosity and low permeability, representing typical porous-type reservoir. Dolomitization analysis indicates that the dolomitization occurred in the penecontemporaneous or early diagenetic stage. The degree of dolomitization decreased gradually from the top to the bottom in each sedimentary cycle, and distribution of dolomite in the study area shows that the content of dolomites decreases from the west to the east, which reflects the degree of dolomitization weakening eastward. Combined with the geochemical research of crystal dolomite, the C and O isotope data reflect the same characteristics of seawater during the late Cambrian. It indicates that the dolomitization might be related to the seepage-reflux of seawater in the early time. Recrystallization played an important role in the genesis of the crystal dolomite, because most of crystal dolomites remain residual granular texture. The intercrystal pores formed by seepage–reflux dolomitization acted as superior seepage channels for the reservoir transformation, and the recrystallization adjusted the previous pores and made them better, while the karstification was the key to the dissolved pore formation.