Late Carbonate Cements Research Articles

Geological conditions and controls on accumulation of tight sandstone gas, deep part of the Shengbei sub-sag, Turpan-Hami basin, NW China

With the further exploration of the Jurassic strata in the Turpan-Hami Basin, the targets for hydrocarbon exploration have been gradually shifted from the tectonic belts around sags to the proximal lithological zones of deep sags. Based on the systematic coring of the first exploration well (well Qintan-1) in the center Shengbei sub-sag, this study conducted experiments of organic carbon, pyrolysis, gas chromatography (GC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. Then, this study systematically analyzed the geological conditions and major controlling factors for the accumulation of tight sandstone gas in the deep part of the Shengbei sub-sag. The results show that: (1) Multiple sets of coal-measure source rocks have developed in the Jurassic strata in the center Shengbei sub-sag, providing plenty of gas sources for multilayered hydrocarbon accumulation; (2) Tight sandstones have poor physical properties and complex pore structures. However, high-permeability zones and anomalous zones of nano-scale pores have developed in the deep part, providing favorable spaces for the accumulation and preservation of tight oil and gas in the deep part; (3) Compaction and late carbonate cementation are key factors in reservoir densification. The microscopic storage space and connectivity of the tight sandstone reservoirs in the Shengbei sub-sag were improved due to the dissolution of fluids in coal measure strata. The occurrence of high-quality reservoirs in the Shengbei sub-sag is significantly controlled by source rocks, and both the former and the latter are characterized by adjacent sources and reservoirs and short-distance migration and accumulation. Furthermore, the special geological phenomena of chert cementation, abnormally high homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions, and abnormal pyrolysis parameters confirm the presence of low-temperature hydrothermal activity in the deep part of the target strata. Therefore, the center Shengbei sub-sag has geological conditions for the large-scale accumulation of primary gas and, thus, is a key area for future hydrocarbon exploration.

Evaluating the sedimentological and diagenetic impacts on terrestrial lacustrine fan delta sandy conglomerates reservoir quality: Insights from the Triassic Baikouquan Formation in the Mahu sag, Junggar Basin, Western China

The terrestrial lacustrine fan delta conglomerate reservoirs in the Triassic Baikouquan Formation (BF) are the primary hydrocarbon exploration targets in the Mahu sag, Junggar Basin, Western China. However, the varying lithofacies and complex diagenesis controlling the reservoir quality remain poorly understood. For the sake of revealing how reservoir quality is associated with sedimentary processes and diagenetic alterations, we used integrated approaches like petrographical analysis, cores description, wireline, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP) and measured petrophysical properties. The results showed that sedimentary processes have considerable control over facies distribution, grain size, and clay content, causing spatial variation of reservoir quality within the fan delta deposits. The coarser grain and high clay content fraction at the base of gravity flow will first settle in the fan delta plain near provenance, whereas the finer grains at the top of flows progressively deposit in the fan delta front areas. From proximal to distal fan delta, a progressive conversion from cohesive muddy debris flow into traction current can be inferred from the variations of lithofacies associations. A total of 8 types of microfacies were identified where the conglomerates of the BF were deposited. The grayish-green fine-grained conglomerates concentrated in the subaqueous distributary channels provide the best reservoir performance, whereas debris flow deposits dominated primarily by muddy debrites occupy the worst reservoir quality because of their highest clay content and coarsest grain size.The dominant diagenetic events include mechanical compaction that continued throughout the entire burial, two phases of quartz cementation, dissolution of unstable components, early and late carbonate cementation, precipitation of authigenic clay minerals, and two phases of hydrocarbon charging. It is unveiled that compaction is the predominant mechanism negatively affecting reservoir quality in the fan delta complex, while the effect of cementation on pore reduction of the conglomerate reservoir is weaker than compaction. Simultaneously, a complex relationship exists between reservoir petrophysical properties within different clay minerals. Dissolution does not significantly improve the permeability of the reservoir because of the partial dissolution which primarily generated intragranular pores with strong heterogeneity and poor connectivity. The most favorable reservoirs occur primarily in the subaqueous distributary channels in the fan delta front, which comprise well-sorted fine-grained conglomerates with well-developed residual intergranular pores and secondary dissolution pores and have undergone two phases of oil charge. This work may provide a useful reference for hydrocarbon exploration of the fan delta systems and regions which have encountered similar sedimentary and diagenetic processes.

Characteristics, diagenetic evolution, and controlling factors of the Es1 deep burial high‐quality sandstone reservoirs in the PG2 oilfield, Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Significant achievements have been reported for deep oil and gas exploration in the Bohai Bay Basin. Among them, the Nanpu Sag has achieved good deep (greater than 3.5 km) hydrocarbon exploration results. However, the hydrocarbon formation mechanisms and the diagenetic evolution of these high‐quality sandstone reservoirs remain unclear. Mineralogical, petrographic, and fluid inclusion data were selected to investigate the deeply buried sandstone reservoir physical properties, pore systems, and diagenetic features and the main formation mechanisms of the deep high‐quality reservoirs of the Es1 (the top member of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation) sandstones in the Nanpu Sag, eastern China. The results show that the Es1 sandstone reservoirs are dominated by lithic arkoses and have low porosities (average porosity 13.4%) but medium to high permeability (average permeability 188 mD). The pore systems consist of primary intergranular pores, secondary dissolution pores, and microfractures. Loss of porosity is greater due to compaction (average 20.89%) than due to cementation (average 4.82%), and dissolution contributes an improvement in porosity of approximately 5.85%. Two peaks in the inclusion homogenization temperatures were observed: The first fluid inclusion homogenization temperature term ranges from 130°C to 145°C and exhibits yellow fluorescence; the other peak occurs from 155°C to 165°C, showing green fluorescence. Eodiagenesis is due to mechanical compaction, precipitation of early calcite cements and quartz overgrowths, and dissolution of feldspar and carbonate cements. Mesodiagenesis occurs due to mechanical compaction, framework grain (mainly feldspar) dissolution, and precipitation of quartz and late carbonate cements. The main factors controlling the formation of the deep high‐quality reservoirs are the presence of a high hydrodynamic depositional environment (subaqueous distributary channel), the type of provenance (Archean granites), and the creation of secondary porosity by feldspar dissolution.

Reservoir descriptions of the K\xf6m\xfcrl\xfc and Penek Formations near Erzurum, East Anatolia, Turkey

In the work presented here, core and cutting samples from a single well were studied with the aim of understanding the diagenesis and reservoir properties of the Kömürlü and Penek Formation sandstones in the Aşkale sub-basin in East Anatolia. Based on petrological and hydrocarbon saturation analyses [attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy] of the samples, we discuss the relationships between diagenetic alterations and reservoir quality. The diagenetic alterations include quartz, feldspar overgrowth, calcite, smectite, chlorite, mixed-layer illite–smectite, mixed-layer chlorite–smectite, illite, kaolinite, and pyrite. After the diagenetic mineral phases formed, secondary porosity formed via dissolution of late carbonate cement in these sandstones. Diagenesis in the Kömürlü and Penek Formation sandstones commonly destroyed much of the original intergranular porosity, dissolved grains, and produced clay-filled pores. The pore throats typically range in size from 1 to 5 µm and represent only a small portion of the total porosity. This study is the first attempt to make petrophysical data available from the well logs of the reservoir sandstones (Kömürlü and Penek Formations) in the Aşkale sub-basin of the East Anatolia Basin. The results of this study will clarify the characterization of the reservoir sandstones.

Diagenetic fluids evolution of Oligocene Huagang Formation sandstone reservoir in the south of Xihu Sag, the East China Sea Shelf Basin: constraints from petrology, mineralogy, and isotope geochemistry

The Oligocene Huagang Formation is the main sandstone reservoir in the Xihu Sag, situated in the east of the East China Sea Shelf Basin. With an integrated approach of thin-section petrography, ultra-violet fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and isotope geochemistry, the different diagenetic features were identified, the typical diagenetic parasequences were established, and the diagenetic fluids evolution history were reconstructed for the Oligocene Huagang Formation sandstone reservoir in the south of Xihu Sag. The Huagang Formation sandstone reservoir is now in Period B of the mesodiagenesis, which has undergone significant diagenetic alterations such as mechanical compaction, Pore-lining chlorite cement, feldspar dissolution, quartz cementation and dissolution, and carbonate cementation. Three types of carbonate cements (early siderite, medium ferrocalcite and late ankerite) were identified in the Huagang Formation sandstone reservoir. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of carbonate cements show that the early calcite precipitate from alkaline lacustrine environment whereas the late carbonate cements were closely related to the organic acids. To the Huagang Formation sandstone reservoir, it has experienced two main episodes of dissolution during diagenesis. The early dissolution is that unstable components such as feldspar, lithic fragments, and carbonate cement were dissolved by acidic water. The second dissolution is that quartz and other silicate minerals were dissolved under the alkaline condition. Two main phases of hydrocarbon charging occurred in this study area. The first hydrocarbon emplacement was prior to the medium carbonate cementation but posterior to feldspar dissolution and the onset of quartz cementation at the end of the Miocene. The second hydrocarbon charging occurred in the Quaternary period after the late carbonate precipitation.

Diagenesis and reservoir characteristics analysis of the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation tight gas sandstone in the northern Sichuan Basin, China

The Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation is a key target for tight gas in the northern Sichuan Basin. Thin section, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, porosity and permeability analyses have been performed to delineate the diagenesis and reservoir characteristics of Xujiahe sandstone. The results show that the Xujiahe Formation contains feldspathic litharenite, litharenite, sublitharenite and quartzarenite sandstone. Sandstones of the Xujiahe Formation are characterized by low feldspar content and both secondary and micro-fracture porosity. Porosity and permeability analyses of 185 core samples show a broad but low porosity range from 0.79 to 10.43% (average 4.55%) and wide but low permeability range (0.0021–26.001 mD, average 0.449 mD). The higher permeabilities result from micro-fracturing. Strong mechanical compaction plays a more important role in reducing primary porosity of sandstone than cementation during eodiagenesis. Carbonate cement is detrimental to reservoir porosity. Early carbonate cement precipitated from depositional water during eodiagenesis can block primary pores while late carbonate cement formed during mesodiagenesis can fill secondary pores. Quartz cement shows a slight relationship with porosity and permeability. There is a positive relationship between grain-coating chlorite and porosity and permeability. The effect of diagenesis on the reservoir quality of Xujiahe tight gas sandstone is greater that depositional environment during deep burial.

Genetic mechanism of high-quality reservoirs in Permian tight fan delta conglomerates at the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin, northwestern China

Fan delta conglomerate reservoirs in the Permian Jiamuhe Formation in the Zhongguai area at the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin, northwestern China, are reservoirs for large accumulations of natural tight gas. The tight conglomerates and sandstones are mainly litharenites with a large amount of texturally and compositionally immature volcanic clastic materials. Core porosities demonstrate the development of anomalously high porosities at depths of 3200–4200 m (10,500–13,800 ft) and 4500–4900 m (14,800–16,100 ft). The Permian reservoirs experienced initial rapid subsidence, uplift, and further subsidence, and diagenetic reactions occurred in these reservoirs involving compaction; precipitation of chlorite clays, calcites, zeolites, iron oxides, kaolinite, and quartz cements; and dissolution of unstable minerals including analcite, laumontite, feldspars, and rock fragments. Low-porosity reservoirs, with extensive compaction and (or) cementation of calcite and heulandite-Ca, consist of only few visible secondary pores formed by dissolution of feldspars and rock fragments. Reservoirs with anomalously high porosity, however, experienced relatively weak compaction and contain significant amounts of secondary pores formed by dissolution of mainly laumontites, some feldspars, and rock fragments. Comprehensive studies of sedimentary features and diagenesis of the reservoirs indicate that these anomalously high porosities originate from chronological coupling of four important geological processes. (1) Sedimentary facies and detrital compositions controlled distribution of various zeolites in reservoirs, with abundant laumonites developed in reservoirs in the fan delta front subfacies. (2) Early precipitation of the laumontites inhibited compaction during deep burial; however, they provided unstable minerals for secondary porosity development. (3) The Permian reservoirs experienced subaerial exposure erosion during the uplift stage, and meteoric freshwater leached laumontite cements and aluminosilicate grains to form secondary pores in reservoirs beneath the unconformity. (4) Hydrocarbon emplacement at relative shallow depth during a second subsidence period preserved the secondary pores in reservoirs by retarding late carbonate cementation.

Diagenesis and reservoir quality in tight gas sandstones: The fourth member of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Central Sichuan Basin, Southwest China

Mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical analyses were performed to investigate the sandstone composition and texture, pore system, and diagenetic minerals of Upper Triassic sandstones in the Central Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. The results show that authigenic quartz, clay minerals, and carbonates are the main pore‐filling constituents. The pore systems consist of intergranular porosity, secondary porosity, microporosity, and microfractures. Loss of depositional porosity is greater due to compaction than to cementation. Eodiagenesis includes mechanical compaction, precipitation of early calcite cements, kaolinite, and smectite, and leaching of feldspars by meteoric water. Mesodiagenesis consists of compaction, framework grain dissolution, and subsequent precipitation of illite, quartz, and late carbonate cements. Six lithofacies were identified on the basis of petrographic analyses, namely, (a) argillaceous sandstones; (b) poorly sorted sandstones; (c) quartz‐cemented sandstones; (d) carbonate‐cemented sandstones; (e) clay‐mineral‐cemented sandstones, and (f) clean sandstones with abundant secondary porosity. The best reservoir‐quality rocks have high percentages of detrital quartz but low percentages of matrix, quartz, and carbonate cement. Differences in textural and compositional attributes of various lithofacies significantly affect porosity‐depth trends. The diagenetic evolution pathways and reservoir‐quality prediction models of various lithofacies are reconstructed by integrated petrographic data. This work provides insights into describing the different lithofacies by petrographic analysis and helps to investigate how detrital composition and texture influence the diagenesis and reservoir quality evolution in tight gas sandstones.

Diagenesis, plagioclase dissolution and preservation of porosity in Eocene and Oligocene sandstones at the Greeley oil field, southern San Joaquin basin, California, USA

Abstract The Vedder (Oligocene) and Kreyenhagen (Eocene) sandstones at the Greeley oil field consist of arkosic to subarkosic arenites and wackes deposited in shallow marine environments. Burial depths of the Vedder sandstones exceed 3150 m and the reservoir temperature is 124°C. The Kreyenhagen sandstones are buried to greater than 3920 m and the reservoir temperature is estimated to be c. 135°C. These sandstones are currently at or very near their deepest burial depths. The textural relationships of the diagenetic minerals suggest syndepositional formation of glauconite, phosphate and pyrite, followed by early precipitation of pore-lining clay coatings and carbonate cements along with framework-grain fracturing and possibly dissolution. With increasing burial, dissolution of the framework grains continued, accompanied by the albitization of feldspars, the formation of K-feldspar and quartz overgrowths, the precipitation of kaolinite and other clays and possibly the precipitation of late carbonate cements. Finally, hydrocarbon migration and the formation of pyrite occurred during late diagenesis. Porosity preservation and reservoir quality are primarily the result of plagioclase dissolution occurring as the strata approached their current burial depths. Mass balance calculations indicate the significant export of aluminium out of the sands. Thus secondary porosity produced by plagioclase dissolution has replaced the primary porosity destroyed by compaction, and now accounts for the majority of the porosity in these rocks.

Facies controls on the distribution of diagenetic alterations in fan delta deposits: a case study from the Lower Cretaceous sandstone, Chagan Sag, Inner Mongolia, China

AbstractBy integrating diagenesis and sedimentary facies, the distribution of diagenetic alterations and their impacts on reservoir quality were investigated within a lacustrine fan delta depositional environment in the Lower Cretaceous of the Western sub‐sag in the Chagan Sag, Yin‐E Basin, northern China. Core observation and analyses of petrography and geochemistry of the sandstones revealed that the eogenetic alterations display spatial and temporal distribution patterns associated with sedimentary facies, including distributary channels of a fan delta front (DC), distributary bays (DB) and sheet sands (SS) and mouth bar (MB) (SS and MB are collectively referred to as S). Percolation of meteoric waters occurring in high permeability DC sandstones resulted in leaching of feldspar, the formation of kaolinite, as well as mechanical infiltrated clays around detrital grains. Conversely, the DB deposits containing abundant ductile lithic fragments were subjected to mechanical compaction and thus the development of a pseudomatrix. During a long burial residence time (the Early Cretaceous period) in a lacustrine environment, abundant early carbonate cements were precipitated, especially in the distal S sandstones. The sandstones lacking eogenetic cements were subjected to stronger mechanical compaction. Additionally, eogenetic alterations have an important impact on the distribution of the mesogenetic alterations. Sandstones containing few eogenetic cements or thin or discontinuous infiltrated clay rims around the detrital grains were subjected to quartz cementation. However, during the hydrocarbon generation stage, the most efficient percolation of meteoric waters and organic acid dissolved feldspar minerals and carbonate cements, resulted in DC sandstones having more intragranular and intergranular porosity. Owing to high matrix contents and early calcite cement contents, the DB and S sandstones had lower permeability and were rarely dissolved. During the late mesogenetic stage, late carbonate cements occurred in all sedimentary facies and iron and magnesium ions were released from the transformation from kaolinite to illite or to chlorite. The results from this study show possible diagenetic evolutionary pathways in the reservoir sandstones within the fan delta depositional environment, which in turn provides some insights into the controls on reservoir potential. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Diagenetic and porosity evolution of conglomerate sandstones in Bayingebi Formation of the Lower Cretaceous, Chagan Sag, China–Mongolia frontier area

The fan delta conglomerate sandstones of Bayingebi Formation including conglomerates and pebbly sandstones in the Chagan Sag are reservoir for large accumulations of hydrocarbons. Based on observation of cores, thin sections, SEM and CL, combined with application of fluid inclusion and carbon and oxygen isotopes, it indicates that the conglomerate sandstones are mainly feldspathic litharenites with immature texture. It has considerable heterogeneity with a wide range of porosity from 0.3% to 15.3% and the permeability from 0.004 mD to 1168 mD. This study discusses conglomerate sandstones diagenesis and its controls on reservoir quality. Its eodiagenesis is primary compaction and the minor of calcite cementation. The subsequent mesodiagenesis includes weak compaction, precipitation of quartz overgrowth and feldspar overgrowth, albitization, dissolution of early carbonate cement and metastable framework grains, late carbonate cementation, and illitization.A comparison between porosity-depth data and normal compaction curve of conglomerate sandstones shows two groups. Group “A” is mainly composed of tight conglomerate sandstones with permeability less than 1 mD and porosity less than 10%. Petrology studies show that two types of the tight conglomerate sandstones developed in this group. One type, mainly depositing in the thinly bedded subaqueous channels of fan delta front, is characterized by abundant clay minerals occluding intergranular pores. The other type, mainly depositing in the thinly bedded subaqueous channels or along sandstone/mudstone interface of thickly bedded subaqueous channels, is characterized by abundant carbonate cements occluding intergranular and intragranular pores. Group “B” is mainly composed of conglomerate sandstones with higher permeability more than 1 mD and porosity ranging from 5% to 16% corresponding to the burial depth from 2200 to 3400 m. It mainly deposited within the thickly bedded subaqueous channels of fan delta front. Significant dissolution of carbonate cement, feldspars, and other metastable framework grains by organic acids and CO2 generated from organic maturation are the major cause of abnormally high porosity.

Role of compressive tectonics on gas charging into the Ordovician sandstone reservoirs in the Sbaa Basin, Algeria: constrained by fluid inclusions and mineralogical data

AbstractStructure‐ and tectonic‐related gas migration into Ordovician sandstone reservoirs and its impact on diagenesis history were reconstructed in two gas fields in the Sbaa Basin, in SW Algeria. This was accomplished by petrographical observations, fluid inclusion microthermometry and stable isotope geochemistry on quartz, dickite and carbonate cements and veins. Two successive phases of quartz cementation (CQ1 and CQ2) occurred in the reservoirs. Two phase aqueous inclusions show an increase in temperatures and salinities from the first CQ1 diagenetic phase toward CQ2 in both fields. Microthermometric data on gas inclusions in quartz veins reveal the presence of an average of 92 ± 5 mole% of CH4 considering a CH4‐CO2 system, which is similar to the present‐day gas composition in the reservoirs. The presence of primary methane inclusions in early quartz overgrowths and in quartz and calcite veins suggests that hydrocarbon migration into the reservoir occurred synchronically with early quartz cementation in the sandstones located near the contact with the Silurian gas source rock at 100–140°C during the Late Carboniferous period and the late Hercynian episode fracturing at temperatures between 117 and 185°C, which increased in the NW‐direction of the basin. During the fracture filling, three main types of fluids were identified with different salinities and formation temperatures. A supplementary phase of higher fluid temperature (up to 226°C) recorded in late quartz, and calcite veins is related to a Jurassic thermal event. The occurrence of dickite cements close to the Silurian base near the main fault areas in both fields is mainly correlated with the sandstones where the early gas was charged. It implies that dickite precipitation is related to acidic influx. Late carbonate cements and veins (calcite – siderite – ankerite and strontianite) occurred at the same depths resulting from the same groundwater precipitation. The absence of methane inclusions in calcite cements result from methane flushing by saline waters.

Paleohydrogeological and thermal events recorded by fluid inclusions and stable isotopes of diagenetic minerals in Lower Cretaceous sandstones, offshore Nova Scotia, Canada

Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous sandstones of the Scotian Basin, offshore eastern Canada, are important gas reservoirs. Previous studies of fluid inclusions in Jurassic limestones and apatite thermochronology of Cretaceous sandstones have suggested a late Mesozoic thermal event. Fluid inclusions in different authigenic cements were analyzed to determine the temperature and composition of basinal fluid at the time of precipitation and the timing of hydrocarbon migration and entrapment. Fifty-one sandstone samples were analyzed for stable isotope composition (18O and 13C) of carbonate cements. Trapping temperatures for primary aqueous inclusions hosted in quartz overgrowths (89–175C) and in late carbonate cements (138–173C) are higher than predicted by two-dimensional modeling from burial alone based on postrift geothermal gradients. These inclusions contain high-salinity fluids (mostly 19–22 wt. % NaCl equivalent). Second, predominantly aqueous inclusions have much lower salinities (5.2–6.7 wt. % NaCl equivalent), and some contain liquid hydrocarbons. Late Fe-calcite cement in Hauterivian sandstone shows negative values of (13.17 to 9.2), whereas cements in deeper and shallower sandstones have higher 13C values. These data indicate that high-temperature, high-salinity fluids preceded hydrocarbon migration. The oldest and youngest rocks studied show less effect of high temperatures than do rocks that were buried to depths of at least 2 km (1.2 mi) after 135 Ma and before 100 Ma. Both fluid inclusions and 13C of carbonate cement suggest that highest temperatures were achieved during burial at 115 to 105 Ma. This Early Cretaceous thermal event had a geothermal gradient of at least 55C/km. It is earlier than the previously reported event based on apatite fission tracks but is consistent with the fission track data. The event is synchronous with regional evidence of volcanism, and its peak coincides with rapid salt-tectonic deformation in the deep basin. Hydrocarbon charge to the outer-shelf wells occurred after this thermal event and thus not before the Late Cretaceous.

Thermal and hydrocarbon-charge history and the relationship between diagenesis and reservoir connectivity: Venture field, offshore Nova Scotia, eastern Canada1Geological Survey of Canada Contribution 20100418.

Fluid inclusions in diagenetic cements in Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sandstones offshore Nova Scotia provide constraints on the fluid migration history in gas reservoirs of the Scotian basin. Diagenetic minerals from six wells in the Venture field were analysed by optical petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron microprobe. A total of 122 primary and secondary fluid inclusions were analysed from different cements. Primary aqueous inclusions in quartz overgrowths have homogenization temperatures (Th) of 111.8 ± 7.1 °C (1σ) and in later carbonate cements 126.5 ± 2.1 °C; inclusions in both cements are highly saline (16–26.1 wt.% NaCl equivalent). Secondary aqueous and hydrocarbon-bearing inclusion trails crosscutting silica cement and detrital quartz have Th of 121.6 ± 13.6 °C and low salinities (8.7 ± 6.0 wt.%). Secondary carbonic inclusions have CO2 melting temperatures (–56.6 ± 0.1 °C) and Th (–9.3 ± 0.8 °C) indicating a high-density carbonic phase. Late carbonate cements in the same sandstone units vary in chemical composition in different wells, and connected reservoirs show similar late carbonate assemblages, suggesting that the late carbonate cementation may be partly controlled by the reservoir fill and spill sequence. Silica and late carbonate cementation involved highly saline fluid flow, likely at about ∼135 Ma. Hydrocarbon migration postdated silica cementation and was associated with secondary fracturing, suggesting that it corresponded to the onset of overpressure.

Importance of mineral sequestration during CO2 gas migration: A case study from the Greater Gorgon area

Abstract High- CO 2 gas fields serve as important analogues for understanding various processes related to CO 2 injection and storage. The chemical signatures, both within the fluids and the solid phases, are especially useful for elucidating preferred gas migration pathways and also for assessing the relative importance of mineral precipitation and/or solution trapping efficiency. In this paper, we present a high resolution study focused on the Gorgon gas field and associated Rankin Trend gases on Australia’s North West Shelf. The gas data we present here display clear trends for CO 2 abundance (mole %) and δ 13 C CO 2 both areally and vertically. The strong spatial variation of CO 2 content and δ 13 C and the interrelationship between the two suggests that processes were active to alter the two in tandem. We propose that these variations were driven by the precipitation of a carbonate phase, namely siderite, which is observed as a common late stage mineral. This conclusion is based on Rayleigh distillation modeling together with bulk rock isotopic analyses of core, which indicates that the late stage carbonate cements are related to the CO 2 in the natural gases. The results suggest that a certain amount of CO 2 may be sequestered in mineral form over short migration distances of the plume.

Relationship of diagenetic chlorite rims to depositional facies in Lower Cretaceous reservoir sandstones of the Scotian Basin

The relationship between diagenetic chlorite rims and depositional facies in deltaic strata of the Lower Cretaceous Missisauga Formation was investigated using a combination of electron microprobe, bulk geochemistry and X-ray diffraction data. The succession studied comprises several stacked parasequences. The delta progradational facies association includes: (i) fluvial or distributary channel sandstones (some with tidal influence); (ii) thick-bedded delta-front graded beds of sandstone interpreted as resulting from fluvial hyperpycnal flow during floods and storms; and (iii) more distal muddier delta-front and prodeltaic facies. The transgressive facies association includes lag conglomerate, siderite-cemented muddy sandstone and mudstone, and bioclastic sandy limestone. Chlorite rims are absent in the fluvial facies and best developed in thick sandstones lacking mudstone baffles. Good quality chlorite rims are well correlated with Ti in bulk geochemistry. Ti is a proxy for Fe availability, principally from the breakdown of abundant detrital ilmenite (FeTiO3). Under conditions of sea floor diagenesis, the abrupt decrease in sedimentation rate at transgressive surfaces caused progressive shallowing of the sulphate-depletion level and of the overlying Eh-controlled diagenetic zones, resulting in conditions suitable for diagenetic formation of berthierine to migrate upwards through the packet of reservoir sandstones. This early diagenetic berthierine suppressed silica cementation and later recrystallized to chlorite. Thick euhedral outer chlorite rims were precipitated from formation water in sandstone lacking muddy baffles on this chlorite substrate and inhibited late carbonate cementation. This study thus shows that the preservation of porosity by chlorite rims is a two-stage process. Rapidly deposited delta-front turbidite facies create early diagenetic conditions that eventually lead to the formation of chlorite rims, but the best quality chlorite rims are restricted to sandstones with high permeability during burial diagenesis.

CARBON DIOXIDE AND CARBONATE CEMENTS IN THE OTWAY BASIN: IMPLICATIONS FOR GEOLOGICAL STORAGE OF CARBON DIOXIDE

Understanding CO2 source and carbonate cements in natural gas accumulations is important for predicting the behaviour of anthropogenic CO2 in a reservoir system. The Otway Basin offers an excellent opportunity to examine late CO2-derived cements as an analogue for mineralogical storage of CO2. Understanding Otway Basin diagenesis and carbonate cement distribution is also of great significance to petroleum production in the region.Elemental and textural examination of Otway Basin cements has identified five carbonates in reservoir rock from CO2-rich gas accumulations. These carbonates show an overall increase in Fe2+ and Mg2+ relative to the calcites in CO2-free reservoir rock, indicating cation derivation from CO2 interaction with labile minerals.δ13C isotopes of 2.18‰ to -6.7‰ PDB from late carbonate cements in reservoirs containing CO2, confirm an inorganic CO2 origin. 3He/4He gas isotopic ratios of R/Ra > 1 indicate a predominantly mantle input for the CO2-rich accumulations.Degassing of magma associated with Pleistocene to Recent volcanics is suggested as the dominant, CO2 source for the existing CO2 accumulations. CO2 influx from the magmatic source was rapid, and is the most analogous scenario to injection of anthropogenic CO2. Natural influx of CO2 and the opportunity for mineralisation of CO2 is variable, with CO2 dissolving some original carbonate and precipitation dependant on pH, ρCO2, and available cations. Positive mineralogical CO2 storage occurs in the Pretty Hill Formation, due to a higher content of labile lithic minerals, with ~36 kg/m3 of CO2 (~48 kg/m3 carbonate) stored in the Ladbroke Grove Field from the current CO2 phase. The Waarre Sandstone has negative mineralogical storage of CO2, with less carbonate than similar reservoir rock without CO2, and therefore more CO2 being released from dissolution of early carbonates.

Alkaline diagenesis and its influence on a reservoir in the Biyang depression

Alkaline diagnesis is a diagenetic process that a reservoir undergoes under an alkaline environment. Because of the influence of alkaline formation water, the most typical characteristics of diagnesis is that quartz is obviously dissolved, feldspar is massively enlarged, and less late carbonate cement is formed in the evolution of carbonate minerals. With the decrease of the alkalinity of the formation water in diagenesis, the quartz overgrowths become common. The change in the chemical characteristics of the formation water leads to a more complex distribution of reservoir porosity at different depths than that of the secondary porosity formed by classical acidic water. It also makes the B stage of early diagenesis the important development period of secondary porosity.

OIL MIGRATION HISTORY OF THE OFFSHORE CANNING BASIN

The dual issues of the presence or absence of a viable, oil-prone petroleum system and reservoir quality represent key exploration uncertainties in the lightly explored Offshore Canning Basin, North West Shelf. To better quantify these factors, a detailed fluid inclusion investigation of potential reservoir horizons within the basin has been undertaken. The results have been integrated with regional petroleum geology and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) oil seep data to better understand the oil migration risk in the region.The fluid inclusion data provide confirmation of widespread oil migration at multiple Mesozoic and Palaeozoic levels, including those wells that are remote from the likely source kitchens. The lack of evidence for present or palaeo-oil accumulations is consistent with the proposition that none of the currently water-wet wells appear to have tested a valid structure. These observations, when combined with the presence of numerous direct hydrocarbon indicators on seismic data and a number of oil slicks (from SAR data) at the basin’s edge, suggest that the potential for oil charge to valid structures is much higher than previously recognised.Petrographic analysis of the tight, gas-bearing, Triassic sandstones in Phoenix–1 suggests that the low porosity and permeability is the result of late poikilotopic carbonate cement. Significantly, the presence of oil inclusions within quartz overgrowths that pre-date the carbonate indicates that oil migration began prior to crystallisation of carbonate. Fluid inclusion palaeotemperatures combined with a 1D basin model suggest that trapping of oil as inclusions occurred in the Early to Middle Cretaceous and that predictions of reservoir quality using available water-wet wells could seriously under-estimate porositypermeability levels in potential traps that were charged with oil at about 100 Ma. Indeed, acid leaching of core plugs from Phoenix–1 indicates that removal of diagenetic carbonate results in significant permeability increase with obvious implications for the producibility of any future oil discovery. Further, evidence of Early Cretaceous oil charge has implications for the size and locality of source kitchens compared to that observed at the current day.Collectively, the data indicate the area has received widespread oil migration and suggest future exploration, even to relatively deep levels, may be successful if valid traps can be delineated.

Thermal stability of aqueous acetate and variations in product composition under different experimental conditions

In order to obtain more knowledge of the temperature dependent reactions of water soluble organic acids with respect to catagenesis, the degradation of acetate is studied using confined pyrolysis in sealed gold tubes with a confinement pressure of 40 MPa and final temperatures of 380–430°C. The complete spectrum of products is analysed. The effects of water as reaction medium, salinity of water phase and presence of a potential mineral oxidant, the mineral hematite, is investigated. Methane is the single product found in the highest quantity, with molar yields slightly higher than the initial acatate. The carbon isotopic signature of the methane shows a typically thermogenic trend. A series of higher carbon-number products is generated, including n-alkanes up to C 34. CO 2 and CO are generated in low concentrations relative to the conversion of acetate. The carbon isotopic signature of the CO 2 is very different from that observed in natural samples. In the perspective of deep, hot reservoirs, the results imply that cracking of carboxylic acids may be a (minor) source for in situ hydrocarbon gas generation. Since the yields of CO 2 are small, the contribution to late carbonate cementation processes would be limited.