Dolomitization of the Lower Ordovician Watts Bight Formation of the St. George Group, western Newfoundland: evidence of hydrothermal fluid alterationGeological Survey of Canada Contribution 20080544.

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Conliffe ◽  
Karem Azmy ◽  
Ian Knight ◽  
Denis Lavoie

The Watts Bight Formation in western Newfoundland consists of a Lower Ordovician succession of shallow-water carbonates and has been extensively dolomitized. These dolomites occur as both replacements and cements and are associated with complex changes in the rock porosity and permeability. Early replacement micritic dolomites (D1) are finely crystalline and indicate that dolomitization began during early stages of diagenesis. The calculated δ18O values of the earliest (D1) dolomitizing fluids (–6.4‰ to –9.5‰ VSMOW, Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) fall between the estimated δ18O values of Tremadocian seawater and meteoric waters and suggest mixing-zone dolomitization. A second phase of coarsely crystalline (up to 400 μm) dolomite (D2) replaces D1 dolomite and early calcite and is associated with enhancement in porosity and permeability through the development of intercrystalline pores. A late-stage saddle dolomite (D3) and late burial calcite cements significantly occluded the pores in some horizons. Petrography, fluid inclusions, and geochemistry show that D2 and D3 dolomites formed from warm (65–125 °C) saline (10 to 25 eq. wt.% NaCl + CaCl2) hydrothermal fluids. The calculated δ18Ofluid of D2 ranges from –4.5‰ to 3.6‰ VSMOW, and for D3 dolomites, calculated δ18Ofluid ranges from 1.4‰ to 8.4‰ VSMOW, suggesting an influx of basinal brines. The occurrence of high porosity associated with D2, combined with the laterally sealing tight limestone beds, presence of favourable source rocks, and thermal maturation, may suggest that the Watts Bight carbonates are possible potential hydrocarbon reservoirs and suitable targets for future hydrocarbon exploration in western Newfoundland.

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 600
Author(s):  
Brad Field ◽  
Jan Baur ◽  
Kyle Bland ◽  
Greg Browne ◽  
Angela Griffin ◽  
...  

Hydrocarbon exploration on the East Coast of the North Island has not yet yielded significant commercial reserves, even though the elements of a working petroleum system are all present (Field et al, 1997). Exploration has focussed on the shallow, Neogene part of the succession, built up during plate margin convergence over the last ∼24 million years. Convergent margins are generally characterised by low-total organic carbon (TOC) source rocks and poor clastic reservoir quality due to poor sorting and labile grains. However, the obliquely-convergent Hikurangi subduction margin of the East Coast has high TOC source rocks that pre-date the subduction phase, and its reservoir potential, though variable, has several aspects in its favour, namely: deep-water rocks of high porosity and permeability; preservation of pore space by overpressure; the presence of fractured reservoirs and hybrid reservoirs, where low clastic permeability is enhanced by fractures. The East Coast North Island is a Neogene oblique subduction margin, with Neogene shelf and slope basins that developed on Late Cretaceous-Paleogene passive margin marine successions. The main hydrocarbon source rocks are Late Cretaceous and Paleocene and the main reservoir potential is in the Neogene (Field et al, 2005). Miocene mudstones with good seal potential are common, as is significant over-pressuring. Neogene deformation controlled basin development and accommodation space and strongly-influenced lateral facies development and fractured reservoirs. Early to Middle Miocene thrusting was followed by later Neogene extension (e.g. Barnes et al 2002), with a return to thrusting in the Pliocene. Local wells have flow-tested gas shows.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. SM53-SM64
Author(s):  
Guangxu Bi ◽  
Chengfu Lyu ◽  
Qianshan Zhou ◽  
Guojun Chen ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
...  

Based on information including porosity and permeability, petrography, the stable isotopic composition of carbonate cements, and homogenization temperatures of aqueous fluid inclusions, we have studied the main factors for the development of abnormally high porosity in the Lingshui Formation reservoir of the Yacheng area. We found the sandstones were mainly subarkose, arkose, and lithic arkose and were texturally and compositionally immature. The research suggested that the sandstones existing close beneath the regional unconformity were formed during the Late Oligocene. Early diagenetic calcite cements leached to form intergranular secondary pores without the precipitation of late-diagenetic calcite cements in most sandstones. The isotopic composition of carbonate cements suggested a significant incursion of meteoric freshwater in the sandstones. Early diagenetic meteoric freshwater leaching reactions provided favorable conduits for the penetration of organic acids during the later period. Thermal fluid activities allowed source rocks to mature rapidly; therefore, the organic acid generation period was extended and feldspars were corroded to form abundant intragranular secondary pores. The abundant corroded minerals and the small amounts of associated authigenic minerals suggested that the dissolution of minerals most likely occurred in an open geochemical system. The dissolution of feldspars and calcite minerals generated an enhanced secondary porosity of approximately 9%–13% in thin sections of these sandstones.


1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Moore ◽  
G. M. Pitt

The Cretaceous sequence in the Eromanga Basin covers nearly one-fifth of the Australian mainland and has a maximum thickness of about 2000 m. The lowermost prospective unit is the Neocomian Cadna-owie Formation, which commonly contains hydrocarbon shows and recently yielded oil in Merrimelia 15. Likely source rocks include organic-rich sediments at the base of the overlying Bulldog Shale and Wallumbilla Formation. Future commercial production from the Cadna-owie Formation will be hampered by fine grain size and carbonate cements, resulting in low porosity and permeability. In southwestern Queensland, the Cadna-owie Formation appears to have been locally dissected by prominent channels. If sand-infilled, these channels will represent an interesting stratigraphic play, although they are likely to be mudstone-and diamictite-infilled submarine canyons, similar to those in the Tertiary Latrobe Group, Gippsland Basin. As such, they represent one component of a complex hydrocarbon play that has yet to be evaluated.A third, stratigraphically higher exploration target is the middle Albian Coorikiana Sandstone. Although the marine mudstones which encase the Coorikiana Sandstone are only poor to fair source rocks, hydrocarbon shows are common in the unit, which yielded 9900 m3 of gas per day when tested in Strzelecki 8. The potential of the unit is limited by poor reservoir quality and marginal oil maturity.The Toolebuc Formation, of middle-late Albian age, is the fourth promising target for significant hydrocarbons. The formation consists of organic-rich mudstone which is oil-shale bearing over large parts of Queensland. Minor oil and gas shows, attributed to early generation from a very rich source rock, suggest that oil production from the Toolebuc Formation may be possible if naturally fractured shale reservoirs can be located. Overall, the Cretaceous sequence in the southwestern Eromanga Basin is considered to have a modest oil and gas potential which should be evaluated in the course of drilling for deeper targets.It is emphasised that knowledge of Cretaceous and Cainozoic stratigraphy is essential in understanding the evolution of the Eromanga Basin. Rapid deposition of up to 2000 m of Cretaceous sediments enabled generation of hydrocarbons in the Jurassic sequence, beginning in the latest Cretaceous and continuing today. Although early, syn-sedimentary structuring and mild epeirogeny are evident in Cretaceous sediments, of far greater significance is a major phase of Early Tertiary folding, due probably to the effects of continental breakup and collision. This greatly enhanced pre-existing structures, produced some very large anticlines, and caused up to 800 m of the Cenomanian Winton Formation to be eroded from elevated areas. A complex interplay between timing of structural growth and maturation of the sequence is thus considered to be a major control on the present distribution of hydrocarbons in the Eromanga Basin.


Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Mumtaz M. Shah ◽  
Saifullah Afridi ◽  
Emad U. Khan ◽  
Hamad Ur Rahim ◽  
Muhammad R. Mustafa

In the present study, an attempt has been made to establish the relationship between diagenetic alterations resulting from magmatic intrusions and their impact on the reservoir properties of the Devonian Khyber Limestone (NW Pakistan). Field observations, petrographic studies, mineralogical analyses, porosity-permeability data, and computed tomography were used to better understand the diagenetic history and petrophysical property evolution. Numerous dolerite intrusions are present in the studied carbonate successions, where the host limestone was altered to dolomite and marble, and fractures and faults developed due to the upwelling of the magmatic/hydrothermal fluids along pathways. Petrographic studies show an early phase of coarse crystalline saddle dolomite (Dol. I), which resulted from Mg-rich hydrothermal fluids originated from the dolerite dykes. Coarse crystalline marble formed due to contact metamorphism at the time of dolerite emplacement. The second phase of dolomitisation (Dol. II) postdates the igneous intrusions and was followed by dedolomitisation, dissolution, and cementation by meteoric calcite. Stable isotope studies likewise confirm two distinct dolomite phases. Dol. I exhibits more depleted δ18O (-15.8 to -9.1‰ V-PDB) and nondepleted δ13C (-2.05 to +1.85‰ V-PDB), whereas Dol. II shows a relatively narrow range of depleted δ18O (-13.9 to -13.8‰) signatures and nondepleted δ13C (+1.58 to +1.89‰ V-PDB). Dolomitic marble shows a marked depletion in δ18O and δ13C (-13.7 to -8.5‰ and -2.3 to 1.95‰, respectively). The initial phase of dolomitisation (Dol. I) did not alter porosity (5.4-6.6%) and permeability (0.0-0.1 mD) with respect to the unaltered limestone (5.6-6.9%; 0.1-0.2 mD). Contact metamorphism resulted in a decrease in porosity and permeability (3.3-4.7%; 0.1 mD). In contrast, an increase in porosity and permeability in Dol. II (7.7-10.5%; 0.8-2.5 mD) and dolomitic marble (6.6-14.7%; 8.2-13.3 mD) is linked to intercrystalline porosity and retainment of fracture porosity in dolomitic marble. Late-stage dissolution and dedolomitization also positively affected the reservoir properties of the studied successions. In conclusion, the aforementioned results reveal the impact of various diagenetic processes resulting from magmatic emplacement and their consequent reservoir heterogeneity.


Author(s):  
S., R. Muthasyabiha

Geochemical analysis is necessary to enable the optimization of hydrocarbon exploration. In this research, it is used to determine the oil characteristics and the type of source rock candidates that produces hydrocarbon in the “KITKAT” Field and also to understand the quality, quantity and maturity of proven source rocks. The evaluation of source rock was obtained from Rock-Eval Pyrolysis (REP) to determine the hydrocarbon type and analysis of the value of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was performed to know the quantity of its organic content. Analysis of Tmax value and Vitrinite Reflectance (Ro) was also performed to know the maturity level of the source rock samples. Then the oil characteristics such as the depositional environment of source rock candidate and where the oil sample develops were obtained from pattern matching and fingerprinting analysis of Biomarker data GC/GCMS. Moreover, these data are used to know the correlation of oil to source rock. The result of source rock evaluation shows that the Talangakar Formation (TAF) has all these parameters as a source rock. Organic material from Upper Talangakar Formation (UTAF) comes from kerogen type II/III that is capable of producing oil and gas (Espitalie, 1985) and Lower Talangakar Formation (LTAF) comes from kerogen type III that is capable of producing gas. All intervals of TAF have a quantity value from very good–excellent considerable from the amount of TOC > 1% (Peters and Cassa, 1994). Source rock maturity level (Ro > 0.6) in UTAF is mature–late mature and LTAF is late mature–over mature (Peters and Cassa, 1994). Source rock from UTAF has deposited in the transition environment, and source rock from LTAF has deposited in the terrestrial environment. The correlation of oil to source rock shows that oil sample is positively correlated with the UTAF.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongtao Liu ◽  
Zhengqing Ai ◽  
Jingcheng Zhang ◽  
Zhongtao Yuan ◽  
Jianguo Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract The average porosity and permeability in the developed clastic rock reservoir in Tarim oilfield in China is 22.16% and 689.85×10-3 μm2. The isolation layer thickness between water layer and oil layer is less than 2 meters. The pressure of oil layer is 0.99 g/cm3, and the pressure of bottom water layer is 1.22 g/cm3, the pressure difference between them is as bigger as 12 to 23 MPa. It is difficult to achieve the layer isolation between the water layer and oil layer. To solve the zonal isolation difficulty and reduce permeable loss risk in clastic reservoir with high porosity and permeability, matrix anti-invasion additive, self-innovate plugging ability material of slurry, self-healing slurry, open-hole packer outside the casing, design and control technology of cement slurry performance, optimizing casing centralizer location technology and displacement with high pump rate has been developed and successfully applied. The results show that: First, the additive with physical and chemical crosslinking structure matrix anti-invasion is developed. The additive has the characteristics of anti-dilution, low thixotropy, low water loss and short transition, and can seal the water layer quickly. Second, the plugging material in the slurry has a better plugging performance and could reduce the permeability of artificial core by 70-80% in the testing evaluation. Third, the self-healing cement slurry system can quickly seal the fracture and prevent the fluid from flowing, and can ensuring the long-term effective sealing of the reservoir. Fourth, By strict control of the thickening time (operation time) and consistency (20-25 Bc), the cement slurry can realize zonal isolation quickly, which has achieved the purpose of quickly sealing off the water layer and reduced the risk of permeable loss. And the casing centralizers are used to ensure that the standoff ratio of oil and water layer is above 67%. The displacement with high pump rate (2 m3/min, to ensure the annular return velocity more than 1.2 m/s) can efficiently clean the wellbore by diluting the drilling fluid and washing the mud cake, and can improve the displacement efficiency. The cementing technology has been successfully applied in 100 wells in Tarim Oilfield. The qualification rate and high quality rate is 87.9% and 69% in 2019, and achieve zone isolation. No water has been produced after the oil testing and the water content has decreased to 7% after production. With the cementing technology, we have improved zonal isolation, increased the crude oil production and increased the benefit of oil.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
I. Carneiro ◽  
M. Borges ◽  
S. Malta

In this work,we present three-dimensional numerical simulations of water-oil flow in porous media in order to analyze the influence of the heterogeneities in the porosity and permeability fields and, mainly, their relationships upon the phenomenon known in the literature as viscous fingering. For this, typical scenarios of heterogeneous reservoirs submitted to water injection (secondary recovery method) are considered. The results show that the porosity heterogeneities have a markable influence in the flow behavior when the permeability is closely related with porosity, for example, by the Kozeny-Carman (KC) relation.This kind of positive relation leads to a larger oil recovery, as the areas of high permeability(higher flow velocities) are associated with areas of high porosity (higher volume of pores), causing a delay in the breakthrough time. On the other hand, when both fields (porosity and permeability) are heterogeneous but independent of each other the influence of the porosity heterogeneities is smaller and may be negligible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-18
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdulwahhab Suhail ◽  
Mohammed H. Hafiz ◽  
Fadhil S. Kadhim

   Petrophysical characterization is the most important stage in reservoir management. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate reservoir properties and lithological identification of Nahr Umar Formation in Nasiriya oil field. The available well logs are (sonic, density, neutron, gamma-ray, SP, and resistivity logs). The petrophysical parameters such as the volume of clay, porosity, permeability, water saturation, were computed and interpreted using IP4.4 software. The lithology prediction of Nahr Umar formation was carried out by sonic -density cross plot technique. Nahr Umar Formation was divided into five units based on well logs interpretation and petrophysical Analysis: Nu-1 to Nu-5. The formation lithology is mainly composed of sandstone interlaminated with shale according to the interpretation of density, sonic, and gamma-ray logs. Interpretation of formation lithology and petrophysical parameters shows that Nu-1 is characterized by low shale content with high porosity and low water saturation whereas Nu-2 and Nu-4 consist mainly of high laminated shale with low porosity and permeability. Nu-3 is high porosity and water saturation and Nu-5 consists mainly of limestone layer that represents the water zone.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document