Supplementary material to "Structural control on fluid flow and shallow diagenesis: Insights from calcite cementation along deformation bands in porous sandstones"

Abstract. Porous sandstones are important reservoirs for geofluids. Interaction therein between deformation and cementation during diagenesis is critical since both processes can strongly reduce rock porosity and permeability, deteriorating reservoir quality. Deformation bands and fault-related diagenetic bodies, here called “structural and diagenetic heterogeneities”, affect fluid flow at a range of scales and potentially lead to reservoir compartmentalization, influencing flow buffering and sealing during the production of geofluids. We present two field-based studies from Loiano (northern Apennines, Italy) and Bollène (Provence, France) that elucidate the structural control exerted by deformation bands on fluid flow and diagenesis recorded by calcite nodules associated with the bands. We relied on careful in situ observations through geo-photography, string mapping, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography integrated with optical, scanning electron and cathodoluminescence microscopy, and stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) analysis of nodules cement. In both case studies, one or more sets of deformation bands precede and control selective cement precipitation. Cement texture, cathodoluminescence patterns, and their isotopic composition suggest precipitation from meteoric fluids. In Loiano, deformation bands acted as low-permeability baffles to fluid flow and promoted selective cement precipitation. In Bollène, clusters of deformation bands restricted fluid flow and focused diagenesis to parallel-to-band compartments. Our work shows that deformation bands control flow patterns within a porous sandstone reservoir and this, in turn, affects how diagenetic heterogeneities are distributed within the porous rocks. This information is invaluable to assess the uncertainties in reservoir petrophysical properties, especially where structural and diagenetic heterogeneities are below seismic resolution.

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Structural control on fluid flow and shallow diagenesis: Insights from calcite cementation along deformation bands in porous sandstones

10.5194/se-2020-81 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Leonardo Del Sole ◽

Marco Antonellini ◽

Roger Soliva ◽

Gregory Ballas ◽

Fabrizio Balsamo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fluid Flow ◽

Structural Control ◽

Structural Features ◽

Nodule Formation ◽

Low Permeability ◽

Deformation Bands ◽

Diagenetic Processes ◽

Flow Mechanisms ◽

Reservoir Compartmentalization ◽

Δ13c And Δ18o

Abstract. Porous sandstones are important reservoirs for geofluids. Interaction therein between deformation and cementation during diagenesis is critical since both processes can strongly reduce rock porosity and permeability, deteriorating reservoir quality. Deformation bands (DBs) and structural-related diagenetic bodies, here named Structural and Diagenetic Heterogeneities (SDH), have been recognized to negatively affect fluid flow at a range of scales and potentially lead to reservoir compartmentalization, influencing flow buffering and sealing during production. The hydraulic behavior of DBs is not yet fully constrained, and it remains poorly understood also how diagenetic processes interact with DBs to steer fluid flow mechanisms and evolution. In this contribution we present two field-based studies from Loiano (Northern Apennines, Italy) and Bollène (Provence, France) that contribute to elucidating the structural control exerted by DBs on fluid flow and diagenesis recorded by calcite nodules associated with the bands. We relied on careful field observations and a variety of multiscalar mapping techniques (photography, string mapping, and drone aerial photography), integrated with optical, scanning electron and cathodoluminescence microscopy, and stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) analysis of nodules cement. In both case studies, at least one set of DBs precedes and controls selective cement precipitation. Cement texture and cathodoluminescence patterns, and their invariably negative δ13C and δ18O value ranges, suggest a meteoric environment for nodule formation. In Loiano, DBs acted as low-permeability barriers to fluid flow and promoted selective cement precipitation. In Bollène, clusters of DBs restricted fluid flow and focused diagenesis in parallel-to-band compartments. Our work shows how low-permeability DBs in porous sandstones can actually affect fluid flow and localize diagenetic processes (in the shallow crust) that, in turn, could further enhance the sealing capacity of these structural features.

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Study on the effect of pore-scale heterogeneity and flow rate during repetitive two-phase fluid flow in microfluidic porous media

Petroleum Geoscience ◽

10.1144/petgeo2020-062 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. petgeo2020-062

Author(s):

Jingtao Zhang ◽

Haipeng Zhang ◽

Donghee Lee ◽

Sangjin Ryu ◽

Seunghee Kim

Keyword(s):

Porous Media ◽

Fluid Flow ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Sweep Efficiency ◽

Residual Saturation ◽

Flow Rates ◽

Content Type ◽

Lower Flow ◽

Supplementary Material ◽

Lower Flow Rate

Various energy recovery, storage, conversion, and environmental operations may involve repetitive fluid injection and, thus, cyclic drainage-imbibition processes. We conducted an experimental study for which polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based micromodels were fabricated with three different levels of pore-space heterogeneity (coefficient of variation, where COV = 0, 0.25, and 0.5) to represent consolidated and/or partially consolidated sandstones. A total of ten injection-withdrawal cycles were applied to each micromodel at two different flow rates (0.01 and 0.1 mL/min). The experimental results were analyzed in terms of flow morphology, sweep efficiency, residual saturation, the connection of fluids, and the pressure gradient. The pattern of the invasion and displacement of nonwetting fluid converged more readily in the homogeneous model (COV = 0) as the repetitive drainage-imbibition process continued. The overall sweep efficiency converged between 0.4 and 0.6 at all tested flow rates, regardless of different flow rates and COV in this study. In contrast, the effective sweep efficiency was observed to increase with higher COV at the lower flow rate, while that trend became the opposite at the higher flow rate. Similarly, the residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid was largest at COV = 0 for the lower flow rate, but it was the opposite for the higher flow rate case. However, the Minkowski functionals for the boundary length and connectedness of the nonwetting fluid remained quite constant during repetitive fluid flow. Implications of the study results for porous media-compressed air energy storage (PM-CAES) are discussed as a complementary analysis at the end of this manuscript.Supplementary material: Figures S1 and S2 https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5276814.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Energy Geoscience Series collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/energy-geoscience-series

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The Structural Control of Fluid Flow in Fractured Carbonate Units – Example of a Cave Development

First EAGE/SBGf workshop ◽

10.3997/2214-4609.20131798 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

A.T. Silva ◽

F.H.R. Bezerra ◽

A. Moraes

Keyword(s):

Fluid Flow ◽

Structural Control ◽

Fractured Carbonate

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Chemical bleaching indicates episodes of fluid flow in deformation bands in sandstone

AAPG Bulletin ◽

10.1306/b282ef9c-1e90-445d-99e78723c1eb9c77 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 88 ◽

Author(s):

W. T. Parry, Marjorie A. Chan, and

Keyword(s):

Fluid Flow ◽

Deformation Bands

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Supplementary material to "Distribution, microphysical properties, and tectonic control of deformation bands in the Miocene accretionary prism (Whakataki Formation) of the Hikurangi subduction zone"

10.5194/se-2020-80-supplement ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kathryn E. Elphick ◽

Craig R. Sloss ◽

Klaus Regenauer-Lieb ◽

Christoph E. Schrank

Keyword(s):

Subduction Zone ◽

Accretionary Prism ◽

Deformation Bands ◽

Tectonic Control ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Supplementary Material

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Microstructure and fluid flow in rift border fault-bounded basins – insights from the Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland

10.31223/x5fp57 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Salomon ◽

Atle Rotevatn ◽

Thomas Kristensen ◽

Sten-Andreas Grundvåg ◽

Gijs Henstra

Keyword(s):

Fluid Flow ◽

Chemical Reduction ◽

Pore Space ◽

Hanging Wall ◽

Structural Deformation ◽

Tectonic Activity ◽

Deformation Bands ◽

Fracture Formation ◽

Rock Alteration ◽

Fluid Flow Regimes

In this contribution, we elucidate the interaction of structural deformation, fluid flow, and diagenesis in hanging wall siliciclastic deposits along rift basin-bounding faults, exemplified at the Dombjerg Fault in NE Greenland. Due to fault-controlled fluid circulation, fault-proximal syn-rift clastic deposits experienced pronounced calcite cementation and became lithified, whereas uncemented clastic deposits remained porous and friable. Correspondingly, two separate deformation regimes developed to accommodate continuous tectonic activity: discrete fractures formed in cemented deposits, and cataclastic deformation bands formed in uncemented deposits. We show that deformation bands act as partial baffles to fluid flow. This led to localized host rock alteration, which caused a chemical reduction of pore space along the bands. Where cemented, porosity was reduced towards zero and fracture formation created new pathways for fluid migration, which were subsequently filled with calcite. Occasionally, veins comprise multiple generations of microcrystalline calcite, which likely precipitated from an abruptly super-saturated fluid that was injected into the fracture. This suggests that cemented deposits sealed uncemented deposit bodies in which fluid overpressure was able to build up. We conclude that compartmentalized fluid flow regimes may form in rift fault-bounded basins, which has wide implications for assessments of potential carbon storage, hydrocarbon, groundwater, and geothermal sites.

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