Diagenesis Evolution and Pore Types in Tight Sandstone of Shanxi Formation Reservoir in Hangjinqi Area, Ordos Basin, Northern China

Diagenesis and pore evolution of tight sandstone reservoir is one of the most important issues surrounding clastic reservoirs. The tight sandstone of the Shanxi Formation is an important oil and gas producing layer of the Upper Paleozoic in Ordos Basin, and its densification process has an important impact on reservoir quality. This study determined the physical properties and diagenetic evolution of Shanxi Formation sandstones and quantitatively calculated the pore loss in the diagenetic process. Microscopic identification, cathodoluminescence, and a scanning electron microscope were used identify diagenesis, and the diagenesis evolution process was clarified along with inclusion analysis. In addition, reservoir quality was determined based on the identification of pore types and physical porosity. Results show that rock types are mainly sublitharenite and litharenite. The reservoir has numerous secondary pores after experiencing compaction, cementation, and dissolution. We obtained insight into the relationship between homogenous temperature and two hydrocarbon charges. The results indicated that there were two hydrocarbon charges in the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic (70–90 °C) and Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (110–130 °C) before reservoir densification. The quantitative calculation of pore loss shows that the average apparent compaction, cementation, and dissolution rates are 67.36%, 22.24%, and 80.76%, respectively. Compaction directly affected the reservoir tightness, and intense dissolution was beneficial to improve the physical properties of the reservoir.

Relationship between pore throat and permeability of porous carbonate reservoir in the Middle East

A significant behavior of carbonate reservoirs is poor correlation between porosity and permeability. With the same porosity, the permeability can vary by three orders of magnitude or more. An accurate estimation of permeability for carbonate reservoir has been a challenge for many years. The aim of this study was to establish relationships between pore throat, porosity, and permeability. This study indicates that pore throat radius corresponding to a mercury saturation of 20% (R20) is the best permeability predictor for carbonates with complex porous pore networks. Quantitative analysis was made to achieve three different patterns of pore throat for 417 carbonate samples which cover all pore types of carbonate rocks. Different relationships between porosity, pore throat radius, and permeability have been identified in different patterns, which are utilized to predict more accurate permeability by different pore throat patterns.

Integrated Porosity Classification and Quantification Scheme for Enhanced Carbonate Reservoir Quality: Implications from the Miocene Malaysian Carbonates

The pore system in carbonates is complicated because of the associated biological and chemical activity. Secondary porosity, on the other hand, is the result of chemical reactions that occur during diagenetic processes. A thorough understanding of the carbonate pore system is essential to hydrocarbon prospecting. Porosity classification schemes are currently limited to accurately forecast the petrophysical parameters of different reservoirs with various origins and depositional environments. Although rock classification offers a way to describe lithofacies, it has no impact on the application of the poro-perm correlation. An outstanding example of pore complexity (both in terms of type and origin) may be found in the Central Luconia carbonate system (Malaysia), which has been altered by diagenetic processes. Using transmitted light microscopy, 32 high-resolution pictures were collected of each thin segment for quantitative examination. An FESEM picture and a petrographic study of thin sections were used to quantify the grains, matrix, cement, and macroporosity (pore types). Microporosity was determined by subtracting macroporosity from total porosity using a point-counting technique. Moldic porosity (macroporosity) was shown to be the predominant type of porosity in thin sections, whereas microporosity seems to account for 40 to 50% of the overall porosity. Carbonates from the Miocene have been shown to possess a substantial quantity of microporosity, making hydrocarbon estimate and production much more difficult. It might lead to a higher level of uncertainty in the estimation of hydrocarbon reserves if ignored. Existing porosity classifications cannot be used to better understand the poro-perm correlation because of the wide range of geological characteristics. However, by considering pore types and pore structures, which may be separated into macro- and microporosity, the classification can be enhanced. Microporosity identification and classification investigations have become a key problem in limestone reservoirs across the globe.

Automation of Carbonate Rock Thin Section Description Using Cognitive Image Recognition

Simulation Engineers and Geomodelers rely on reservoir rock geological descriptions to help identify baffles, barriers and pathways to fluid flow critical to accurate reservoir performance predictions. Part of the reservoir modelling process involves Petrographers laboriously describing rock thin sections to interpret the depositional environment and diagenetic processes controlling rock quality, which along with pressure differences, controls fluid movement and influences ultimate oil recovery. Supervised Machine Learning and a rock fabric labelled data set was used to train a neural net to recognize Modified Durham classification reservoir rock thin section images and their individual components (fossils and pore types) plus predict rock quality. The image recognition program's accuracy was tested on an unseen thin section image database.

Reservoir Characteristics of the Lower Permian Marine-Continental Transitional Shales: Example from the Shanxi Formation and Taiyuan Formation in the Ordos Basin

The pore types and pore structure parameters of the heterogenetic shale will affect the percolation and reservoir properties of shale; therefore, the research on these parameters is very important for shale reservoir evaluation. We used X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), low-pressure CO2 adsorption analysis, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and high-pressure methane adsorption analysis to analyze the characteristics of different pore types and their parameters of the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation and Taiyuan Formation in the Ordos Basin. The influence of different mineral contents on the porosity and pore size is also investigated. The Shanxi Formation (SF) is composed of quartz (average of 38.4%), plagioclase, siderite, Fe-dolomite, calcite, pyrite, and clay minerals (average of 50.1%), while the Taiyuan Formation (TF) is composed of calcite (average of 37%), siderite, Fe-dolomite, quartz, pyrite, and clay minerals (average of 32.3%). The most common types of pores observed in this formation are interparticle pores (InterP pores), intraparticle pores (IntraP pores), interclay pores, intercrystalline pores (InterC pores), organic matter pores (OM pores), and microfractures. CO2 adsorption analysis demonstrates the type I physisorption isotherms, showing microporous solids having comparatively small external surfaces. The similar types of isothermal shapes of the Shanxi Formation (SF) and Taiyuan Formation (TF) suggest that both types have similar pore size distribution (PSD) within the measured pore range by the low-pressure CO2 adsorption experiment. The micropore pore size of the TF is larger than that of the SF. MICP shows the larger pores (>50 nm), and most of the volume was adsorbed by macropores. Methane gas sorption capacity increases with increasing pressure. Clay minerals and quartz played an important role in providing adsorption sites for methane gas. The overall analysis of both formations shows that TF has good reservoir properties than SF.

Sedimentary, Diagenetic and Accumulation Characteristics of an Offshore Oil-gas Field—a Case Study of Huizhou Depression, Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

In the Z21 oil-gas field, a total of six depositional lithofacies and two depositional elements were identified based on core observation. Three main diagenetic processes, namely mechanical compaction, cementation, and dissolution of Miocene Zhujiang Formation sandstones were identified according to thin section and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of core samples. Cementations mainly contain silica cementation, carbonate cementation, clay minerals and pyrite. A total of three main pore types, residual primary intergranular pores, secondary dissolution pores and micropores, were identified. Sand sheet deposited in low-energy environment and is characterized by relatively low porosity and permeability values. Lager grain-sized sandstones are of higher quality compared to smaller-sized sandstones. Mechanical compaction, calcite cementation and clay mineral cementation play a key role in reducing porosity and permeability, whereas dissolution of feldspar and debris contribute significantly to improving the reservoir quality. The gas charge occurs prior to oil charge, forming a gas cap in the structural high and an oil ring in the lower formation. Irreducible water stored in the lenticular sandstone of low-porosity and permeability reservoir may convert to movable water as the drill and production perform.

PBF-LB Process-Induced Regular Cavities for Lightweight AlSi10Mg Structures

In powder bed fusion with laser beam (PBF-LB), two process-induced defects by pore formation are known: local spherical pores by the keyhole effect and geometrically undefined pores caused by lack of fusion. Both pore types are heterogeneously distributed and can be used for lightweight or damping design applications. The achievable porosity is limited to around 13%. This article presents a novel process-controlled method enabling the targeted and reproducible manufacturing of solid parts with regularly distributed cavities, currently up to 60% porosity in AlSi10Mg, using the balling effect. This eliminates the need for time-consuming digital pre-processing work.

Pore Structure and Fractal Characteristics of Organic-Rich Lacustrine Shales of the Kongdian Formation, Cangdong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin

In order to examine the pore structure and reveal the fractal geometric nature of shales, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted on lacustrine shale samples cored from the Kongdian Formation. Based on the low temperature nitrogen adsorption, fluorescent thin section and field emission scanning electronic microscope, a comprehensive pore structure classification and evaluation were conducted on shale samples. Fractal dimensions D1 and D2 (with relative pressure of 0–0.45 and 0.45–1.00, respectively) were obtained from the nitrogen adsorption data using the fractal Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) method. With additional means of X-ray diffraction analysis, total organic carbon content analysis and thermal maturity analysis, the relationships between pore structure parameters, fractal dimensions, TOC content and mineral composition are presented and discussed in this paper. The results show that interparticle pores and microfractures are predominant, whereas organic matter pores are rarely found. The pore morphology is primarily featured with wide-open ends and slit-shaped structures. In terms of pore scale, mesopores and macropores are predominant. The value of fractal dimension D1 representing small pores ranges from 2.0173 to 2.4642 with an average of 2.1735. The value of D2 which represents large pores ranges from 2.3616 to 2.5981 with an average of 2.4960. These low numbers are an indication of few pore types and relatively low heterogeneity. In addition, smaller D1 values reveal that large pores have more complicated spatial structures than smaller ones. The results of correlation analysis show that: 1) D2 is correlated positively with specific surface area but negatively with average pore diameter; 2) D1 and D2 literally show no obvious relationship with mineral composition, TOC content or vitrinite reflectance (Ro); 3) both total Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) volume and specific surface area show a positive relationship with dolomite content and a negative relationship with felsic minerals content. These results demonstrate that the pore types are relatively few and dominated by mesopores, and the content of brittle minerals such as dolomite and felsic minerals control the pore structure development whilst organic matter and clay minerals have less influence due to low thermal maturity and abundance of clay minerals.

Pore Connectivity Characterization Using Coupled Wood’s Metal Intrusion and High-Resolution Imaging: A Case of the Silurian Longmaxi Shales From the Sichuan Basin, China

Pore connectivity is crucial for shale gas production. However, the three-dimensional (3D) characteristics and distribution of pore networks and, more fundamentally, the underlying role of different pore types on pore connectivity in shales are inadequately understood. By comparing the 3D pore connectivity derived from direct microstructural imaging of pores filled with Wood’s metal at a pressure corresponding to the finest accessible pore throat in the resolution ranges that may be achieved by X-ray micro-CT and SEM, it is possible to evaluate pore connectivity of different types of shales. The pore connectivity of three shales including a mixed mudstone, siliceous shale, and argillaceous shale from the Silurian Longmaxi Formations is investigated via combined broad ion beam (BIB) polishing, and SEM and X-ray micro-CT imaging after Wood’s metal injection at a pressure up to 380 MPa. The three shales show significant differences in pore connectivity. The mixed mudstone shows excellent pore connectivity in the matrix; the siliceous shale shows an overall poor connectivity with only a small amount of OM (organic matter) pores immediately adjacent to microfractures displaying interconnectivity, while the pores in the argillaceous shale, dominated by plate-like clay pores, are largely not interconnected.