Seismic fault weakening via CO2 pressurization enhanced by mechanical deformation of dolomite fault gouges

Carbon dioxide emissions from dolomite decarbonation play an essential role in the weakening of carbonate faults by lowering the effective normal stress, which is thermally activated at temperatures above 600–700 °C. However, the mechanochemical effect of low-crystalline ultrafine fault gouge on the decarbonation and slip behavior of dolomite-bearing faults remains unclear. In this study, we obtained a series of artificial dolomite fault gouges with systematically varying particle sizes and dolomite crystallinities using a high-energy ball mill. The laboratory-scale pulverization of dolomite yielded MgO at temperatures below 50 °C, indicating that mechanical decarbonation without significant heating occurred due to the collapse of the crystalline structure, as revealed by X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance results. Furthermore, the onset temperature of thermal decarbonation decreased to ~400 °C. Numerical modeling reproduced this two-stage decarbonation, where the pore pressure increased due to low-temperature thermal decarbonation, leading to slip weakening on the fault plane even at 400–500 °C; i.e., 200–300 °C lower than previously reported temperatures. Thus, the presence of small amounts of low-crystalline dolomite in a fault plane may lead to a severely reduced shear strength due to thermal decomposition at ~400 °C with a small slip weakening distance.

The Sedimentology of the Late Campanian–Maastrichtian Sequence, Southwestern Iraq

Petrography, diagenesis, and facies analyses as well as the depositional environments of the late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence in southwestern Iraq are studied in five keyholes. The sequence incorporates parts of the Hartha, Shiranish and Tayarat Formations. The Hartha Formation comprises creamy and organodetrital dolomite, grey dolomitic marl, and evaporites. The Shiranish Formation is composed of grey marl and claystone, whereas the Tayarat Formation is composed of grey ash, along with tough and fossiliferous dolomitic limestone inter-bedded with grey mudstone layers and/or wisps. Several diagenetic processes affected the sequence, such as neomorphic replacement, dissolution, dolomitization, and sulphate development. Some of these processes obliterated the primary textures. The late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence consists of three microfacies (Dolomitic Intraclastic Limestone, Dolomitized Biomicrite, and Biomicrosparite Microfacies) and two lithofacies (Mudrock and Sulphates-Rock Lithofacies), in addition to Fine- to Medium-Crystalline Dolomite Lithotype. The Hartha Formation is evaporitic, possibly with supratidal sabkha deposits. The overlying Tayarat and Shiranish Formations reflect deposition in a warm tropical to subtropical reefal and open marine conditions, as deduced from faunal assemblages. Some effects of deep marine condition are evident by the presence of Shiranish facies. The sequence represents deposition in the central reef- fore reef area. The absence of isolated back-reef lagoon facies suggests that the reef was patchy without isolation of water in the middle shelf region. However, at the top of the sequence, i.e. at the end of the Cretaceous Period, restricted lagoons seem to have dominated the studied succession.

Dolomitization of the Ordovician subsalt Majiagou Formation in the central Ordos Basin, China: fluid origins and dolomites evolution

The Middle Ordovician subsalt Majiagou Formation in the Ordos Basin comprises pervasively dolomitized shallow marine limestone and is a major reservoir rich in natural gas resources. Four types of dolomite matrix and cement were identified based on petrographic textures: (very) finely crystalline, non-planar to planar-s matrix dolomite (Md1); finely to medium crystalline, planar-s to planar-e matrix dolomite (Md2); microbialites comprising dolomite microcrystals (Md3); and finely to coarsely crystalline dolomite cement (Cd). The Md1 and Md2 dolomites were controlled by alternating lagoon-shoal facies and have δ13C values (− 1.89 to + 1.45‰ VPDB for Md1, − 1.35 to + 0.42‰ VPDB for Md2) that fall within or are slightly higher than the coeval seawater, suggesting the dolomitizing fluid of evaporated seawater. Md2 dolomite was then subjected to penecontemporaneous karstification by meteoric water and burial recrystallization by sealed brines during diagenesis, as indicated by its relatively lower δ18O values (− 8.89 to − 5.73‰ VPDB) and higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.708920–0.710199). Md3 dolomite comprises thrombolite and stromatolite and is interpreted to form by a combination of initial microbial mediation and later replacive dolomitization related to evaporated seawater. Cd dolomite was associated with early-formed karst system in the Md2 host dolomite. The lowest δ18O values (− 11.78 to − 10.18‰ VPDB) and 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.708688–0.708725) and fluid inclusion data (Th: 123–175 °C) indicate involvement of hydrothermal fluid from which the Cd dolomite precipitated during deep burial. These results reveal the multi-stage dolomitization history of the Majiagou Formation and provide new constraints on fluid origins and dolomites evolution during deep burial in old superimposed basins, such as the Ordos Basin and elsewhere.

Multifractal Analysis of Pore Structure and Evaluation of Deep-Buried Cambrian Dolomite Reservoir with Image Processing: A Case from Tarim Basin, NW China

Reservoir pore space assessment is of great significance for petroleum exploration and production. However, it is difficult to describe the pore characteristics of deep-buried dolomite reservoirs with the traditional linear method because these rocks have undergone strong modification by tectonic activity and diagenesis and show significant pore space heterogeneity. In this study, 38 dolostone samples from 4 Cambrian formations of Tarim Basin in NW China were collected and 135 thin section images were analyzed. Multifractal theory was used for evaluation of pore space heterogeneity in deep-buried dolostone based on thin section image analysis. The physical parameters, pore structure parameters, and multifractal characteristic parameters were obtained from the digital images. Then, the relationships between lithology and these parameters were discussed. In addition, the pore structure was classified into four categories using K-means clustering analysis based on multifractal parameters. The results show that the multifractal phenomenon generally exists in the pore space of deep-buried dolomite and that multifractal analysis can be used to characterize the heterogeneity of pore space in deep-buried dolomite. For these samples, multifractal parameters, such as αmin, αmax, ΔαL, ΔαR, Δf, and AI, correlate strongly with porosity but only slightly with permeability. However, the parameter Δα, which is usually used to reveal heterogeneity, does not show an obvious link with petrophysical properties. Of dolomites with different fabrics, fine crystalline dolomite and medium crystalline dolomite show the best petrophysical properties and show significant differences in multifractal parameters compared to other dolomites. More accurate porosity estimations were obtained with the multifractal generalized fractal dimension, which provides a new method for porosity prediction. The various categories derived from the K-means clustering analysis of multifractal parameters show distinct differences in petrophysical properties. This proves that reservoir evaluation and pore structure classification can be accurately performed with the K-means clustering analysis method based on multifractal parameters of pore space in deep-buried dolomite reservoirs.

Mg-Phengite in Carbonate Rock Syngenetically Formed from Hydrothermal Fluid: Micro-Textural Evidence and Mineral Chemistry

Phengite series is a dioctahedral solid solution between two end-members of muscovite [K1[Al2]VI[Al1,Si3]IVO10(OH)2] and celadonite [K1[(Fe3+,Al)1,(Mg,Fe2+)1]VI[Si4]IVO10(OH)2], which have a hetero-valent substitution of AlVIAlIV ↔ (Mg, Fe)VISiIV. In this study, we report a hydrothermal-originated authigenic Mg-phengite-series mineral, which occurred as polycrystalline aggregates (Type 1), pore-fillings (Type 2) and well-crystallized lath form (Type 3) from the Haengmae Formation, a dolomite–pebble-bearing fine sand-sized dolostone, in South Korea. Based on micro-textural observation, three types of Mg-phengite are associated with crystalline dolomite, and are followed by calcite precipitation as pore-filling, indicating that these should be formed by the influx of a Mg-rich hydrothermal fluid after the deposition of some clastic sediments and before calcite-filling. The structural formula based on O10(OH)2 shows that the number of Mg atoms per formula unit (apfu) of Mg-phengite ranges from 0.00 to 0.70 with no Fe, which is relatively high, compared with the previously reported metamorphic phengites. In REEs mineral chemistry, the Mg-phengites are characterized by the enrichment of REEs and by the particular enrichment of LREEs in the polycrystalline aggregates of Mg-phengite. It strongly suggests that the Mg-phengite should be formed by the infiltration of the highly evolved Mg- and REEs-enriched hydrothermal fluid into the clastic sedimentary rock (Haengmae Formation) as a strata-bound form, syngenetically or during early diagenesis.

Characteristics and dolomitization of the Lower Qiulitage Group reservoir in Bachu Uplift, Tarim Basin, China

The characteristics of the Lower Qiulitage Group in Bachu uplift, which originated in the Upper Cambrian period, are not clear. Based on four core observations, identification of 40 thin sections, and geochemical analysis of samples, this study concludes that crystal dolomite reservoirs developed in the Lower Qiulitage Group in Bachu uplift. Intercrystalline pores and dissolved pores formed the main reservoir space, while dissolution pores and fractures were developed in the middle and bottom part of the formation. The reservoir features low porosity and low permeability, and the fine-medium crystalline dolomite reservoir has the best pore structure. According to a petrochemical analysis, the Lower Qiulitage Group reservoir experienced intense dolomitization, with slightly higher content of trace elements Mn and Sr and negative oxygen isotropy. Tectonic hydrothermal dolomitization developed locally under the influence of base faults, and vug pores were filled with saddle dolomites and siliceous filling. The presence of rare earth elements Ce and Eu presented positive anomaly characteristics. It suggested that the CO2 acid dissolution caused by hydrothermal fluids may be a new mechanism for the increase in pores in deeply buried reservoirs, which is worth further study.

Autochthonous Micrite to Aphanodolomite: The Microbialites in the Dolomitization Processes

In the present paper, we examine the influence of micrite types, autochthonous or allochthonous, on the dolomitization processes. The recrystallized and dolomitized Carnian samples from Rifugio Vallandro and Alpe di Specie erratic boulders (South Tyrol, Italy) offer a unique example for studying the relationship between microbialites and dolomitization processes. The comparison between the carbonates of the well-preserved erratic boulders of Alpe di Specie and the isochronous, recrystallized, and dolomitized, samples of Rifugio Vallandro, allows for hypothesizing the role of microbialites on dolomitization processes. The Rifugio Vallandro samples represent variously dolomitized boundstone (made of corals, sponges, and peloidal crusts) with a fine texture (aphanodolomite) which contain organic matter relics, suggesting microbial-mediated mineralization. Geomicrobiological characterization of the microbialites from Alpe di Specie indicates that they formed through microbial metabolic activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria, which thrive on organic matter accumulated in the suboxic to anoxic interspaces of the skeletal framework. Similar processes can be hypothesized for the microbialite precursor of Rifugio Vallandro. Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and other organic compounds trapped inside the fine crystal matrix can have a role in the dolomitization processes of the microbialites. High pH and high alkalinity, derived from the degradation of organic matter, may be critical in promoting the dolomitization of microbialites because the high pH increases the concentration and activity of the dissolved CO32−, thereby increasing the dolomite supersaturation and reaction rates. This process produces very fine dolomite (aphanodolomite) that replaces the original organic-rich micrite, while the fine crystalline dolomite forming larger euhedral crystals seems to derive from the allochthonous micrite due to the presence of a large amount of siliciclastics and the absence of organic remains.

The Characteristics of X Formation Biohermal Reservoir in DMP Structure in Sichuan Basin

Based on the logging and drilling data of DMP structure in Sichuan basin.We study the characteristics and control factors of biohermal reservoir of X formation deeply. The research show that the biohermal reservoir is comprised of biohermal dolostone and fine-medium crystalline dolomite mainly;Intergranular pore,dissolved cave and pore space are mainly kinds of reservoir space;The physical property of the reservoir is not very good,with the low porosity and low permeability.Fractures grow well in reservoir, forming a kind of fractured reservoir.The formation and evolution of the reservoir is controlled by the sedimentary facies, tectonization and diagenesis.

Dolomitization and porosity evaluation of the Cretaceous Upper Qamchuqa (Mauddud) Formation, Khabbaz oil field, Kirkuk area, northern Iraq

ABSTRACT The Khabbaz Field in northern Iraq produces oil and gas from the Albian Upper Qamchuqa Formation, which corresponds to the Mauddud Formation of southern and central Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. The Formation is layered into Units A, B and C, of which Unit A is the main reservoir zone characterized by correlatable flow units and barriers/baffles. Units B and C generally have lower overall reservoir quality compared to Unit A. A detailed examination of cuttings, cores, and wireline logs from ten wells in the field revealed an important link between sedimentary facies, dolomitization, and heterogeneity of reservoir characteristics. The wide range of dolomite fabrics include microcrystalline, planar-e, planar-s, planar-p, non-planar as well as saddle and cement types. These fabrics imply successive phases of dolomitization, which profoundly influence the enhancement of reservoir character. Intercrystalline, micromoldic, and microvuggy porosity are the most influential byproducts of this dolomitization. Fracturing and stylolitization, in addition to the uniform network of intercrystalline pore systems, especially of the fine- to medium-crystalline dolomite, effectively contributed to the collective porosity and permeability of the reservoir.