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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1983; v. 12; p. 127-146;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1983.012.01.13
© 1983 Geological Society of London

Geological and Geochemical Studies of Northwest European Continental Shelf

Applications of Geochemistry to Sandstone Reservoir Studies

Hilary Irwin & Andrew Hurst

Statoil, Forus, Postboks 300, N-4001 Stavanger, Norway

The mineralogy and chemical composition of reservoir sandstones can be easily and quickly determined. Our knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of each mineral (both detrital and authigenic) allows us to define environmental limits within which each mineral is stable. This information is useful in establishing the burial history of the reservoir sediments and in the anticipation of production problems.

Examples are discussed to illustrate how a detailed sequence of diagenetic events can be established from petrographic analysis of only a wide selection of core samples. The evolution of pore fluid with time and the source of pore fluid can be deduced using the geochemistry of the mineral assemblage. Carbonate cements can preserve evidence of diagenetic events which is obscured or removed from more porous and permeable parts of a sandstone sequence.

Stable isotope geochemistry can be used to establish the source of carbonate cement which is characterized by the carbon isotopes. In addition, the stable isotope composition of oxygen from carbonate and silicate cements details changes in pore fluid with time and can indicate the depth at which cement precipitation occurred. This information is invaluable in reconstructuring the burial history of a sandstone sequence.

Geochemistry, integrated with sedimentology should be applied to understanding cementation controls. This will allow models of the distribution of cement to be constructed and enable more accurate modelling of fluid movement in the reservoir. This should be especially useful in achieving better reservoir simulation and better prediction of the effects of stimulation and enhancement techniques.





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[Abstract] [PDF]