Abstract

Two examples of Dinantian basin-margin carbonates from the United Kingdom provide potential analogues for fracture and porosity distributions in hydrocarbon reservoirs in dolostones. In both examples pore systems have been extensively modified by dolomitization, fracturing and related mineralization. However, the detailed processes and the end results show some significant differences, highlighting the importance of developing an understanding of the specific pore-system modifying processes when characterizing and modelling porosity distributions in these settings.

In the first example, predominantly low-porosity and low-permeability limestones in Lower Carboniferous inliers in Leicestershire (Cloud Hill) and south Derbyshire (Ticknall) had their pore systems further degraded by extensive dolomitization. Subsequent fracturing and related mineralization were responsible for significant porosity generation adjacent to fractures.

In contrast, in the Sellafield area (west Cumbria), dolomitization was strongly controlled by fractures that were also mineralized by sulphate-rich brines. In the north of the area fractures were filled with an assemblage of barite-fluorite-hematite-calcite that is resistant to corrosion by low-temperature meteoric groundwater. However, in the south of the area the fractures were cemented by anhydrite, which is readily corroded by saline, but sulphatepoor, groundwater formed by percolating meteoric recharge from the east. Progressive dissolution has been ongoing since Tertiary uplift, and has rejuvenated fracture porosity within the dolomitized limestones.