Cementation of oilfield sandstones: micro-geochemical tracers, reveal macro-fluid hydrogeology

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Enhanced oil and gas production)

Basic and strategic applied research

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor RS Haszeldine
School of Geosciences
University of Edinburgh

R&D

NERC

01 January 2000

31 July 2003

43 months

£185,146

Transport Systems and Vehicles

Scotland

Understanding the Micro-to-Macro Behaviour of Rock-Fluid Systems (M2M)

Professor RS Haszeldine, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh

Professor PWM Corbett, Institute Of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University
Prof A Fallick, SUERC (Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre)
Prof C Graham, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Dr C Macaulay, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh

Objectives not supplied

Reservoir quality in hydrocarbon reservoir sandstones can be greatly influenced by mineral cementation or dissolution. This can change porosity by 50% and permeability by 105. Such processes were partly controlled by palaeo-hydrogeology. The micro-isotopic and micro-geochemical composition within cements holds a detailed zonation record of paleo-hydrogeology, which can now be investigated bynewmicro-scale analytical technology. We will combine conservative tracers and palaeopressures from fluid inclusions with natural isotopic tracers measured by ion and laser microbeam instruments. Statistically based sampling will enable reliable up-scaling to calibrate blocks in basin-scale computer models. This will integrate microanalysis with basin architecture. Study sites are selected to resolveconflicting interpretations of characteristics cementation processes.

28/05/08