QBB2023: Clastic Sedimentology and Petrography

DIAGENESIS ON CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS:

EFFECT ON RESERVOIR QUALITY

NAME: Elysha Hennie Siyu Binti Henry ID: 25508

Introduction
A. What is diagenesis?
Diagenesis is physical, chemical or biological process that changes sediments into
sedimentary rock. It is a process between deposition and lithification. It may alter the original
mineralogy and texture of the rock.

Figure 1 Example of Diagenesis Process

B. What is clastic sedimentary rocks

Clastic sedimentary rocks are sedimentary rocks that are formed by weathering process,
the accumulation of weathered fragments of other rocks that have hardened with a matrix
material. Example of clastic sedimentary rocks are sandstone, siltstone and shale. Clastic
sedimentary rocks are named according to the grain size of the sediment particles.

Conglomerate 64 mm to >256 mm Rounded Grains

Breccia 2 mm to 64 mm Angular Grains
Sandstone 2 mm to 1/16 mm
Shale <1/16 mm
Table 1 Classification of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

C. What is reservoir quality?

Reservoir quality can be defined by the the amount of hydrocarbon that can be stored
and the flow of HC within the reservoir. Porosity and permeability are the key parameter in
determining good or bad reservoir. Some other factors that may affect the quality of reservoir
are organic content (TOC), thermal maturity, fluid saturations and more.
 D. Diagenesis on clastic sedimentary rocks: Effect on reservoir quality
Based on the personal readings regarding the effect of diagenesis on reservoir quality in
clastic sedimentary rocks, there are four processes that may include. The processes are
compaction, cementation, dissolution and recrystallization as stated by AAPG Wiki.

Figure 2 Paragenetic sequence in the Zhenjing area

summarizing the major diagenesis.

i. Compaction
Compaction is basically a process where the sediments are being compressed together. It may
compress the sediments that are loose and porous. This compaction process may occur
during burial (during diagenesis stages). As the sediments undergo compaction process, it will
reduces the porosity (depends on the grain sorting, roundness or pressure) and permeability
of the rock. This process will move the grains closer together. The factors that may contribute
to the compression effect between grains are overburden pressure or exist voids being
destroyed.

Compaction clearly gives an impact to the reservoir quality. A good quality of reservoir needs
good porosity and permeability. Hence, compaction process is not beneficial because it
reduces the key parameters (porosity and permeability) to achieve a good reservoir.

Figure 3 Example of compaction process

 ii. Cementation
Cementation is a process that filled up the pore spaces with cements. Some example of the
cements are calcite or quartz. The development of the cements may occurs at the early or
late in the diagenetic process. Reaction rate of cementation is affected by temperature and
depth. As the temperature and depth increases, the cementation rate will increase, thus leads
to decrement of the porosity. Cementation is also locking the grains in the process. Hence, it
will prevent any movement to pass and block the path for migration. Hence, the permeability
will also be reduces.

From that, we can clearly see that cementation during the diagenetic process may reduce the
reservoir quality because the reduction of porosity and permeability.

Figure 4 Example of cementation process

iii. Dissolution
Some of diagenetic processes may enhance porosity. As diagenesis contains three stages
(before burial, during burial or after burial), second porosity may developed after deposition.
But, burial diagenesis contribute more to the development of second porosity. In the clastic
sedimentary rocks, dissolution is important for the clastic rocks buried at the shallow depth.

Dissolution is when some of the grains (carbonates or feldspars) are being removed. A good
quality of reservoir is from the dissolution that develop a significant amount of the secondary
porosity.

Thus, with the presence of dissolution, the reservoir quality may improve as the key factors
(porosity) in achieving an excellent reservoir is satisfied.
 Figure 5 Example of dissolution
process

E. Conclusion
From all the points above, different processes in the diagenesis stages may contribute majorly
in the quality of the reservoir. Compaction and cementation are the processes that may lower
the reservoir quality. On the other hand, the dissolution process helps improving the reservoir
quality as it improves the amount porosity and permeability that plays the biggest role in the
process of hydrocarbon accumulation.

REFERENCES
1. https://wiki.aapg.org/Reservoir_quality#Diagenesis
2. Ali, S.A., Clark, W.J., Dribus, J.R. & Moore, W.R. (2010). Diagenesis and Reservoir
Quality. Oilfield Summer. USA.
3. Guangwei, W., Xiangchun, C., Wei, Y., Yang, L., Tingting, S. (2017). Marine and
Petroleum Geology (pp. 84-96). China.