Reservoir Rock Characterization, Classification and Pore Typing in the Dalan/Kangan Carbonates (Khuff Analogues), South Pars Field

Behrooz Esrafili Dizaji (University of Tehran, MAPSA Co., Iran <ESRAFILY@khayam.ut.ac.ir>), H. Rahimpour-Bonab (University of Tehran) and F. Kiani Harchegani (Azad University of Khorasgan, Iran)

The South Pars Field, discovered in 1990, is part of the world's largest single gas accumulation located in the Gulf. The Iranian part of this immense gas accumulation accounts for 5% of the worlds and 60% of Iran's total gas reserves. This Field produces from Dalan/Kangan carbonates (Khuff analogues). These PermianTriassic carbonate reservoirs in the field are highly stratified in nature and display layer-cake geometry. Combined core analysis and detailed thin section studies are used for facies analysis. Accordingly, 14 major facies were recognized in these carbonates. Facies analysis shows that their depositional setting was located along the inner part of an epiric carbonate system that extended from a peritidal setting to a shallow subtidal zone (back-shoal setting), passing over to a high energy shoal and fore-shoal facies (Figure 1). Petrographical and geochemical evidences indicate that these facies were mainly exposed to a shallow diagenesis and minor subsequent burial. Major diagenetic processes and events affecting the Dalan/Kangan carbonates include: micritization and marine cementation, anhydrite nodule formation, early dolomitization and dolomite neomorphism, dissolution and/or neomorphism of aragonite, anhydrite plugging and calcite cementations, mechanical and chemical compaction, fracturing. Hypersaline and meteoric diagenetic realms were two well-identified zones in the reservoir intervals. Three major diagenetic environments affected reservoir intervals. Generally, carbonate reservoirs consist of different rock types and various fluid-flow units. Significance of reservoir rock classification for heterogeneity characterization in these reservoirs is now widely recognized. Our studies indicated that depositional facies and early diagenesis (intensity and extent of dolomitization, dissolution and cementation) has controlled the first order reservoir heterogeneity in these reservoirs (Figure 1). In this research a new reservoir rock classification scheme is established, which is based on poroperm controlling factors (Table 1). By integration of petrographic examination and petrophysic data, twelve major rock types are recognized. These rock types ranked in various reservoir qualities (from poor to good). Therefore, the best reservoir quality can be found commonly in dolomitized and non-dolomitized grain-dominated rock types. Other good reservoir rocks are sucrosic and recrystalized dolomite (with high intercrystalline poroperm) and fractured rock types but these rock types are not common in the reservoir. Furthermore, pore typing analyses are carried out using thin sections and image analysis, SEM, MICP, X-ray CT, core poroperm data and flow unit equations (FZI, RQI and R35). Some 152 samples are selected from reservoir intervals that have commercial poroperm values (units with > 5% and K > 0.1 mD) for production. Image analysis (2-D in thin section photographs) of these samples indicated seven basic pore types. These pore types and their relative percents are intergrain (14%), fenestral (3%), moldic (43%), intercrystalline (8%), fracture, vuggy or solution enlarged (16%), fracture (13%), and stylolitic (3%). Relative proportions of these pore types for each sample is plotted on the ternary diagenetic gradient (Figures 2 and 3). Pore scale examinations showed that pore system properties were modified
Third Arabian Plate Geology Workshop Permo-Triassic (Khuff) Petroleum System of the Arabian Plate Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 November - 1 December 2011

during diagenesis to varying degrees. Considering general diagenetic history and porosity evolution of this reservoir, three main porosity generation stages are recognized as premeteoric, meteoric and post-meteoric. Although a significant amount of secondary porosity has formed during meteoric diagenesis, later diagenesis has effectively improved reservoir quality. The results reveal that relative abundance of moldic pores has the main effect on pore system connection in these carbonate rocks. In conclusion, localized late diagenetic alterations played a key role in the porosity evolution and imposing reservoir heterogeneity (particularly in the pore scale).

Third Arabian Plate Geology Workshop Permo-Triassic (Khuff) Petroleum System of the Arabian Plate Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 November - 1 December 2011

Figure 1: Idealized field-scale facies model for reservoir rocks (Upper PermianLower Triassic Dalan and Kangan formations) of the South Pars Field. Depositional attributes, petrographical parameters, facies, facies-related early diagenetic processes, and reservoir characteristics are shown. Poroperm values of each facies indicating effects of the environmental energy on the distribution of reservoir properties.
Third Arabian Plate Geology Workshop Permo-Triassic (Khuff) Petroleum System of the Arabian Plate Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 November - 1 December 2011

Table 1: Reservoir rock classification scheme applied for carbonate reservoir of the South Pars field. Typical thin section photo-micrographs from these rock types are added here. In this scheme, fractured rock types (RT-1) are units with dominant fracturing and microfracture pore types. Anhydritic dolomites are rock units that contain more than 30% anhydrite. Anhydrite in these rocks show two main fabrics, patchy (nodular and poikilotopic cementation) and uniform (layered and pore-filling type). Cementation Index (CI) and Dissolution Index (DI) definitions are based on the cements percents (with various mineralogies) and dissolution porosity, respectively. Crystal size (CS) is an important factor in the classification of non-mimic dolomites. Fracturing Fractured Mineralogy Fabric Grain-dominated Limestone Mud-dominated Carbonate reservoir NonFractured Mimic Type Dolomite Anhydritic dolomite Anhydrite Non-mimic Type Patchy Fabric Uniform Fabric Texture CI<10% CI>10% DI>5% DI<5% Grain-dominated Mud-dominated CS>100 m CS<100 m Rock Type RT1 RT2 RT3 RT4 RT5 RT6 RT7 RT8 RT9 RT10 RT11 RT12

Figure 2: Pore typing scheme and its six classes (Pore Type Class abbreviated as PTC, from number 1 to 6). This triangular diagram which its apices are based on three main stages in

Third Arabian Plate Geology Workshop Permo-Triassic (Khuff) Petroleum System of the Arabian Plate Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 November - 1 December 2011

porosity generation (diagenetic sequence). These pores are dominant pore types in the South Pars Field. Two main diagenetic trends are recognized between triangular axes.

Figure 3: Six Pore type classes (PTC) are distinguished in the reservoir rocks (n=152). Typical SEM microphotographs of these classes are also shown in this figure. As revealed, pore system show high variety in this reservoir.

Third Arabian Plate Geology Workshop Permo-Triassic (Khuff) Petroleum System of the Arabian Plate Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 November - 1 December 2011