Carbonate Reservoir Geology

Audience

Petroleum geologists, explorationists, petrophysicists, geophysicists and engineers involved with exploration of carbonate plays and development of carbonate reservoirs. Previous knowledge of carbonate sedimentology is not required.

Content

- Carbonate reservoirs: Basic principles; depositional concepts; grain types; textures and fabrics; environmental reconstruction.
- The reservoir model—depositional and diagenetic characteristics: Sabkha/tidal flat; lagoon; shelf; reef (rudist and coral/algal); barrier/shoal; slope and redeposited; aeolian and lacustrine; karst plays.
- Carbonate diagenesis: Primary and secondary porosity; compaction; pressure solution; cementation; dolomitization; porosity generation and destruction; fractures.
- Carbonate and evaporite sequence stratigraphy: Systems tracts; key surfaces; contrasting windward and leeward stacking patterns; carbonate—evaporite cycles; seismic stratigraphy.
- Log response in carbonate rocks: Gamma; sonic; neutron; density; FMS.
- Reservoir assessment: Fracture reservoirs; reservoir modeling; volumetric assessment in correlation and mapping; effects of capillary pressure; interface with engineering.

Learning Objectives

- Understand carbonate depositional systems and controls
- Recognize and model controls on reservoir quality and pore systems including diagenesis and fracturing
- Understand and apply carbonate and evaporate seismic stratigraphy