Evolution and controls of high reservoir quality in Oligocene sandstones from moderate to deep burial, Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China

The Oligocene sandstones characterized by highly variable reservoir quality are the main hydrocarbon exploration and development targets in the Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China. In this study, the evolution and controls of reservoir quality in Oligocene sandstones from moderate to deep burial were investigated using petrographic and petrological data. The results show that the Oligocene sandstones are mostly fine-to coarse-grained, subangular to subrounded roundness, moderately sorted feldspathic litharenites and lithic arkoses with an average Q/F/R distribution of 48.4: 29.1: 22.5. Three anomalously high porosity/permeability zones (AHPZs, hereinafter named AHPZ-I, AHPZ-II, and AHPZ-III, respectively) are developed at depth ranges of 2300-3100 m, 3200-3550 m, and 3700-4200 m, respectively. Notably, the three zones are featured by distinctly different pore types: mainly primary pores in AHPZ-I; pore combination (average primary pore volume > average secondary pore volume) in AHPZ-II; primary pores with a few microfractures in AHPZ-III. The pore-throat sizes controlling permeability in anomalously high porosity sandstones (AHPS) decrease steadily from AHPZ-I to AHPZ-III-1 and then increase significantly at AHPZ-III-2. The AHPS reservoirs are characterized by low displacement pressure, large pore throat and mercury intrusion saturation, and high free fluid index (FFI) and reservoir quality index (RQI). Compaction greatly degraded the reservoir quality of Oligocene sandstones; carbonate cementation further restricts the formation of high-quality reservoirs. The sandstones with low content (<10 %) of carbonate cements tend to have larger primary porosity and secondary porosity, hence a larger RQI. The formation of AHPZ-I and AHPZ-II is attributed to higher content of rigid particle components, lower carbonate cements, and strong dissolution. Moreover, good sorting, responsible for a higher original porosity, also plays a positive role in the cause of AHPZ-I. The coarse-grained particles and early petroleum emplacement are the keys to the preservation of primary porosity in AHPZ-III. The petroleum emplacement effectively inhibits the feldspar dissolution and kaolinite precipitation in the deeply buried sandstones with depths larger than 4000 m. In addition, the generation of crushed microfractures in coarse grains leads to relatively low porosity and high permeability. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.