Porosity/formation-factor relationships for high-porosity siliciclastic sediments from Amazon Fan

The electrical resistivity of siliciclastic rocks is a function both of pore-fluid resistivity and of formation factor (FF), an intrinsic rock property. For low-porosity rocks, FF depends on clay conduction and porosity. In contrast, we find that FF of high-porosity sediments (fractional porosities of 0.3-0.6) from Amazon Fan is controlled primarily by porosity and pore geometry; clay conduction is a minor effect. Porosity vs. formation factor (FF) plots for Amazon Fan well logs demonstrate two distinct trends which are dependent on the amount of shale present. Muds, with more than about 0.4 shale fraction, follow a trend that increases to much higher FF as porosity decreases, compared to sands and slightly muddy sands. This separation is of opposite sign to the separation between low-porosity sandstones and shales attributable to clay conduction. We conclude that in high-porosity muds, presence of clays reduces formation conductivity by increasing the tortuosity of pores.