Diagenetic Sequence and Genetic Mechanism of Silurian Tight Sandstone Reservoirs in the Eastern Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The Silurian stratigraphic sequence has recently become one of the most important exploration targets in the Tarim Basin, with a considerable amount of profitable hydrocarbon pools discovered in the central Tarim Basin. Previous exploration activities indicate that the Silurian stratigraphic sequence in the eastern Tarim Basin has great hydrocarbon exploration potential. The Silurian reservoirs comprise a set of tight marine sandstones, whose diagenetic sequence and genetic mechanism are still poorly understood. The complex relationship of hydrocarbon generation, the timing of the peak expulsion of the source rocks and the evolution of the reservoirs remains unclear. An integrated description and analysis have been carried out on core samples from eleven wells selected from the eastern Tarim Basin. A range of petrographic and geochemical analyses were conducted. By using an integrated approach with thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, cathodoluminescence（CL）, carbon and oxygen isotope geochemistry, formation water analysis, X-ray diffractometry（XRD）, electron probe microanalysis and fluid inclusion microthermometry, the genesis and occurrence of individual diagenetic events were documented to reconstruct the diagenetic sequence and diagenetic model for the Silurian sandstone. Additionally, the tight nature of the Silurian reservoirs can mainly be attributed to the compaction processes and cementation. In particular, the destructiveness of the compactional processes to the original porosity is far greater than that from the cementation. Furthermore, fluid inclusion analyses also indicate that the Silurian sandstone has experienced three phases of hydrocarbon charge. The first two phases occurred during the eodiagenesis stage（from the Late Silurian to the Early Devonian and from the Late Carboniferous to the end of the Late Permian）, when the Silurian sandstone was not tight and had a porosity of greater than 20%. The third phase occurred during the stage B of mesodiagenesis（since the Late Cretaceous）, when the Silurian sandstone was fully tight.

Reservoir Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Silurian Lower Kepingtage Formation in Tahe Area, Tarim Basin, NW China

With the breakthrough of exploration in Well TP16-1, the lower Kepingtage Formation becomes a key target for petroleum exploration of deep clastic reservoir in Tahe area. In this paper we focused on the research of the reservoir characteristics and its controlling factors in two sub-member formations（S1k11 and S1k13）. Based on X-ray diffraction, conventional physical properties data（porosity and permeability） and reservoir storage space data（casting thin section and scanning electron microscope）, we determined that the S1k1 Formation belongs to extra-low porosity and permeability reservoir, although the upper S1k13 Formation shows relative better physical characteristic than the lower S1k11 Formation. The development of storage space in the study area is controlled by sedimentary microfacies, diagenesis process. Reservoirs in S1k1 Formation are mainly located in channel（S1k11 sandstones） and sand flat（S1k13 sandstones）. The sand flat sediments with a more coarse grain size compared with the channel. In diagenesis, compaction is the major controlling factor for reducing the porosity, followed by cementation. Dissolution of diagenesis is the major controlling factor in enhancing the reservoir porosities. Compared with channel（S1k11） sandstones, sand flat sandstones（S1k13） have better reservoir quality for its weaker compaction, cementation and stronger dissolution. On the basis of sedimentary characteristics（grain size and subfacies）, physical property（porosity and permeability） and reservoir storage space, we divide the S1k1 reservoir into three categories（I, II and III）. Type I reservoir is high quality reservoir. It is mainly distributed in the south area of S1k11 and S1k13 reservoir. Type II is moderate reservoir. It is located in the middle of S1k11 reservoir and in the north of S1k13 reservoir. Type III is the poor reservoir. It is only located in the north of S1k11 reservoir.