A kinetic model of pressure solution/compaction for porosity prediction

Conference · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5738101

Lahann, R W ^[1]

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1. Conoco Exploration Research, Ponca City, OK (United States)

A pressure/temperature history model for prediction of porosity of well-sorted, quartzose sandstones was developed and calibrated. The model assumes that porosity loss of quartzose sandstones is by pressure solution, which can be modeled by calculations of pressure solution/compaction of a uniform grain pack. The model assumes that all mass mobilized by the pressure solution is precipitated within the system and no mass is introduced from outside sources. A pressure solution rate law was developed that requires depth, temperature, and pressure information throughout the sandstone burial history. Rate of pressure solution is assumed to be proportional to effective lithostatic pressure, inversely proportional to te contact area between grains, and to have an Arrhenius-type dependence on temperature. The predicted porosities vary as a function of grain size and the pressure/temperature history of the sample. 'Unknowns' in the rate law were determined by calibration to a North Sea/Norwegian shelf data base of average porosities for well-sorted sandstones ranging in age from Devonian to Jurassic. Comparison of observed and model-predicted porosities indicates that, for the calibration data base, the model has a standard error if estimate of 3.6 porosity units. Sources of error include erroneous model assumptions, and grain size, sorting, and temperature and pressure history determinations on the calibration set. The model was tested on US Gulf Coast Miocene and Oligocene reservoirs and provided good estimates of observed porosities.

• OSTI ID: 5738101
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403-; CODEN: AABUD
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 75:3; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Dallas, TX (United States), 7-10 Apr 1991; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
DIAGENESIS
POROSITY
COMPACTING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISSOLUTION
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GRAIN SIZE
GULF OF MEXICO
NORTH SEA
NORWAY
PRECIPITATION
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
SANDSTONES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
US GULF COAST
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
EVALUATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SCANDINAVIA
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SURFACE WATERS
USA
580000* - Geosciences
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration