Fossilized worm burrows influence the resource quality of porous media

Gingras, Murray K.; Mendoza, Carl; Pemberton, S. George

doi:10.1306/01260403065

Cited by 47 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Consequently, small-scale features such as bioturbation are commonly ignored despite their obvious importance to fluid flow (Gingras et al, 1999(Gingras et al, , 2004aSpila et al, 2007;La Croix et al, 2012, 2013Baniak et al, 2013, in press). If the processes of fluid flow, reserve estimates, and field development are to be accurately modeled and understood, it is imperative that features such as bioturbation are evaluated.…”

Section: Perspectives On Fluid Flow Behavior Using Integrated Micro-cmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These properties are important emerging topics because bioturbation has been shown to have the ability to impact the values and distribution of porosity and permeability within aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs (Pemberton and Gingras, 2005;Gingras et al, 2007aGingras et al, , 2012Knaust, 2009a;Cunningham et al, 2012;and references therein). Biogenic modifications of the substrate can result in the development of dual-porosity or dual-permeability flow networks (Gingras et al, 2004a(Gingras et al, , 2007aPemberton and Gingras, 2005). Dual-porosity and dual-permeability systems are defined herein by permeability values that differ by less than, or greater than two orders of magnitude between the burrow and the rock or sediment matrix, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Baniak

Croix

Polo

et al. 2014

Ichnos

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The use of X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) to evaluate the contrasts in permeability associated with bioturbation in twoand three-dimensions (2D and 3D) is investigated in this article. Core analysis, spot-permeametry measurements, and petrographic thin-sections of the six different datasets from Western Canada (Debolt Formation, Wabamun Group, and Medicine Hat Member) and offshore Norway (Ula Formation, Lysing Formation, and Nise Formation) show that the trace fossils commonly modify the permeability and porosity of the reservoir through sediment reworking and diagenesis of the sediment. In this study, micro-CT techniques are used to analyze the X-ray attenuation associated with bioturbation in siliciclastics and carbonates. Because X-ray attenuation represents the transmissivity or absorptivity of a sample to the incident X-rays, each of which is related to sediment composition and sediment densities, micro-CT images are integrated with sedimentological data and petrographic data to identify the trace fossils and matrix in 2D and 3D. Due to the difference in sediment grain size and sorting (i.e., porosity) within the burrows and matrix, analysis of the X-ray attenuations allows for their delineation in 2D cross-sectional images. When processed as 3D volumes, the micro-CT images show the complexity in burrow connectivity and burrow orientations within a sample. More importantly, the 3D volumes help show the distribution of porosity that can be linked to measured permeability values within a sample. Quantification of the heterogeneous burrow fabric on reservoir and resource quality is made from these processed micro-CT images.

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Section: Perspectives On Fluid Flow Behavior Using Integrated Micro-cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Baniak

Croix

Polo

et al. 2014

Ichnos

Self Cite

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“…It is also possible that under conditions of increased alkalinity, created through excess production of HCO 3 or anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, dolomite precipitation was occasionally favoured, leading to the preferential dolomitization of burrows or inter-burrow areas at discontinuity surfaces (cf. Gingras et al 2004b).…”

Section: Marine Diagenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example the contrast between small, poorly connected pore systems and the leached, interburrow areas within bioturbated facies is best simulated as a dual porosity/dual permeability system (Abu Shiekah et al 2007;Creusen et al 2007;Gingras et al 1999Gingras et al , 2004b. Given that simulation of fracturecontrolled flow is also best served through construction of discrete fracture networks that also impart a dual permeability system on the reservoir (alongside matrix permeability), these challenges are not trivial.…”

Section: Impact Of Diagenesis On Reservoir Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Diagenetic controls on reservoir properties of carbonate successions within the Albian–Turonian of the Arabian Plate

Hollis

2011

133

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The carbonate-dominated Albian to Turonian succession is one of the key petroleum systems of the Arabian Plate. It is dominated by shallow water platform carbonates that were deposited in a shallow epeiric sea on the margins of Neotethys. In general, the reservoirs in this succession have high porosities but exhibit heterogeneous permeabilities. This study reviews published data for the region and attempts to unravel the key diagenetic controls on the porosity and permeability of the reservoirs. The results demonstrate that a spectrum of diagenetic processes created highly heterogeneous multimodal pore networks. Intense boring and micritization of skeletal allochems, differential cementation of a pervasive burrow network and preferential dissolution of aragonitic skeletal allochems are ubiquitous. Locally, particularly on the northern and eastern Arabian Plate, deeppenetrating epikarst can be tied to a differential response to global sea level fluctuation and local tectonism. The development of a peripheral bulge in late Cenomanian-Turonian times, halokinesis, localized influx of channelized clastic material and sub-regional climatic variability contributed to a heterogeneous pattern of meteoric diagenesis across the Arabian Plate. The succession was then buried to up to 10 km during the Late CretaceousTertiary. Where deep-penetrating fault systems were reactivated by Alpine tectonism, flushing by hydrothermal brines resulted in highly localized patterns of hydrothermal dolomitization and leaching, associated with hydrocarbon emplacement.

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“…In carbonate facies, burrows can remain completely open during burial and diagenesis, forming entirely open pipeworks. Similar large burrows in sandstones filled with coarse-grained poorly sorted sandstone have also been considered to be reservoir enhancing (Pemberton, 1992;Gingras et al, 1999Gingras et al, , 2004aGingras et al, , 2007Pemberton and Gingras, 2005;Tonkin et al, 2010). Not all burrows are reservoir enhancing, and many types of trace fossils are expected to reduce the connectivity of primary sedimentologic porosity (e.g., Pemberton and Gingras, 2005;Tonkin et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of phycosiphoniform burrows on shale hydrocarbon reservoir quality

Bednarz

McIlroy

2012

Bulletin

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A B S T R A C TUnconventional gas (tight gas, coalbed methane, and shale gas) has become an increasingly significant source of energy. Economic production from such low-permeability reservoirs relies upon identifying regions of the reservoir that will yield the highest gas production rates. Currently available gas recovery technologies are highly dependent on the fracturability of the reservoir. Zones of enhanced brittleness and permeability within shale-gas reservoir horizons are a prerequisite for successful shale-gas recovery. Such brittle zones are directly linked with increased quartz and/or carbonate content within the mudstone. In mudstones with high clay-mineral content, quartz may be concentrated and redistributed as a result of burrowing activities of infaunal organisms. Highquality porosity and permeability zones in shale-petroleum reservoirs may be present in the form of silty and sandy tortuous strips of selectively concentrated grains of quartz that constitute burrow halos. Grain-selective burrows therefore can improve reservoir capacity, permeability, and fracturability and thus control the storativity of the shale-petroleum reservoir. This study presents three-dimensional reconstructions of three different types of Phycosiphon-like burrows and investigates the possible fluid-flow paths caused by the ichnofabric. The volumetric approach to the bioturbation generated by phycosiphoniform burrow makers used herein shows that the volume of sediment that becomes more porous and more permeable media within such bioturbated interval can range from 13 to 26% of the total volume. The quartzose strips of sediment caused by bioturbation are highly tortuous and interconnected vertically and horizontally, thereby increasing both horizontal and vertical permeability. Additionally, the quartz frameworks created by the A U T H O R SMałgorzata Bednarz received her M.Sc. degree in geology from the Jagiellonian University in Poland. After working for several years as a graphic designer, Małgorzata returned to geology as a Ph.D. student at Memorial University. Her research is focused on three-dimensional ichnofabric analysis as a tool for assessing the function of bioturbation on the porosity, permeability, and fracture susceptibility of shale-gas reservoirs.

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Fossilized worm burrows influence the resource quality of porous media

Cited by 47 publications

References 14 publications

Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Associating X-Ray Microtomography with Permeability Contrasts in Bioturbated Media

Diagenetic controls on reservoir properties of carbonate successions within the Albian–Turonian of the Arabian Plate

Effect of phycosiphoniform burrows on shale hydrocarbon reservoir quality

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