Porosity and Permeability in Bioturbated Sediments

Gingras, Murray K.; Baniak, Greg M.; Gordon, John B.; Hovikoski, Jussi; Konhauser, Kurt O.; Croix, Andrew D. La; Lemiski, Ryan Thomas; Mendoza, Carl; Pemberton, S. George; Polo, Camilo A.; Zonneveld, John‐Paul

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-53813-0.00027-7

Cited by 77 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Moreover, these dolomitized burrow fabrics commonly provide localized enhancement of permeabilities relative to the impermeable lime mud matrix. As shown by Gingras et al (2007bGingras et al ( , 2012 and Baniak et al (2013), dolomitized bioturbated media commonly develop anisotropic permeability networks. Given the lateral extensiveness of these bioturbated intervals across the Dunvegan gas field (Fig.…”

Section: Burrow-mediated Dolomitization Debolt Formationmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sabkha and Burrow-Mediated Dolomitization in the Mississippian Debolt Formation, Northwestern Alberta, Canada

Baniak¹,

Amskold²,

Konhauser³

et al. 2014

Ichnos

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Dolomitized burrows in the Mississippian (Visean) DeboltFormation of northwestern Alberta, Canada form the primary reservoir intervals in the Dunvegan gas field. Sedimentological and ichnological analyses suggest a carbonate ramp setting that includes subenvironments such as sabkhas, hypersaline lagoons, restricted subtidal lagoons, intertidal mud flats, and peloidal shoals. Dolomitization occurs primarily within oxidized muds and highly bioturbated sediments, with the primary mode being sabkha-associated precipitation. In this context, dolomitization within the burrows also appears to be mediated by sulfatereducing bacteria. d 18 O values for dolomite within burrows (mean 2.4%) are enriched by 1.3% relative to calcite values (mean 1.1%) within the burrows. This degree of fractionation is similar for dolomite and calcite that have precipitated from the same solution. It is therefore suggested that the protodolomite precipitated in equilibrium with calcite rather than by replacement of preexisting calcite. Isotopic values of d 13 C measured for dolomite associated with burrows (mean 3.4%) and matrix (mean 3.5%) is slightly enriched relative to measured calcite values (mean 3.2% for matrix; mean 3.1% for burrows). These isotopic trends are common for modern dolomite that has precipitated in equilibrium with seawater where concomitant sulfate reduction and organic carbon-oxidation is inferred to occur near the surface.

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Section: Burrow-mediated Dolomitization Debolt Formationmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sabkha and Burrow-Mediated Dolomitization in the Mississippian Debolt Formation, Northwestern Alberta, Canada

Baniak¹,

Amskold²,

Konhauser³

et al. 2014

Ichnos

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“…Historically, most trace fossil research was conducted on outcrops. In the latter half of the twentieth century ichnological analysis of well cores became commonplace (e.g., Pemberton et al 2001;Gingras et al 2007Gingras et al , 2012MacEachern et al 2009). More recently, ichnology has been applied to deep-sea drill cores obtained during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) expeditions (Wetzel and Uchman 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A Novel Application of Digital Image Treatment by Quantitative Pixel Analysis to Trace Fossil Research in Marine Cores

Dorador¹,

Rodrı́guez-Tovar²

2014

PALAIOS

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Ichnological analysis in cores has grown substantially in the past two decades because of its importance in fields such as paleoecology, biostratigraphy, or reservoir characterization. Yet core analysis entails some added difficulties in comparison to ichnological outcrop study, especially in modern marine sediments. Quantitative pixel analysis conducted on high-resolution images is used to facilitate the study of bioturbation in marine cores from site U1385 of IODP Expedition 339 in the Gulf of Cádiz. Lateral and vertical variation of pixel values obtained from the infilling trace fossils and from the host sediment are revealed to be highly useful to: (1) differentiate between trace fossils and biodeformational structures, including the host sediment; (2) discriminate between ichnotaxa (i.e., Palaeophycus vs. Planolites); (3) differentiate between passively and actively infilled structures (e.g., Thalassinoides vs. Planolites), and (4) characterize the horizon of bioturbation and thus evaluate the depth of penetration of particular tracemakers.

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“…Textural and mineralogical modifications of the original sedimentary fabric by organisms at the time of sediment deposition are known as bioturbation. Biogenically driven chemical and physical alteration of the primary sedimentary fabric due to burrowing infauna in carbonate formations can result in fabricselective dolomitization [1]. Recent studies have demonstrated that in tight carbonate formations this type of modification can lead to the enhancement of reservoir permeability [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The digital rock analysis of biogenically induced reservoir heterogeneities in Cretaceous reservoirs of Saudi Arabia

Deshenenkov

Polo

2020

E3S Web Conf.

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The characterization of the fluid-flow properties in biogenically altered formations is a key for successful exploration campaigns. This study assessed reservoir quality and evaluated permeability of the biogenically-modified Cretaceous carbonate section in Saudi Arabia. When dealing with these bioturbated carbonates, characterization of sedimentary heterogeneities is often overprinted by the complex spatial geometries of burrows. The high-resolution 3D X-ray microscopy imaging and analysis of these bioturbated sections lead to a better understanding of the interconnectivity between permeable burrows and tight matrix. The analysis deploys multiscale imaging from whole core to sub-micron scale. The coarse imaging at 20-50 microns resolution helped to identify bioturbated sections to select samples for higher resolution tomography. The 3D sample tomograms were segmented to define burrows and matrix distributions, where samples were extracted for thin-sections, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) analyses to refine the pore sizes and rock types. The analysis showed an intricate, highly connected, mixed horizontal and inclined burrow system dominated by Thalassinoides. Intergranular porosity, associated with the fill of Thalassinoides, constitutes a mechanism for permeability enhancement in a tight matrix. Increased permeability is associated with higher dolomite content that might be used as a sweet spot identifier from wireline logs.

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Porosity and Permeability in Bioturbated Sediments

Cited by 77 publications

References 36 publications

Sabkha and Burrow-Mediated Dolomitization in the Mississippian Debolt Formation, Northwestern Alberta, Canada

Sabkha and Burrow-Mediated Dolomitization in the Mississippian Debolt Formation, Northwestern Alberta, Canada

A Novel Application of Digital Image Treatment by Quantitative Pixel Analysis to Trace Fossil Research in Marine Cores

The digital rock analysis of biogenically induced reservoir heterogeneities in Cretaceous reservoirs of Saudi Arabia

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