AUTHOR=Thomson Paul-Ross , Ellis Rory , Chiarella Domenico , Hier-Majumder Saswata TITLE=Microstructural Analysis From X-Ray CT Images of the Brae Formation Sandstone, North Sea JOURNAL=Frontiers in Earth Science VOLUME=8 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.00246 DOI=10.3389/feart.2020.00246 ISSN=2296-6463 ABSTRACT=

During deposition and subsequent diagenesis, reservoir rocks develop sediment texture and cement phases are formed during the precipitation of secondary minerals such as microcrystalline quartz, calcite and clay fibrous over-growths that contain secondary porosity. The grain size distribution and presence of secondary microporous material can influence the reservoir porosity and permeability. Using 3D X-ray microtomographic images we analyze the grains and pore space in Brae Formation sandstones from the South Viking Graben in the North Sea. The samples—derived from two cored wells (16/7b-20 and 16/7b-23), and located within the depth interval between 4,040 m and 4,064 m—display mean grain sizes between 315 and 524 microns (1.78–1.05 ϕ units), classifying them as predominantly medium-grained sands, with moderate to well-sorting (0.51–0.7 ϕ units). From our models we calculate the upper and lower bounds of the micropores on the pore connectivity and permeability. Our samples show total porosities between 10 and 18% of which 6 and 13% are effective, leading to a permeability range between 1 and 400 mD through the effective macropore network. We found that the fraction of effective porosity and effective permeability shows a non-linear reduction with increase in microporous cement volume fraction. Above a threshold cement volume of approximately 5.5% the effective pore network is disconnected and percolation is no longer possible. Based on our observations and modeling results we propose that cement precipitation can be a positive consequence of mineral trapping from sequestered CO2, which can be important for reducing reservoir quality and ensuring efficient long term storage.