Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2017, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (4): 764-775,783.doi: 10.11743/ogg20170413

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Origin of the Lower Cambrian leopard-pattern limestones and its influence on reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin

Han Bo1,2, Feng Jufang2, He Zhiliang2, Tian Haiqin2, Zhu Shuang3, Wang Xiaotao3   

  1. 1. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;
    2. Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China;
    3. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
  • Received:2016-07-12 Revised:2017-05-08 Online:2017-08-28 Published:2017-09-09

Abstract: Wide occurrence of leopard-pattern limestones (dolostone) has aroused extensive attention of scholars,but origin of this type of rock remains disputable.So a study on its features,origin,and impact on reservoir properties is significant to petroleum exploration.Four reference cross sections were chosen in the Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation and Tianheban Formation in the Sichuan Basin to analyze petrologic and geochemistry characteristics.Based on outcrop sedimentary facies study,microscopic observation,X-ray diffraction analysis,scanning electron microscopic observation,electron probe microanalysis,and stable isotope analysis,the origin of the limestone was discussed.Leopard pattern limestone occurs mainly in two types of rocks in the Lower Cambrian sediments in the Sichuan Basin:wackstone and packstone.According to their different features in patch morphology,clay content,dolomite size and crystal form,leopard pa-ttern limestone can be classified into three types:muddy leopard limestone,leopard limestone containing mud,and leopard limestone.The first two types mainly appear in wackstone,composed of muddy to silty,anhedral to semi-euhedral crystalline dolomite,while the third type of leopard pattern limestone occur in packstone,composed of silty to fine,semi-euhedral to euhedral crystalline dolomite.Leopard pattern limestone in wackstone deposited in subtidal environment with low water energy,lime mud and aragonite mud(transform to dolomite) deposited alternately in tune with the water body transform from open to restricted frequently due to sea level change.Leopard pattern are formed by wave disturbance and di-fferential load from overlying strata.Leopard pattern limestone in packstone was mainly formed during shallow burial stage,when formation water with high content of magnesium penetrated into the cemented sediments and dolomitization took place.Intercrystalline pore space is widely observed in leopard limestone,which shows much better reservoir properties than limestone,so the proportion of leopard pattern limestone to the whole rock determines the petrophysical properties of reservoir rocks.

Key words: selective dolomitization, leopard pattern limestone, Longwangmiao Formation, Lower Cambrian, Sichuan Basin

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