Micro pore and throat characteristics and origin of tight sandstone reservoirs: A case study of the Triassic Chang 6 and Chang 8 members in Longdong area, Ordos Basin, NW China

Abstract

The microstructure differences of the Triassic Chang 6 and Chang 8 members tight reservoirs in the Longdong area of Ordos Basin were compared by means of cast thin sections, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and constant rate mercury injection. Their pore evolution models were established, and the effects of main diagenesis on densification were examined. The throat is the main factor controlling the physical properties of the Chang 6 and Chang 8 members reservoirs: The lower the permeability, the smaller and the more concentrated the throat radius and the larger the proportion of the throats in the effective storage space. There are several obvious differences between Chang 6 and Chang 8 members: (1) with the increase of permeability, the contribution of the relative large throats to the permeability in the Chang 8 member reservoir is more than that in the Chang 6 member reservoir; (2) the control effect on pore-throat ratio of the nano-throats in the Chang 6 member reservoir is more significant. The sedimentary action determines the primary pore structure of the Chang 6 and Chang 8 members sand bodies, and the diagenesis is the main factor controlling the densification of the reservoirs. Because of the difference in rock fabrics and the chlorite content of Chang 6 and Chang 8, the strong compaction resulted in less porosity reduction (17%) of the Chang 81 reservoir with larger buried depth and larger ground temperature than the Chang 63 reservoir (19%). The siliceous, calcareous and clay minerals cement filling the pores and blocking the pore throat, which is the key factor causing the big differences between the reservoir permeability of Chang 6 and Chang 8 members. Key words: Ordos Basin, Triassic, Yanchang Formation, tight sandstone reservoir, constant-speed mercury intrusion, micro pore and throat structure