Palaeofluid evolution in a fractured basalt hosted reservoir in the Üllés-Ruzsa-Bordány area, southern sector of the Pannonian Basin

Abstract

Extensive Miocene volcanic activity produced basaltic and pyroclastic successions, which were penetrated by many wells in the area of Üllés-Ruzsa-Bordány, in the western and central part of the Great Hungarian Plain. The Kecel Basalt comprises primary porosity from a high proportion of vesicles and significant secondary fracture porosity, as well. Due to the significant fracture porosity, some depth intervals show good reservoir characteristics, although the fractures crosscutting the rock body are partly or entirely cemented by various minerals. Based on the textural and mineralogical features, four distinct vein types can be distinguished, named after their volumetrically most abundant cement phases, i.e. potassium-feldspar (Kfp-), calcite (Cal-), laumontite (Lmt-) and analcime (Anl-) types. This study focuses on probably the youngest of these vein types, the Anl-type. Based on the study of veins and mineral sequences, the direction of temperature changes cannot be given unequivocally for every stage of cementation, but crystallization of the Anl-type veins might have occurred at lower temperatures than the formation of the Lmt-type veins. Fluid inclusion studies suggest that hydrocarbon migration and accumulation took place after cementation of the first three vein types (Kfp-, Cal- and Lmt-types). In the newly opened fracture system, two types of hydrocarbon (HC1 and HC2)-bearing fluid inclusion assemblages were captured during precipitation of analcime and later zeolites. This refers to two stages of hydrocarbon migration in the fracture system. Observations of the fluorescence colours and low temperature behaviours of the hydrocarbon-bearing inclusions, the earlier HC1 petroleum-inclusions captured heavier (presumably less mature oils), while the later ones (HC2) lighter (presumably more mature) oils. The HC2 petroleum seems to be very similar to the crude oil sampled in a well in the area based on their fluorescence parameters.

Keywords

• fractured basalt reservoir, Pannonian Basin, zeolite minerals, fluid inclusion, hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions, fluorescence