Modelling Quartz Cementation and Porosity in Reservoir Sandstones: Examples from the Norwegian Continental Shelf

  1. Richard H. Worden7,
  2. Sadoon Morad8
  1. O. Walderhaug1,†,
  2. R. H. Lander2,
  3. P. A. Bjørkum3,
  4. E. H. Oelkers4,
  5. K. Bjørlykke5,
  6. P. H. Nadeau3

Published Online: 17 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9781444304237.ch3

Book Title

Quartz Cementation in Sandstones

Quartz Cementation in Sandstones

Additional Information

How to Cite

Walderhaug, O., Lander, R. H., Bjørkum, P. A., Oelkers, E. H., Bjørlykke, K. and Nadeau, P. H. (2009) Modelling Quartz Cementation and Porosity in Reservoir Sandstones: Examples from the Norwegian Continental Shelf, in Quartz Cementation in Sandstones (eds R. H. Worden and S. Morad), Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK. doi: 10.1002/9781444304237.ch3

Editor Information

  1. 7

    School of Geosciences, The Queen's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK

  2. 8

    Sedimentary Geology Research Group, Institute of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 B, S–75236, Uppsala, Sweden

Author Information

  1. 1

    Rogaland Research, PO Box 2503 Ullandhaug, 4004 Stavanger, Norway

  2. 2

    Geologica a.s., PO Box 2503 Ullandhaug, 4004 Stavanger, Norway

  3. 3

    Statoil a.s., 4035 Stavanger, Norway

  4. 4

    Université Paul Sabatier-CNRS, 38 rue de Trente-six Ponts, 31400 Toulouse, France

  5. 5

    University of Oslo, PO Box 1047 Blindern, 0316 Oslo 3, Norway

  1. †

    Statoil a.s., 4035 Stavanger, Norway

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 17 MAR 2009
  2. Published Print: 3 MAR 2000

ISBN Information

Print ISBN: 9780632054824

Online ISBN: 9781444304237

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Keywords:

  • modelling quartz cementation and porosity in reservoir sandstones;
  • quartz cementation in sandstones from Norwegian shelf;
  • porosity in reservoir sandstones;
  • quartz cementation model;
  • modelling quartz cementation in Brent group;
  • petrographic composition of Tarbert Formation samples;
  • modelled porosities versus measured porosities;
  • effect of quartz clast abundance on modelled quartz cement and porosity

Summary

The volume of precipitated quartz cement and the resulting porosity loss in a quartzose sandstone can be calculated from the temperature history of the sandstone based on an equation relating the quartz precipitation rate per unit surface area and per unit time to temperature. In addition to temperature and time, the quartz surface area available for quartz cement precipitation will control the progress of quartz cementation within a given sandstone. Grain size, detrital grain mineralogy and abundance of grain coatings, factors which are controlled by provenance and depositional environment, are therefore also essential input parameters for modelling of quartz cementation.

Computed quartz cement volumes and porosities were compared with measured values for Brent Group sandstone samples from two wells in the northern North Sea. Porosities and quartz cement volumes in these sandstones currently vary from 8 to 19% and from 6 to 28%, respectively, due to large variations in grain size, grain coating abundance and quartz clast content. Despite these compositional and textural variations, modelled and measured values for both quartz cement and porosity in most cases differ by less than a few percent. Mean measured porosity and quartz cement volume differ from mean modelled porosity and quartz cement volume by less than one percent in both wells.

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