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Sedimentology and diagenesis control on reservoir quality of Sheikhan Limestone (Eocene) at the Panoba and Sheikhan Nala Section, Kohat Basin, Pakistan

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Abstract

The Sheikhan Limestone of Eocene age has been studied in detail covering its microfacies analysis, depositional setting, being a reservoir potential, and diagenetic sequence. For this purpose, two best exposed geological sections at Sheikhan Nala and Panoba section, Kohat Basin (Pakistan) have been selected. The techniques used for this research work are petrographic analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), cathodoluminescence (CL), pore plug porosity, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. Typically, the Sheikhan Limestone is compacted, fossiliferous, and yellowish-grey in color, medium-thin bedded limestone with interbedded shale partings. The thickness of the studied limestone is 32 m to 44 m in the Sheikhan Nala and Panoba sections, respectively. A petrographic study reveals that calcite occurs in the form of micrite with a minor quantity of spare. Carbonate-filled fractures are common, as micro-veins. Detailed study reveals the diagenetic processes, and these include the imprints of micritization, neomorphism, cementation, compaction, dissolution, and fracturing. The dissolution and fractures enhance the reservoir characteristic, whereas clay minerals, micritization, compaction, and cementation reduces the reservoir potential of Sheikhan Limestone. The outcrop and petrographic studies have been used as a powerful tool to identify different microfacies. Based on all petrographic studies and microfacies analysis, it is suggested that the Eocene Sheikhan Limestone has been deposited under a shallow neritic inner shelf environment. Dissolution and fractures enhance the reservoir characteristics, whereas micritization, cementation, and compaction reduce the reservoir quality.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledged the Department of Earth Sciences to provide the basic facilities as well as the Center of the Excellence University of Peshawar, Pakistan for providing experimental facilities, and this research work was funded by ourselves.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan

    Atif Salim, Muhammad Kashif, Noor Ahmed, Naveed Rehman, Zahid Ullah & Muhammad Tariq

  2. Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Jawad Munawar

  3. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Huangdao, China

    Danish Khan

  4. Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Bin Dou

  5. Department of Earth Sciences, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Havelian, Pakistan

    Muhammad Sajid

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Salim, A., Kashif, M., Dou, B. et al. Sedimentology and diagenesis control on reservoir quality of Sheikhan Limestone (Eocene) at the Panoba and Sheikhan Nala Section, Kohat Basin, Pakistan. Carbonates Evaporites 37, 64 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-022-00809-x

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