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Depositional process and its control on the densification of coal-measure tight sandstones: insights from the Permian Shanxi Formation of the northeastern Ordos Basin, China

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Abstract

The densification of coal-measure sandstones is important to the exploration of tight sand gas. Previous studies have focused on the influence of diagenesis on sandstone densification, however neglecting the role of depositional processes. Based on an integrated analysis of logging, core, and rock and mineral data, this study depicted the lithological distribution and petrological characteristics of the coal-measure sandstones of the Shanxi Formation in the northeastern Ordos Basin, with revealing the influence of depositional process on diagenesis, and thus identified the densification of the sandstones. The results show that the sandstones were deposited in fluvial-delta settings and were isolated vertically and interbedded with the organic-rich carbonaceous mudstones and coal seams deposited in swamps. Depositional process exerts significant impact on the diagenesis of coal-measure sandstones by determining the sandstone composition. The sandstones are characterized by high argillaceous matrix content that sourced from both the weathered parent rock and the erosion of swamps. The well-sorted coarse and medium sandstones deposited in the middle of channels have relatively low argillaceous matrix contents due to high hydrodynamic energy, which preserved partial intergranular pores after compaction owing to grain supporting. The residual pores facilitated the acidic flow from organic matter in coal seams and mudstones, which led to dissolution and produced dissolved pores. However, the CO2 generated by the thermal degradation of organic acids in carbonaceous mudstones and coal seams contributed to ferroan carbonate cementation, which led to sandstone densification. The poorly sorted fine sandstones deposited in channel margins or crevasse splays present high argillaceous matrix content due to low hydrodynamic energy. The mixed muddy and carbonaceous clasts due to the erosion of swamps by channels further increased the content of argillaceous matrix. High content of argillaceous matrix occupied most intergranular pores after strong compaction and restricted acidic fluid flow, therefore, dissolution and ferroan cementation were limited.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting China University of Petroleum (Beijing) (No. PRP /open-2106), the State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Chengdu University of Technology) Open Fund (PLC 20210112), the Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. MGE2020KG10), the Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Ministry of Natural Resources (Grant No. KLSG 2208), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41802128), the Foundation of Clastic Sedimentology and Reservoir Evaluation (Grant No. 2019QNKYCXTD05).

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  1. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an, 710065, Shaanxi, China

    Yuhang Chen, Jingzhou Zhao, Heyuan Wu, Jun Li & Weitao Wu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    Yuhang Chen

  3. Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, 310012, China

    Yuhang Chen

  4. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Geology, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an, 710065, Shaanxi, China

    Yuhang Chen, Jingzhou Zhao, Heyuan Wu, Jun Li & Weitao Wu

  5. Unconventional Oil & Gas Branch, CNOOC Ltd., Beijing, 100011, China

    Mingqiang Guo & Yingbin Wang

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531_2023_2329_MOESM1_ESM.jpg

Fig. 1 Appendix Mineral composition characteristics of the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation (a) Triangular diagram showing the sandstone composition of the Shanxi Formation in the northeastern Ordos Basin (classification according to Folk (1980)). (b) Histogram of the lithic fragment content among the detrital component. (c) Pie chart of the lithic fragment relative composition of the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation (JPG 812 KB)

531_2023_2329_MOESM2_ESM.jpg

Fig. 2 Appendix Interstitial filling and structural characteristics of the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation. Bar charts of (a) interstitial filling content, (b) carbonate mineral composition (based on thin section observation), (c) clay mineral composition (based on X-ray diffraction bulk-rock analysis) (d) median grain diameter and (e) sorting coefficient. (f) Cross plot of median grain diameter versus sorting coefficient (JPG 1032 KB)

531_2023_2329_MOESM3_ESM.jpg

Fig. 3 Appendix Characteristics of porosity and permeability of the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation. Bar charts of the distribution of (a) porosity and (b) permeability. (c) Cross plot of porosity versus permeability. The weak correlation between low porosity and permeability show that the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation are typically tight sandstones (JPG 613 KB)

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Fig. 4 Appendix Pore types and content of the sandstones in the Shanxi Formation. Dissolved pores are the most important pores, followed by intergranular pores and intercrystalline pores (JPG 39 KB)

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Fig. 5 Appendix Diagenetic characteristics of sandstones with different grain sizes. (a) Types of grain contacts in sandstones. (b) Distribution of pores. (c) Distribution of cement and argillaceous matrix (JPG 706 KB)

531_2023_2329_MOESM6_ESM.jpg

Fig. 6 Appendix Relationship between the argillaceous matrix and the structure of sandstones. (a) Cross plot of sorting coefficient versus argillaceous matrix content. (b) Cross plot of median grain diameter versus argillaceous matrix content. The coarse-sized and well-sorted sandstones contain relatively low content of argillaceous matrix. (c) Cross plot of the content of carbonate cementation and the argillaceous matrix of the sandstones. Carbonate cementation decreases with the increase of argillaceous matrix content, which indicates that the argillaceous matrix occupied pore space and restrained carbonate cementation (JPG 664 KB)

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Fig. 7 Appendix Distribution of the homogenization temperatures of the inclusions in quartz grains in sandstones in the Shanxi Formation (JPG 49 KB)

Fig. 8 Appendix Relationship between the sand body thickness and the argillaceous matrix of the sandstones (JPG 26 KB)

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Fig. 9 Appendix Radar map show the interstitial fillings, thickness, porosity of the sandstones with different types of grain contacts. The types of grain contacts reflect the depositional features including sand body thickness and argillaceous matrix content, and influence diagenesis and pore evolution (JPG 56 KB)

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Chen, Y., Zhao, J., Guo, M. et al. Depositional process and its control on the densification of coal-measure tight sandstones: insights from the Permian Shanxi Formation of the northeastern Ordos Basin, China. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 112, 1871–1890 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-023-02329-y

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