Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diagenetic controls on evolution of porosity in the Permian Illawarra Coal Measures, Southern Sydney Basin, Australia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Petrography of the Illawarra Coal Measures was described by thin section, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques. Sandstone composition of the Illawarra Coal Measures includes mostly lithic grains with minor quartz, feldspar, mica and heavy minerals. The Illawarra Coal Measures consists of litharenite and rarely sublitharenite. Quartz includes monocrystalline and polycrystalline grains while the feldspar includes both K-feldspar and plagioclase. Volcanic, sedimentary and chert rock fragments are present in the Illawarra Coal Measures. Thin-section porosity occurs in all units, particularly the coarse-grained deposits. Secondary porosity is more common than primary porosity in the Illawarra Coal Measures. Thin sections and scanning electron microscopy were used to describe diagenetic alterations and their influence on porosity in Illawarra Coal Measures. These diagenetic alterations include compaction, quartz overgrowths, authigenic clay minerals, carbonate cement and authigenic feldspar. In the Illawarra Coal Measures, shale, siltstone and fine-grained sandstone are common in the Wilton Formation, Bargo Claystone, Darkes Forest Sandstone, Allans Creek Formation, Unnamed Member Three and Unnamed Member Two. These units have low porosity and form lithological seals and confining layers. Medium- and coarse-grained sandstone is common in the Kembla Sandstone, Lawrence Sandstone Member and Loddon Sandstone and contains low porosity. Thus, gas or water may be present in these formations. The Tongarra Coal, Allans Creek Coal Member, Wongawilli Coal, Hargrave Coal Member, Cape Horn Coal Member, Balgownie Coal Member and Bulli Coal are the main sources for gas in the Illawarra Coal Measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abouessa A, Morad S (2009) An integrated study of diagenesis and depositional facies in tidal sandstones: Hawaz Formation (Middle Ordovician), Murzuq Basin, Libya. J Pet Geol 32:39–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ramadan K, Morad S, Proust JN, Al-Aasm I (2005) Distribution of diagenetic alterations in siliciclastic shoreface deposits within a sequence stratigraphic framework: evidence from the Upper Jurassic, Boulonnais, NW France. J Sediment Res 75:943–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ramadan KA, Hussain M, Imam B, Saner S (2004) Lithologic characteristics and diagenesis of the Devonian Jauf Sandstone at Ghawar Field, eastern Saudi Arabia. Mar Pet Geol 21:1221–1234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arditto PA (2003) High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of the Sydney Subgroup, southern Sydney Basin; preliminary findings. In: Hutton AC, Jones BG, Carr PF, Ackerman B, Switzer AC (eds) Proceedings of the Thirty fifth symposium on Advances in the study of the Sydney Basin. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, N.S.W., Australia, pp 333–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Armitage PJ, Worden RH, Faulkner DR, Aplin AC, Butcher AR, Iliffe J (2010) Diagenetic and sedimentary controls on porosity in Lower Carboniferous fine-grained lithologies, Krechba Field, Algeria; a petrological study of a cap rock to a carbon capture site. Mar Pet Geol 27:1395–1410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai GP (1991) Petrology, diagenesis and reservoir potential of Narrabeen Group sandstones, Sydney Basin, NSW. PhD thesis, University of Sydney, Sydney

  • Balfe PE, Draper JJ, Scott SG, Belcher RL (1988) Bowen Basin solid geology 1:500,000 map. Geological Survey of Queensland, Brisbane

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamberry WJ (1992) Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Late Permian Illawarra Coal Measures, Southern Sydney Basin, New South Wales. PhD. thesis, University of Wollongong (unpublished), Wollongong

  • Bamberry WJ, Hutton AC, Jones BG (1995) The Permian Illawarra Coal Measures, southern Sydney Basin, Australia; a case study of deltaic sedimentation. In: Oti JS (ed) Geology of deltas. Balkema Utigevers, Rotterdam, pp 153–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckett J, Hamilton DS, Weber CR (1983) Permian and Triassic stratigraphy and sedimentation in the Gunnedah–Narrabri–Coonabarabran region. Geol Surv NSW Q Notes 51:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertier P, Swennen R, Lagrou D, Laenen B, Kemps R (2008) Palaeo-climate controlled diagenesis of the Westphalian C & D fluvial sandstones in the Campine Basin (north-east Belgium). Sedimentology 55:1375–1417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Billault V, Beaufort D, Baronnet A, Lacharpagne JC (2003) A nanopetrographic and textural study of grain-coating chlorites in sandstone reservoirs. Clay Miner 38:315–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bloch S, Lander RH, Bonnell L (2002) Anomalously high porosity and permeability in deeply buried sandstone reservoirs: origin and predictability. AAPG Bull 86:301–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgohain P, Borah C, Gilfellon GB (2010) Sandstone diagenesis and its impact on reservoir quality of the Arenaceous Unit of Barail Group of an oilfield of Upper Assam Shelf, India. Curr Sci 98:82–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman HN (1970) Palaeoenvironment and revised nomenclature of the upper Shoalhaven Group and Illawarra Coal Measures in the Wollongong-Kiama area, New South Wales. Rec Geol Surv NSW 12:163–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman HN (1974) Geology of the Wollongong, Kiama and Robertson 1:50,000 sheets. Geological Survey New South Wales, Sydney, Sydney, Australia, p 179

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman HN (1980) Southern Coalfield, upper Shoalhaven Group and Illawarra Coal Measures. In: Herbert, C., and Helby, R. (Eds), A Guide to the Sydney Basin. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Bulletin 26: 117–132

  • Bunny MR (1972) Geology and coal resources of the Southern catchment coal reserve, southern Sydney Basin, New South Wales. Geological Survey of New South Wales. Bulletin 22:146

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr PF (1983) A reappraisal of the stratigraphy of the upper Shoalhaven Group and lower Illawarra Coal Measures, southern Sydney Basin, New South Wales. Proc Linnean Soc NSW 106:287–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Chi G, Giles PS, Williamson MA, Lavoie D, Bertrand R (2003) Diagenetic history and porosity evolution of Upper Carboniferous sandstones from the Spring Valley #1 well, Maritimes Basin, Canada—implications for reservoir development. J Geochem Explor 80:171–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cusack A (1991) The Eckersley Formation deposition and diagenesis. B. Sc (Hons), University of Wollongong, Wollongong

  • Dickey PA (1981) Petroleum development geology, 2nd edn. Penn Well, Tulsa, OK

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson WR (1985) Interpreting provenance relations from detrital modes of sandstones In: Zuffa, G. G. (Eds), Provenance of Arenites. Nato ASI Series, Reidel, Dor-drecht (book) 148: 333–361

  • Dutton SP, Loucks RG (2009) Diagenetic controls on evolution of porosity and permeability in lower Tertiary Wilcox Sandstone from shallow to ultradeep (200–6700 m) burial, Gulf of Mexico Basin, U.S.A. Mar Pet Geol 27:69–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenberg SN, Nadeau PH, Steen O (2008) A megascale view of reservoir quality in producing sandstones from the offshore Gulf of Mexico. AAPG Bull 92:145–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ghali MAK, Mansurbeg H, Morad S, Al-Aasm I, Ramseyer K (2006) Distribution of diagenetic alterations in glaciogenic sandstones within a depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic framework: evidence from the Upper Ordovician of the Murzuq Basin, SW Libya. Sediment Geol 190:323–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ghali MAK, Morad S, Mansurbeg H, Caja MA, Ajdanlijsky G, Ogle N, Al-Aasm I, Sirat M (2009a) Distribution of diagenetic alterations within depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic framework of fluvial sandstones: evidence from the Petrohan Terrigenous Group, Lower Triassic, NW Bulgaria. Mar Pet Geol 26:1212–1227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ghali MAK, Morad S, Mansurbeg H, Caja MA, Sirat M, Ogle N (2009b) Diagenetic alterations related to marine transgression and regression in fluvial and shallow marine sandstones of the Triassic Buntsandstein and Keuper sequence, the Paris Basin, France. Mar Pet Geol 26:289–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Exon NF (1976) Geology of the Surat Basin in Queensland. Bur Miner Resour Bull 166

  • Folk RL (1968) Petrology of sedimentary rocks. University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX, p 170

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeze RA, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich S, Redfern J, Petitpierre L, Marshall JD, Power M, Grech PV (2010) Diagenetic evolution of incised channel sandstones; implications for reservoir characterisation of the Lower Carboniferous Marar Formation, Ghadames Basin, western Libya. J Pet Geol 33:3–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gier S, Worden RH, Johns WD, Kurzweil H (2008) Diagenesis and reservoir quality of Miocene sandstones in the Vienna Basin, Austria. Mar Pet Geol 25:681–695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grevenitz P, Carr P, Hutton A (2003) Origin, alteration and geochemical correlation of Late Permian airfall tuffs in coal measures, Sydney Basin, Australia. Int J Coal Geol 55:27–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer E, Mork MBE, Naess A (2010) Facies controls on the distribution of diagenesis and compaction in fluvial-deltaic deposits. Mar Pet Geol 27:1737–1751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert C (1995) Sequence stratigraphy of the Late Permian coal measures in the Sydney Basin. Aust J Earth Sci 42:391–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hlal OA (2008) Diagenesis and reservoir-quality evolution of paralic, shallow marine and fluvio-lacustrine deposits. links to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphy. Acta Universitaties Upsaliensis. Digital comprehensive summaries of Uppsala dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 448, 65pp. Uppsala. ISBN 978-91-554-7237-5

  • Hutton AC, Bamberry J (1999) Stratigraphy and terminology for the southern Coalfield. Coalfield Geol Counc NSW Bull 1:120–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones BG (1983) Illawarra Coal Measures, Sydney Basin, N.S.W. In: Williams BPJ, Moore PS (eds) Fluvial sedimentology workshop; papers. Geological Society of Australia, Australasian Sedimentologists Specialist Group, Adelaide, South Aust., Australia, pp 366–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Karim A, Pe-Piper G, Piper DJW (2010) Controls on diagenesis of Lower Cretaceous reservoir sandstones in the western Sable Subbasin, offshore Nova Scotia. Sediment Geol 224:65–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketzer JM, Holz M, Morad S, Al-Aasm IS (2003) Sequence stratigraphic distribution of diagenetic alterations in coal-bearing, paralic sandstones: evidence from the Rio Bonito Formation (early Permian), southern Brazil. Sedimentology 50:855–877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim JC, Lee YI, Hisada K-I (2007) Depositional and compositional controls on sandstone diagenesis, the Tetori Group (Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous), central Japan. Sediment Geol 195:183–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y, Lee YI (2004) Diagenesis of shallow marine sandstones, the Lower Ordovician Dongjeom Formation, Korea: response to relative sea-level changes. J Asian Earth Sci 23:235–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kordi M, Turner B, Salem AMK (2011) Linking diagenesis to sequence stratigraphy in fluvial and shallow marine sandstones: evidence from the Cambrian–Ordovician lower sandstone unit in southwestern Sinai, Egypt. Mar Pet Geol 28:1554–1571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krassay AA, Korsch RJ, Drummond BJ (2009) Meandarra Gravity Ridge: symmetry elements of the gravity anomaly and its relationship to the Bowen–Gunnedah–Sydney Basin system. Aust J Earth Sci 56:355–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee YI, Lim DH (2008) Sandstone diagenesis of the Lower Cretaceous Sindong Group, Gyeongsang Basin, southeastern Korea: implications for compositional and paleoenvironmental controls. Island Arc 17:152–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima RD, De Ros LF (2002) The role of depositional setting and diagenesis on the reservoir quality of Devonian sandstones from the Solimoes Basin, Brazilian Amazonia. Mar Pet Geol 19:1047–1071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loughnan FC (1971) Kaolinite claystones associated with the Wongawilli Seam in the southern part of the Sydney Basin. J Geol Soc Aust 18:293–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo JL, Morad S, Salem A, Ketzer JM, Lei XL, Guo DY, Hlal O (2009) Impact of diagenesis on reservoir-quality evolution in fluvial and lacustrine-deltaic sandstones: evidence from Jurassic and Triassic Sandstones from the Ordos Basin, China. J Pet Geol 32:79–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansurbeg H, Caja MA, Marfil R, Morad S, Remacha E, Garcia D, Martin-Crespo T, El-Ghali MAK, Nystuen JP (2009) Diagenetic evolution and porosity destruction of turbiditic hybrid arenites and siliciclastic sandstones of foreland basins: evidence from the Eocene Hecho Group, Pyrenees, Spain. J Sediment Res 79:711–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansurbeg H, Morad S, Salem A, Marfil R, El-Ghali MAK, Nystuen JP, Caja MA, Amorosi A, Garcia D, La Iglesia A (2008) Diagenesis and reservoir quality evolution of palaeocene deep-water, marine sandstones, the Shetland–Faroes Basin, British continental shelf. Mar Pet Geol 25:514–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBride EF, Land LS, Diggs TN, Mack LE (1988) Petrography, stable isotope geochemistry and diagenesis of Miocene sandstones, Vermilion Block 31, offshore Louisiana. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Society Transactions 38: 513–523

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinley JM, Atkinson PM, Lloyd CD, Ruffell AH, Worden RH (2011) How porosity and permeability vary spatially with grain size, sorting, cement volume, and mineral dissolution in fluvial Triassic sandstones: the value of geostatistics and local regression. J Sediment Res 81:844–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morad S, Ketzer JM, De Ros LF (2000) Spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations in siliciclastic rocks: implications for mass transfer in sedimentary basins. Sedimentology 47:95–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moraes MAS, De Ros LF (1990) Infiltrated clays in fluvial Jurassic sandstones of Reconcavo Basin, northeastern Brazil. J Sediment Petrol 60:809–819

    Google Scholar 

  • Odigi MI, Amajor LC (2010) Geochemistry of carbonate cements in Cretaceous sandstones, southeast Benue Trough, Nigeria: implications for geochemical evolution of formation waters. J Afr Earth Sci 57:213–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rezaee MR, Tingate PR (1997) Origin of quartz cement in the Tirrawarra Sandstone, southern Cooper Basin, South Australia. J Sediment Res 67:168–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Roche I (1997) The Sydney Subgroup in the Southern Sydney Basin. B.Sc. (Hons) thesis, University of Wollongong, Wollongong

  • Roche I and Hutton A (1998) Distribution of the Sydney Subgroup, southwestern margin of the Sydney Basin. In: Boyd, R. L., and Winwood-Smith, J. (Eds), Proceedings of the Thirty-second Newcastle Symposium on Advances in the Study of the Sydney Basin. University of Newcastle, N.S.W., Department of Geology Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia 32: 119–126

  • Rossi C, Marfil R, Ramseyer K, Permanyer A (2001) Facies-related diagenesis and multiphase siderite cementation and dissolution in the reservoir sandstones of the Khatatba Formation, Egypt's Western Desert. J Sediment Res 71:459–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi C, Kalin O, Arribas J, Tortosa A (2002) Diagenesis, provenance and reservoir quality of Triassic TAGI sandstones from Ourhoud field, Berkine (Ghadames) Basin, Algeria. Mar Pet Geol 19:117–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan KJ (2005) The geological controls of gas in the Narrabeen Group, Southern Coalfield, NSW. B.Sc. (Hons) thesis, University of Wollongong, Wollongong

  • Salem AM, Ketzer JM, Morad S, Rizk RR, Al-Aasm IS (2005) Diagenesis and reservoir-quality evolution of incised-valley sandstones; evidence from the Abu Madi gas reservoirs (upper Miocene), the Nile Delta basin, Egypt. J Sediment Res 75:572–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salem AM, Morad S, Mato LF, Al-Aasm IS (2000) Diagenesis and reservoir-quality evolution of fluvial sandstones during progressive burial and uplift: evidence from the Upper Jurassic Boipeba Member, Reconcavo Basin, northeastern Brazil. AAPG Bull 84:1015–1040

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoen JH (1996) Physical properties of rocks: fundamentals and principles of petrophysics, Handbook of Geophysical Exploration Seismic Exploration, 18. Elsevier, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Smosna R, Sager ML (2008) The making of a high-porosity, high-permeability reservoir—the Murrysville Sandstone of Pennsylvania. Northeast Geol Environ Sci 30:87–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Sur KH, Lee YI, Hisada K-I (2002) Diagenesis of the Lower Cretaceous Kanmon Group sandstones, SW Japan. J Asian Earth Sci 20:921–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor TR, Giles MR, Hathon LA, Diggs TN, Braunsdorf NR, Birbiglia GV, Kittridge MG, Macaulay CI, Espejo IS (2010) Sandstone diagenesis and reservoir quality prediction: models, myths, and reality. AAPG Bull 94:1093–1132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umar M, Friis H, Khan AS, Kassi AM, Kasi AK (2011) The effects of diagenesis on the reservoir characters in sandstones of the Late Cretaceous Pab Formation, Kirthar Fold Belt, southern Pakistan. J Asian Earth Sci 40:622–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson M, Milliken KL, Haszeldine RS (2001) Systematic destruction of K-feldspar in deeply buried rift and passive margin sandstones. J Geol Soc 158:675–683, London

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolela A (2009) Diagenetic evolution of the Ansian-Pliensbachian Adigrat Sandstone, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. J Afr Earth Sci 56:29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolela AM, Gierlowski-Kordesch EH (2007) Diagenetic history of fluvial and lacustrine sandstones of the Hartford Basin (Triassic–Jurassic), Newark Supergroup, USA. Sediment Geol 197:99–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worden RH, Mayall M, Evans IJ (2000) The effect of ductile–lithic sand grains and quartz cement on porosity and permeability in Oligocene and lower Miocene clastics, South China Sea: prediction of reservoir quality. AAPG Bull 84:345–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Worden RH and Burley S (2003) Sandstone diagenesis: the evolution of sand to stone. In: Burley, S., Worden, R. (Eds), Sandstone Diagenesis: Recent to Ancient. International Association of Sedimentologists, Reprint Series 4: 3–44

  • Worden RH and Morad S (2003) Clay minerals in sandstones; controls on formation, distribution and evolution. In: Worden, R. H., and Morad, S. (Eds), Clay Mineral Cements in Sandstones. International Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication 34: 3–41

  • Yoo EK (1988) The Rocky Glen Ridge and Gilgandra Trough, beneath the Surat Basin. Geol Surv NSW Q Notes 72:17–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Qin L, Zhang Z (2008) Depositional facies, diagenesis and their impact on the reservoir quality of Silurian sandstones from Tazhong area in central Tarim Basin, western China. J Asian Earth Sci 33:42–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J-L, Jia Y, Du G (2007) Diagenesis and its effect on reservoir quality of Silurian sandstones, Tabei area, Tarim Basin, China. Pet Sci 4:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J-L, Li D-Y, Jiang Z-Q (2010) Diagenesis and reservoir quality of the fourth member sandstones of Shahejie Formation in Huimin depression, eastern China. J Cent S Univ Technol 17:169–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Bai G, Luo X, Ma X, Chen M, Wu M, Yang W (2009) Diagenetic history of tight sandstones and gas entrapment in the Yulin Gas Field in the central area of the Ordos Basin, China. Mar Pet Geol 26:974–989

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the University of Wollongong. Samples were collected by BHPBilliton Illawarra Coal who provided samples from study area. Also, they supported me with well logs, maps and additional information. Thin sections, scanning electron microscope photos and X-ray diffraction analyses were completed by the laboratories in the University of Wollongong. I would like to thank the library staff in the University of Wollongong who helped me in searching for information and borrowing scientific journals from other universities. Also, I would like to thank reviewers by Arabian Journal of Geosciences who examined this article and they are Dr. Ihsan and Dr. Mohamed Khalifa (University of Malaya, Malaysia).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Fahad Al Gahtani

Authors
  1. Fahad Al Gahtani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahad Al Gahtani.

ᅟ

ᅟ

Appendix 1 Point count results of samples from the Illawarra Coal Measures
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Al Gahtani, F. Diagenetic controls on evolution of porosity in the Permian Illawarra Coal Measures, Southern Sydney Basin, Australia. Arab J Geosci 7, 5473–5494 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1166-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1166-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation