Carbonate Diagenesis

A notable challenge in carbonates is to constrain the range of pore-size and permeability distribution found within any given lithology. Work on diagenesis has focussed on the Lower Cretaceous Thamama Group in collaboration with several National Oil Companies in the Arabian Gulf. We have re-appraised the sequence stratigraphy and diagenesis of a major offshore field in U.A.E., have established a revised paragenetic sequence based on separated component stable isotopic analysis, and are evaluating the preferential role of diagenesis in the evolution of porosity and permeability using in situ oxygen isotope methods using the NERC Ion microprobe facility. These data are enabling the construction of a regional diagenetic model for the Arabian Gulf Cretaceous Thamama Group.

A current PhD student, Ola Hosa, is parallelizing Lattice Botzman code in order to produce reactive flow models at the pore scale in order to understand the carbonate diagenetic processes of cementation and dissolution.

A PDRA, Dr. Cees van der Land, is working on developing new Rock-typing methods involving back-stripping of diagenesis using pore networking techniques.

Publications:

COX, P.A., WOOD, R., DICKSON, J.A.D, SHEBL,H., BU AL ROUGHA, H. and CORBETT, P. 2010. Dynamics of cementation in response to oil charge: evidence from a Cretaceous carbonate field, U.A.E. Sedimentary Geology 228: 246–254.

DICKSON. J.A.D., WOOD, R.A., SHEBL, H., and BU AL ROUGHA, H. 2008. Sulfate reduction  associated with hardgrounds: lithification afterburn! Sedimentary Geology 205: 34-39.