Micro-analysis of mineral cements in sandstones and carbonates

Sandstone and carbonate hydrocarbon reservoirs gradually become cemented by new minerals during burial. We can de-construct the sequence of cementation, to give information about ancient age, temperature, water type, burial depth.

Some of the most detailed analyses are undertaken with the ion microprobe. These enable samples the size of sugar cubes to represent an entire aquifer sandstone in a sedimentary basin. Work funded by NERC under the micro to Macro programme and undertaken by Gavin England, has succeeded in analysing a series of mineral growth zones from the Scott oilfield of the North Sea.