Contourite porosity, grain size and reservoir characteristics

Citation

Yu X, Stow D, Smillie Z, Esentia I, Brackenridge R, Xie X, Bankole S, Ducassou E & Llave E (2020) Contourite porosity, grain size and reservoir characteristics. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 117, Art. No.: 104392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104392

Abstract
Contourites are now recognised as having a significant potential as hydrocarbon reservoirs in the subsurface, and several fields have been interpreted as comprising bottom-current reworked turbidite sands. However, very little has been published on the porosity characteristics of contourites. This study documents porosity data from IODP Expedition 339 sites in the Gulf of Cadiz. We use grain size analyses, porosity-depth plots and exponential models to yield a better understanding of grain size characteristics and facies, porosity characteristics, and the reservoir potential of contourites in the subsurface. New grain size data for over 350 samples from the Cadiz contourites is presented, building on earlier work. These data confirm the distinctive trends in textural properties linked to depositional processes under the action of bottom currents. The finest muddy contourites (

Keywords
Contourites; Grain size characteristics; Porosity-depth trends; Reservoir characteristics

Journal
Marine and Petroleum Geology: Volume 117

• Accepted manuscript