Diagenetic Processes and Porosity Evolution Controls in Upper Jurassic Siliciclastic deposits of the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal)

Garcia, A. J. V. (1); Armelenti, G. (2); Pena dos Reis, R. (3); Pimentel, N. (4); & Rocha, L. M. (1) (1) Universidade Federal de Sergipe-UFS, /NUPEG. Av. Marechal Rondon s/n, Jardin Rosa Elze, So Cristovo, SE. garciageo@hotmail.com; liana_sabocha@hotmail.com (2) Univ.Fed. do Rio Grande do Sul UFRGS, Instituto de Geocincias Av. Bento Gonalves, 9500-Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil. armelenti13@hotmail.com (3) Centro de Geocincias, Dep.Cincias da Terra, Univ. Coimbra. Penareis@dct.uc.pt (4) Centro de Geologia, Dep. Geologia, Univ. Lisboa. Pimentel@fc.ul.pt ABSTRACT

Sandstones and conglomerates of Upper Jurassic intervals of the Lusitanian Basin were studied in the attempt to quantify effects of diagenetic processes on their porosity evolution and reservoir properties. Samples were taken mainly from outcrops and also from wells and represent fluvial and turbidity deposits, related with coastal or transitional siliciclastic and carbonate environments. The framework compositional plots of the Upper Jurassic sandstones reveal considerable variations between different areas in the basin. The framework grains are composed predominantly of plutonic rock fragments (granites, gneisses, schists and philites) common in the coarse proximal deposits. In some sandstones, carbonate rocks fragments (calcilutite and oolitic or bioclastic calcarenites) are present and are interpreted as resulting from intrabasinal erosion of exposed older carbonate platforms. The studied sandstones contain mainly secondary porosity. The average total porosity ranges from 3,35 to 13,7%. Total macroporosity is higher in the non-hybrid sandstones and lower in the hybrid sandstones. Macroporosity resulted from grain dissolution and intergranular secondary pores have also resulted from the partial to pervasive dissolution of carbonate cements.
KEYWORDS: Upper Jurassic, Lusitanian Basin, Diageneses, Porosity, Oil Reservoir.

1. Introduction The paragenetic sequence and porosity evolution pathways of the Upper Jurassic sandstones of the Lusitanian Basin were controlled by multiple factors that include variations in the sedimentary facies, climatic conditions and burial history. Fast burial history resulted in paragenetic sequences with strong compaction processes and important porosity destruction. The more extensive eogenetic carbonate cementation in the slow burial history sectors may have played a role in the preservation of higher porosity and intergranular volumes. Porosity enhancement by carbonate cement dissolution, due to telogenetic meteoric influx into the reservoirs of these sectors, could be significant compared to other sectors. The best reservoirs of the studied Upper Jurassic siliciclastic rocks occur in non-hybrid sandstones and in slow buried sectors, where porosity was early cemented and enhanced by dissolution of carbonate cement during telogenetic influx of meteoric waters. 2. Studied Intervals The studied interval comprise the Abadia, Alcobaa and Lourinh formations, deposited by siliciclastic influx during the Upper Jurassic rift phase, mainly during the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian ages, in turbiditic, fluvial/deltaic and coastal sedimentary environments. The depositional setting of these units was extremely influenced and controlled by the tectonic evolution of the basin. According to Alves et al (2003), there were two distinct structural environments that controlled the sedimentary environment of these deposits: (1) transverse footwall-derived sediment fans, predominant in fault-bounded regions, give place to axial southwards-prograding fluvial to shallow-marine units in the diapir-bounded

subbasins; (2) growing salt pillows, absent in the fault-bounded sub-basins, formed barriers to and limited the development of transverse drainage systems. 3. Sandstone compositions The framework compositional plots of the Upper Jurassic sandstones of the Lusitanian Basin reveal considerable variations between different areas in the basin. Dickinson et.al. (1983) Provenance Diagrams (Fig. 1) indicate the mainly recycled orogenic to continental transitional source areas to fan-deltaic and turbidite deposits (Fig. 1A, B and C) and cratonic interior source area to fluvial origin sandstones (Fig. 1D).

FIG. 1- Sandstone composition plotted in Dickinson et. al. (1983) Provenance Diagram. Samples from fandeltaic and turbiditic deposits of the Abadia Formation from outcrops (Fig. 1A and 1B), from core samples (Fig. 1C) in central area of the Lusitanian Basin and from outcrops in north area (Fig. 1D).

4. Diagenetic processes and porosity evolution controls The average intergranular petrographic porosity ranges from 3,35 to 13,7%. Intragranular, mouldic and oversized pores derived from partial to complete dissolution of carbonate cements and detrital feldspar, micas and carbonate fragments (bioclasts, ooids and rock fragments). In addition to framework grain dissolution, intergranular secondary pores

have also resulted from the partial to pervasive dissolution of carbonate cements.

FIG. 2 Representation of the relationship between porosity and the presence of carbonate cement in samples of north, central and south areas of the Lusitanian Basin. Secondary porosity increases with the dissolution of carbonate cement.

5. Conclusions Depositional and erosive processes during the Upper Jurassic rift phase results in clastic deposits with framework grains composed predominantly of plutonic rock fragments (granites, gneisses, schists and philites), common in the coarse proximal deposits and in some sandstones, carbonate rocks fragments (calcilutite and oolitic or bioclastic calcarenites) interpreted as resulting from intrabasinal erosion of exposed older carbonate platforms. The compositional and burial history characteristics of each area of the basin results in a paragenetic sequence different to distal and proximal domains. However, different areas in the same domain were subjected to different subsidence or uplift intensities. The patterns of diagenetic evolution recognized in this study allow some discussion of the conditions for optimum porosity preservation and/or enhancement in the Upper Jurassic sandstones potential reservoirs. The best reservoirs of the unit occur in the no-hibrid sandstone (free of carbonate fragments). References
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