Using clay microporosity to improve formation evaluation in potential residual oil zones: Cypress Sandstone, Illinois Basin

Clay microporosity in sandstones can cause erroneously high water saturation calculations if not properly accounted for and reduces effective pore space when evaluating a formation. We conducted a petrographic study to characterize and quantify the clay mineral microporosity of the fluvial facies of the Mississippian Cypress Sandstone in the Illinois Basin. These data helped achieve more accurate saturation calculations through core and well-log analyses in potential Cypress residual oil zones. Petrographic thin sections were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with backscatter imaging and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Clay mineral species identified included pore-filling kaolinite books, blocks, and vermicules; chlorite clusters; illite mats; illite-smectite webs; grain-coating inherited chlorite rims; and pore-bridging illite hairs. Volume percent of microporosity particular to clay mineral species were determined by image analysis. Average microporosity values in kaolinite, chlorite, illite, and illite-smectite were 41%, 57%, 67%, and 65%, respectively. Effective clay mineral volumes, including microporosity, showed a greater than twofold increase over estimates determined by x-ray diffraction, constituting an average volume of 4%. Comparing these volumes with gamma-ray log estimates proved Stieber's work to predict clay volume most accurately. Clay volumes were used as input parameters in the dual-watermethod for determining water saturation, resulting in greater residual oil saturations than those predicted from the Archie equation. Accounting for clay microporosity in helium porosimetry measurements of total porosity resulted in an approximate 11% decrease to effective porosity. Results from this research improve estimates of water saturation and porosity and highlight the importance of studying microscale mineralogical properties during reservoir characterization.

Automated summary

Clay microporosity in sandstones can lead to inaccuracies in water saturation calculations and reduce effective pore space in evaluating formations. A petrographic study was conducted on the fluvial facies of the Mississippian Cypress Sandstone to characterize and quantify clay mineral microporosity, leading to more accurate saturation calculations. The research highlights the importance of studying microscale mineralogical properties in reservoir characterization.