Prediction of Diagenetic Facies using Well Logs: Evidences from Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation Chang 8 Sandstones in Jiyuan Region, Ordos Basin, China

The eighth member of Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation (Chang 8) is the major oil reservoir unit in Jiyuan oil field, though with the high potential for oil exploration. The Chang 8 sandstones are characterized with low porosity, low permeability and strong microscopic heterogeneities due to the complex deep-burial diagenetic history. Detailed petrological studies by thin section, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, core analysis have been used to investigate the lithogology characteristics, diagenesis, diagenetic minerals and their coupling impacts on reservoir property. The results show that Chang 8 sandstones comprise fine to medium-grained subarkoses, feldspathic litharenites. The pore systems are dominated by remaining primary intergranular pores, secondary dissolution porosity and micropores. Then, five diagenetic facies were divided in Chang 8 sandstones based on the type and degree of diagenesis, diagenetic minerals assemblages and their coupling effects on the reservoir quality. They consist of grain-coating chlorite weak dissolution facies, unstable component dissolution facies, tight compaction facies, clay minerals filling facies and carbonate cementation facies. The well logging response characteristics of various diagenetic facies are summarized on Gamma Ray (GR), Density Logging (DEN), Acoustic (AC), Compensated Neutron Logging (CNL), and True Formation Resistivity (RT) by translating diagenetic facies to well log responses, the diagenetic facies were defined by a set of log responses, and porosity, permeability ranges for each diagenetic facies were determined from core analyses. Well log data of Luo 13 and Chi 212 are processed to evaluate the accuracy of the predictive model. The diagenetic facies are predicted on the vertical profile based on the generated model. Predicted distribution of diagenetic facies precisely coincide with the microscopic observations, and diagenetic facies in Chang 8 sandstones are generally locally distributed. Tight compaction and carbonate cementation diagenetic facies mainly correspond to the non-reservoir and dry layers of Chang 8 sandstones, layers with higher oil potentials are mainly developed in the grain-coating chlorite weak dissolution and unstable component dissolution diagenetic facies. By translating diagenetic facies to well log responses, diagenetic facies and reservoir properties of intervals that lack core control could be predicted with the same or similar log responses.