Impact of Diagenetic Alterations On Reservoir Quality and Heterogeneity of Paralic and Shallow Marine Sandstone

Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations
from the Faculty of Science and Technology 195
Impact of Diagenetic Alterations

on Reservoir Quality and
Heterogeneity of Paralic and
Shallow Marine Sandstones
Links to Depositional Facies and Sequence
Stratigraphy
KHALID AL-RAMADAN
ACTA
UNIVERSITATIS
UPSALIENSIS
UPPSALA
2006
ISSN 1651-6214
ISBN 91-554-6588-9
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-6928

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List of Papers
This thesis is based on the following papers, which will be referred to in the
following text by their Roman numerals.

V
Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S., Proust, J.N. and Al-Asam, I. (2005)

Distribution of diagenetic alterations in siliciclastic shoreface deposits within a sequence stratigraphic framework: evidence from the
Upper Jurassic, Boulonnais, NW France. Journal of Sedimentary
Research, 75, 943-959.
Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S. and Piret Plink-Bjrklund (2007)
Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in Relationship to Depositional Facies and Sequence Stratigraphy of Wave- and TideDominated Siliciclastic Shoreline Complex: Upper Cretaceous
Chimney Rock Sandstones, Wyoming and Utah, USA. International
Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication: Linking
Diagenesis to Sequence Stratigraphy of Sedimentary Rocks. Accepted.
Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S. A. Kent Norton and Michael Hulver (2007) Linking Diagenesis and Porosity Preservation to Sequence Stratigraphy of Gas Condensate Reservoir Sandstones, the
Jauf Formation (Lower to Middle Devonian), Eastern Saudi Arabia.
International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication:
Linking Diagenesis to Sequence Stratigraphy of Sedimentary Rocks.
Accepted.
Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S. and Essam El-Khoriby. Distribution
of Diagenetic Alterations in Sequence Stratigraphic Context of Tidal
Flat Sandstones: Evidence From The Adedia Formation (CambroOrdovician), Sinai, Egypt. Manuscript.
Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S. and J. Marcelo Ketzer. The Impact
of Diagenesis on Heterogeneity of Sandstone Reservoirs: A Review
of the Links to Depositional Facies and Sequence Stratigraphy.
Manuscript.
Paper is published with permission from the publisher
Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................................9
Aims of the study ..........................................................................................13
Key concepts of sequence stratigraphy.........................................................14
Methodology .................................................................................................19
Summary models of diagenetic alterations within systems tracts.................21
Important eogenetic alterations linked to sequence stratigraphy..............21
Important mesogenetic alterations linked to sequence stratigraphy.........24
Reservoir quality and heterogeneity models .................................................28
Model 1: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution pathway of shoreface
sandstones (paper )..................................................................................28
Model 2: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution pathway of wavedominated delta and tide and mixed-energy estuaries sandstones (paper
)..............................................................................................................32
Model 3: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution pathway of shoreface
HST and tidal estuarine, TST and HST sandstones (paper )................33
Model 4: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution pathway of tidal flat
sandstones (paper V)...............................................................................38
Summary of the papers .................................................................................41
Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in Siliciclastic Shoreface
Deposits Within Sequence Stratigraphic Framework: Evidence From The
Upper Jurassic, Boulonnais, NW France..................................................41
Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in Relationship to
Depositional Facies and Sequence Stratigraphy of Wave- and TideDominated Siliciclastic Shoreline Complex: Upper Cretaceous Chimney
Rock Sandstones, Wyoming and Utah, USA ...........................................42
Paper Linking Diagenesis and Porosity Preservation to Sequence
Stratigraphy of Gas Condensate Reservoir Sandstones, the Jauf Formation
(Lower to Middle Devonian), Eastern Saudi Arabia................................43
Paper V Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in Sequence Stratigraphic
Context of Tidal Flat Sandstones: Evidence From The Adedia Formation
(Cambro-Ordovician), Sinai, Egypt .........................................................44
Paper V The Impact of Diagenesis on Heterogeneity of Sandstone

Reservoirs: A Review of the Links to Depositional Facies and Sequence
Stratigraphy ..............................................................................................44
Concluding remarks ......................................................................................46
Summary in Swedish ....................................................................................48
Acknowledgements.......................................................................................49
References.....................................................................................................51
Introduction
Assessment and, particularly, prediction of the spatial and

temporal distribution of reservoir quality in paralic and shallowmarine sandstones are fairly difficult, but crucial tasks for hydrocarbon exploration and production. Nevertheless, these tasks have been
addressed successfully during the past three decades using, separately,
the techniques of sequence stratigraphy and diagenesis. The sequence
stratigraphic approach enables: (i) unraveling and predicting the distribution of facies-controlled, reservoir-quality distribution, which is
attributed to variations of grain size and sorting of the sand, and (ii)
high-resolution stratigraphic correlation of reservoir, seal and source
rocks (Posamentier et al., 1988; Posamentier and Allen, 1999; Plint
and Nummedal, 2000).
The depositional reservoir quality of sandstones is, however,
modified to various extents by a variety of mechanical and chemical
post-depositional (diagenetic) alterations that occur at near-surface
conditions and during progressive burial (i.e. increase in temperature).
The diagenetic modifications have been shown to be controlled by
porewaters chemistry (McKay et al., 1995), detrital composition
(Amorosi, 1995; Zuffa et al., 1995), depositional environment (Morad
et al., 2000), paleoclimatic conditions (De Ros et al., 1994; Morad et
al., 2000; Reed et al., 2005), and burial-thermal history of the basin
(Morad et al., 2000). The new approach introduced by Morad et al.
(2000) and Ketzer et al., (2002, 2003a and 2003b) for the assessment
and prediction of reservoir-quality distribution, which is based on the
integration of diagenesis into the sequence stratigraphic framework of
sandstones, was employed in this study. This approach allows the refinement of our ability to assess and predict the spatial and temporal
distribution of diagenetic alterations and of their impact on reservoirquality and heterogeneity in paralic and shallow-marine sandstone
successions. The employment of this approach is possible because,
like for the sequence stratigraphic framework, parameters controlling
diagenetic alterations and their impact on reservoir quality of sandstones are controlled by changes in the relative sea level (RSL) and
rates of sedimentation. These parameters include:
(i) Porewaters chemistry, which can shift between meteoric, marine
and brackish composition (McKay et al., 1995; Morad et al., 2000).
9
Fall in RSL during regression may lead to subaerial exposure and

flushing of paralic and shallow marine sediments by meteoric waters,
causing dissolution and kaolinitization of siliciclastic grains, clay infiltration, and cementation by calcrete and dolocrete (Morad et al.,
2000). Conversely, rise in the RSL during transgression renders porewaters in such sediments to be dominated by marine composition favoring the formation of marine calcite and dolomite cements (Morad
et al., 1992).
(ii) Detrital composition, particularly regarding the proportion and
types of intra-basinal grains, which include mud intraclasts, carbonate
bioclasts, and glaucony (Amorosi, 1995; Zuffa et al., 1995), imposes
important impact on the mechanical and chemical properties, and
hence diagenetic and reservoir quality evolution, of sandstones (Surdam et al., 1989).
(iii) Residence time of sediments under certain geochemical conditions, and hence the duration of diagenetic reactions, such as below
the seafloor and below surfaces of sub-aerial exposure, which are encountered during transgression and regression, respectively (Taylor et
al., 1995; Morad et al., 2000; Wilkinson, 1989).
(iv) Degree of bioturbation, and hence: (a) changes in the sediments
texture through mixing up of mud, silt and/or sand, and (b) creation of
local sub-oxic to anoxic, porewater conditions that aid the nucleation
and growth of certain minerals, such as carbonates and sulfides
(Berner, 1968; Wilkinson, 1991).
Eogenetic alterations in siliciclastic deposits are strongly influenced by depositional environment (Curtis, 1987), variations of depositional water owing to rise and fall of RSL and influx of meteoric
water (McKay et al., 1995; Ketzer et al., 2002, 2003a), organic matter
content (Curtis, 1987; Morad et al., 2000), sedimentation rate (Curtis,
1987) and paleoclimatic conditions (Morad et al., 2000). These eogenetic alterations impose, in turn, a profound control on the distribution
pattern of mesogenetic alterations (depth 2 km; T 70C; Morad et
al., 2000), and hence on reservoir quality evolution pathways of sandstones (Morad et al., 2000; Ketzer et al., 2003a).
A key goal of reservoir characterization is to predict the spatial
and temporal distribution patterns of diagenetic alterations and of their
effects on fluid flow within a gross reservoir unit. Therefore, in order
to predict the subsurface distribution of diagenetic alterations that influence porosity and permeability, it is necessary to understand the
diagenetic processes involved and the parameters controlling their
spatial distribution. The integration of eogenetic alterations into sequence stratigraphic framework allows better elucidation and prediction of the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations
and of related reservoir quality modifications in paralic and shallow10
marine clastic sediments (Taylor et al., 1995; Ketzer et al., 2002; Ketzer et al., 2003a; Al-Ramadan et al., 2005).
11
Aims of the study
The aims of this thesis are to: (i) integrate the distribution of diagenetic alterations into the sequence stratigraphic framework of shallow marine and paralic sandstone successions, and (ii)
demonstrate that the impact of diagenesis on reservoir-quality and
heterogeneity evolution pathways can be better elucidated and predicted when linked to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic
framework of the sandstones. Four siliciclastic successions representing different depositional facies have been studied for the purpose of
this work, including: (i) Upper Jurassic siliciclastic shoreface deposits
including Grs de Connincthun, Grs de Chatillon and Grs de la
Crche formations from NW France, (ii) Upper Cretaceous Rock
Springs Formation from USA of wave-dominated delta and tide and
mixed-energy estuaries facies, (iii) Lower to Middle Devonian Jauf
Formation from Saudi Arabia (shoreface to tidal estuarine facies), and
(iv) Cambro-Ordovician Adedia Formation (subtidal-intertidal) from
Sinai Egypt. Diagenetic studies were conducted on sandstones samples extracted from cemented and poorly lithified sandstones within
systems tracts and along key sequence stratigraphic surfaces in these
four successions.
13
Key concepts of sequence stratigraphy
Prior to the integration of diagenesis and related impact on reservoir quality evolution into sequence stratigraphic framework of the
studied siliciclastic successions, it is essential to provide definitions of
key concepts of sequence stratigraphy. The sequence stratigraphy tool
is used to correlate genetically related sedimentary successions
bounded at top and base by unconformities or their correlative conformities (Van Wagoner et al., 1990). Sequences and their stratal patterns are interpreted to form in response to the interaction of three
major factors such as eustatic change of sea level, sediment supply
and tectonic subsidence (Van Wagoner et al., 1990). Each depositional
sequence is the record of one cycle of RSL rise and fall that allow for
integrating and correlating a range of depositional environments, such
as coastal plains, continental shelves, and submarine fans.
The stacking pattern of sediments is controlled by the interplay
between the rate of sediment supply and rate of changes in the RSL,
which is controlled by basin-floor subsidence/uplift and/or by changes
in the eustatic sea level. These parameters control the space available
for sediment deposition and preservation, referred to as accommodation (Jervey, 1988). In the paralic and shallow marine realm, accommodation can be created by rise in RSL owing to increase in eustatic
sea level or basin-floor subsidence.
The stacking pattern within sedimentary packages depends on
the rates of accommodation creation and sediment supply. If the rate
of sediment supply is greater than the rate of accommodation creation,
the deposits prograde, i.e. the shoreline migrates seawards (Van Wagoner et al., 1990). The depositional facies display trend of shallowing
upward stacking pattern, and the depositional environments are being
referred to as regressive. Regression of depositional environments
occurs either due to: (i) higher rates of sediment supply than the rate
of accommodation creation, and is referred to as normal regression
(Fig. 1a), or (ii) fall in the RSL owing to fall in eustatic sea level or
tectonic uplift of basin floor, being referred to as forced regression
(Fig. 1b; Hunt and Tucker, 1992). Retrogradational depositional facies
is encountered owing to lower rate of sediment supply than the rate of
14
accommodation creation (Fig. 1c; Posamentier and Allen, 1999;

Jervey, 1988). The shoreline will migrate landward, and the depositional facies display upward deepening trend; the depositional environments are referred to as transgressional. Aggradation of depositional facies occurs if the rate of sediment supply is equivalent to the
rate of accommodation creation (Fig. 1d; Posamentier and Allen,
1999). The shoreline is stationary, and the depositional facies will
have fixed position upwards in the stratigraphic section.
The sequence stratigraphic approach aims to divide basin fill
successions into depositional sequences. A depositional sequence is a
stratigraphic unit composed of relatively conformable successions of
genetically related strata that are bounded at bottom and top by unconformities or their correlative conformities (Mitchum, 1977). The unconformities, referred to as sequence boundaries, are formed by rapid
and considerable (several tens of meters) fall in the RSL (Van Wagoner et al., 1990). If the RSL falls below the shelf edge, the unconformity surface may develop across the whole shelf, being marked by
non deposition or the occurrence of pronounced erosion of the shelf
by rivers (i.e. formation of incised valleys). Sediment derived from
shelf erosion and from the hinterland will be by-passed across the
shelf to form turbidite deposits on the slope and basin floor (Posamentier and Allen, 1999).
Fall in the RSL and formation of sequence boundary will
be ultimately followed by rise in the RSL and sediment deposition.
Sequences are comprised of parasequences, which are relatively conformable successions of genetically related beds or bedsets bounded
by minor marine flooding surfaces (Van Wagoner et al., 1990).
Each parasequence is progradational, and hence shallows upward (Fig.
1e).
Parasequence sets make up systems tracts, which are defined
as contemporaneous depositional systems linked to a specific segment
on the curve of changes in the RSL. Four systems tracts are recognized (Fig. 1f), including lowstand (LST), transgressive (TST), highstand (HST), and forced regressive wedge (FRWST). The LST is deposited during RSL lowstand and initial rise, and shows progradational-aggradational facies stacking. The TST is deposited during
rapid rise in the relative sea level, and is bounded below by the transgressive surface and above by the maximum flooding surface (MFS).
The MFS, which separates the TST from the overlying HST, represents condensed section formed due to very low rates of sediment
supply, and marks the point of maximum landward advance of the
strandline. The TST is comprised of a retrogradational parasequence
set of shelf sediments, including marine sandstones and mudstones.
Peat (coal) layers are developed during transgression of coastal plain,
15
and are hence common within the TST, particularly below marine
flooding surfaces.
The HST, which is deposited during stable high and slowly
falling RSL, is bounded below by MFS and above by the upper sequence boundary, and formed owing to initial fall in the RSL. The
HST is comprised of initial aggradational and later, as the accommodation created by rise in the RSL diminishes, progradational parasequence sets. Commonly, the HST is partly preserved owing to erosion
during formation of the upper sequence boundary. The forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST), also referred to as the forced regressive systems tract (FRST; Hunt and Tucker, 1992), was proposed
to include deposits formed during RSL fall, between the highstand and
the point of maximum rate of sea-level fall (i.e., formation of the succeeding sequence boundary). The most typical sediments of this systems tract are sharp-based sandstones deposited in shoreface environments above erosional surfaces formed during regression (Plint,
1988). The sequence boundary is usually drawn above the FRWST
(the subaerial unconformity and its seaward extension), because this
surface is formed when the RSL reaches its lowest point coinciding
with the surface of subaerial erosion.
The application of sequence stratigraphy techniques to the
paralic and marine realm resulted in a better understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of sedimentary facies (Posamentier and
Allen, 1999). The sequence stratigraphic terminology used throughout
this thesis is that defined by Posamentier et al. (1988) and Hunt and
Tucker (1991) (Table 1). In papers and , the depositional sequences
are divided into four systems tracts including FRWST, LST, TST and
HST. In papers and IV, the depositional sequence is divided into
three systems tracts (Posamentier et al., 1988).
16
(a) progradation due to normal regression

4
3
2
KE Y
alluvial and coas tal

plain s ediments
sea-level 4
sea-level 3
sea-level 2
sea-level 1
s hallow-marine
s ediments
offshore-marine
sediments
(b) progradation due to forced regression

sea-level 1
sea-level 2
sea-level 3
sea-level 4
1
2
3
4
(c) retrogradation
sea-level 4
(e)
sea-level 3
sea-level 2
sea-level 1
parasequence
2
(d) aggradation
parasequence
1
sa
sea-level 2
f mc
cl
sea-level 3
ay
si
lt
sea-level 4
nd
sea-level 1
MF
T
HS
relative
s ea-level
TS
TS
RSE F
R
(F W
RS ST
T)
high
SB L S T
HS
(f)
highstand systems tract (HST)

maximum flooding surface (MFS)
transgressive systems tract (TST)
transgressive surface (TS)
lowstand systems tract (LST)
low
sequence boundary (SB)

forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST)
RAMP MARGIN
proximal
regressive surface of erosion (RSE)
distal
&IGURE 3CHEMATIC DRAWINGS SHOWING ! $ THE STACKING PATTERNS OF PARASE
QUENCES ! 0ROGRDATIONAL PARASEQUENCE SETS RESULTING FROM NORMAL REGRESSION IE
THESHORELINEISMIGRATINGBASINWARD WHICHOCCURSWHENTHERATEOFINCREASEINAC
COMMODATIONSPACEISLESSTHANTHERATEOFSEDIMENTSUPPLY" 0ROGRDATIONALPARASE
QUENCE SETS RESULTING FROM FORCED REGRESSION THAT RESULT FROM SIGNIFICANT SEDIMENT
SUPPLYDERIVEDBYSUBAERIALEROSIONANDFLUVIALINCISIONINTOTHEPREVIOUSLYDEPOSITED
SEDIMENTSASRELATIVESEALEVELFALLS# 2ETROGRADATIONALPARASEQUENCESETSAREEN
COUNTEREDDURINGINCREASEINTHERATEOFACCOMMODATIONCREATIONTHATISGREATERTHAN
THE CONSTANT RATE OF SEDIMENT SUPPLY $ !GGRADATIONAL PARASEQUENCE SETS OCCURS IF
THERATEOFSEDIMENTSUPPLYISEQUIVALENTTOTHERATEOFACCOMMODATIONCREATION4HE
SHORELINEDOESNOTSHIFTSEAWARDSORLANDWARDSANDTHEFACIESWILLHAVEFIXEDPOSITION
UPWARDS IN THE STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION % 0ARASEQUENCE THAT IS PROGRADATIONAL AND
HENCESHALLOWINGUPWARDBOUNDEDBYMARINEFLOODINGSURFACESABOVEANDBELOW&
4HE FOUR SYSTEMS TRACTS INCLUDING LOWSTAND ,34 TRANSGRESSIVE 434 HIGHSTAND
(34 ANDFORCEDREGRESSIVEWEDGE&2734 .OTETHE&2734ALSOREFERREDTOASTHE
FORCEDREGRESSIVESYSTEMSTRACT&234 MODIFIEDAFTER#OE

Abbreviation
Forced regressive wedge

systems tract
FRWST
Or
FRST
Lowstand systems tract
LST
Transgressive systems
tract
TST
Highstand systems tract
HST
Regressive surface of
marine erosion
RSE
Sequence boundary
SB
Transgressive surface of
marine erosion
TSE
Maximum flooding surface
MFS
Parasequence boundary
PB
Sharp-based shoreface
SBS
Ravinement shoreface
Definition
Sediment deposited between the onset and
the end of relative sea-level fall on ramp
margins, i.e., gently sloping into deeper water, and composed of progradational facies
stacking with downward shift
Sediment deposited during relative sea-level
lowstand and initial rise, and shows progradational-aggradational to retrogradational
facies stacking
Sediment deposited during rapid relative sealevel rise that shows an overall retrogradational facies stacking
Sediment deposited during relative sea-level
highstand resulting initially in aggradational
and, later, in progradational facies stacking
Erosion surface located at the base of the
FRWST formed by wave erosion during
relative sea-level fall
Erosional unconformity at the inner shelf
located at the base of the LST created by
emersion during a major fall in relative sea
level (basinward correlative conformity)
Surface located at the base of the TST and
formed during relative sea-level rise
Surface located at the base of the HST and
formed by nondeposition and sediment starvation during maximum relative sea-level
highstand
Local marine flooding surface at the top of a
progradational, elementary sediment package
Shoreface sediments preserved in FRWST
and LST during forced regression, i.e., during net relative sea-level fall
Shoreface sediments preserved in TST during relative sea-level rise. It is thin, coarsegrained lags
Table 1: Table summarizing the main sequence stratigraphy terms (Posamentier et

al., 1988; Hunt and Tucker, 1992; Proust et al., 2001).
18
Methodology
Sandstone samples were collected from both outcrops and subsurface cores that represent various depositional facies, systems tracts
and key sequence stratigraphic surfaces. Core plugs were selected for
He-porosity and permeability measurements (paper ). Thin sections
were prepared for all samples subsequent to vacuum impregnation
with blue epoxy. Modal analyses of most sandstone samples were preformed by counting 300 points in each thin section. Scanning electron
microscope (SEM) was used to study crystal habits and paragenetic
relationships among diagenetic minerals in representative samples.
Polished thin sections represent sandstones from the various
depositional facies and systems tracts encountered were coated with a
thin layer of carbon for the purpose of electron microprobe (EMP)
analyses. Cameca SX50 instrument equipped with three spectrometers
and a back-scattered electron detector (BSE) was used to determine
the chemical compositions and paragenetic relationships of different
cement types. Operating conditions during analysis were an accelerating voltage of 20 kV, a measured beam current of 10 nA for carbonates and 12 nA for silicates, and a spot size of 1-5 m. The standard
and count times used were wollastonite (Ca, 10 s), MgO (Mg, 10 s),
strontianite (Sr, 10 s), MnTiO3 (Mn, 10 s), and hematite (Fe, 10 s).
Analytical precision was better than 0.1% for all elements.
Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses were carried out on
carbonate-cemented sandstones representative of the various depositional environments and systems tracts in order to determine the geochemical conditions, porewaters composition and temperature of precipitation. Sampling using micro-drilling techniques was attempted to
avoid contamination of carbonate cements with carbonate grains and,
when possible, to analyze carbonate cements with different textures.
Calcite-cemented samples reacted with 100% phosphoric acid at 25C
for one hour, and Fe-dolomite/ankerite and siderite-cemented samples
were reacted at 50C for one day and six days, respectively (e.g. AlAasm et al., 1990). The CO2 gas released was collected and analyzed
using a Delta plus mass spectrometer. Samples containing calcite,
dolomite and siderite were subjected to sequential chemical separation
treatment (Al-Aasm et al., 1990). The phosphoric acid fractionation
factors used were 1.01025 for calcite at 25C (Friedman and ONeil,
19
1977), 1.01060 for dolomite at 50C and 1.010454 for siderite at 50C
(Rosenbaum and Sheppard, 1986). Precision of all analyses was better
than 0.05 for both 13C and 18O. Oxygen and carbon isotope data
are presented in the notation relative to the V-PDB and V-SMOW
standards.
The 87Sr/86Sr isotopes ratio was analyzed (papers and ) using an automated Finnigan 261 mass spectrometer equipped with 9
faraday collectors. Some of calcite-cemented samples from different
systems tracts were washed with distilled water and then reacted with
dilute acetic acid in order to avoid silicate leaching. Correction for
isotope fractionation during the analyses was made by normalization
to 86Sr/88Sr = 0.1194. The mean standard error of mass spectrometer
performance was 0.00003 for standard NBS-987.
A JEOL JEM 2010 200KV transmission electron microscope
(TEM) was used for a detailed grain-by-grain characterization of the
two separated < 2 micron clay mineral fractions, their morphology and
for control of the grain-size distribution within the fractions (paper
). Stable oxygen isotope analyses and K-Ar dating were determined
for illite from sandstone samples to provide information on the temperature and composition of precipitating fluids (paper ). Sulfur
isotope ratios in anhydrite-cemented sandstones were analyzed to unravel the source of sulfate (paper ). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were preformed on the fine fraction (< 20 m) from representative
sandstone samples using a Siemens D5000 diffractometer (papers
and V).
A high sensitivity hot-cathode CL microscope was used to
study zonation in various quartz cements (paper ). Microthermometric analyses of the fluid inclusions were preformed in the Jauf samples (paper ) using a Linkam MDS 600 fluid inclusion heatingfreezing stage mounted on a Leitz Ortholux II petrographic microscope. The temperatures were measured using the procedure described
in Shepherd et al. (1985).
20
Summary models of diagenetic alterations

within systems tracts
Unraveling the distribution pattern of diagenetic alterations

within facies and systems tracts in the four studied siliciclastic successions reveal that important alterations including the dissolution and
kaolinitization of framework silicates, are closely associated to specific facies and systems tracts. Mesogentic alterations are encountered
in deeply buried successions studied in papers and V. This thesis
shows that the distribution of mesogenetic alterations within depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic framework of paralic and shallow marine siliciclastic deposits is controlled by the distribution pattern as well as type and extent of eogenetic alterations, burial-thermal
history, and formation water chemistry.
Important eogenetic alterations linked to sequence

stratigraphy
The most common and abundant eogenetic alterations in the
paralic and shallow marine successions are carbonates (e.g. calcite,
dolomite, siderite), kaolinite, pseudomatrix, and infiltrated clay coatings. Calcite cement has mainly coarse crystalline to poikilotopic texture in the FRWST and LST sandstones (papers and ), TST and
HST (papers and V) and in upper part of HST (paper ) and occurs
mainly as stratabound concretions (papers and ). Sandstone beds
hosting the concretions in the FRWST, LST and upper part of HST
sandstones contain trace amounts of carbonate grains, whereas the
poorly lithified sandstones that are overlying and underlying the concretionary-cemented sandstones contain considerable amounts of carbonate grains (av. ~ 10%; paper ). Cementation by marine intergranular microcrystalline as well as grain-coating fibrous (papers and V)
and scalenohedral/dogtooth (paper V) calcite occur mainly in the
TST and lower part of HST.
Dolomite occurs in all depositional facies and systems tracts,
but is most common in the TST and HST sandstones (papers and
21
and ) particularly below the MFS (paper ). The isotopic signatures of dolomite in HST sandstone (papers , and ) were interpreted to indicate precipitation under marine-meteoric mixing conditions, which is achieved through progradation and concomitant meteoric water incursion into the shoreface sandstones during times of sealevel lowstand. The 18OV-PDB values of pre-compactional, Fedolomite/ankerite (-10.4 to -8.4) in the tidal estuarine TST sandstones and below the MFS (paper ) indicate wide range of inferred
precipitation temperatures (40-60C), which can be explained as follows: (i) formation of Fe-dolomite/ankerite by replacement of near
surface calcite during progressive burial and increase in temperature,
or (ii) precipitation of Fe-dolomite/ankerite started below the seafloor
and provided nuclei for further precipitation of Fe-dolomite/ankerite
during progressive burial.
Eogenetic siderite (paper ) is encountered in the fluvial and
tide-influenced fluvial channel sandstones (LST) and estuary mouth
barrier sandstones (TST) and in the paleosols of the marginal tidal-flat
and marsh sandstones (TST). Siderite occurs in few samples mainly as
pore filling cement (av. 3%) and, in some cases, as tiny crystals
around the framework grains (av. 1%). This type of siderite is characterized by 18OV-PDB values of -6.8 to -5.4, suggesting precipitation from brackish porewaters that are dominated by meteoric water
component.
Kaolinite is most abundant in the distributary channels of HST
and FRST sandstones, the upper shoreface sandstones below the SB
(paper ), the shoreface of the HST sandstones (paper ), and tidal
HST sandstones (paper V). The loosely expanded texture of the kaolinitized micas in the studied sandstones suggests formation during
near-surface diagenesis. Abundant kaolinite in the distributary channels of HST and FRST and in the upper shoreface sandstones, particularly below the SB (paper ), is attributed to the flux of meteoric water into the paralic sediments during RSL fall. Meteoric water flux
occurs also into the outer-estuarine tidal bars below coal layers (TST),
which induce mineral dissolution aided by the generation of organic
acids and CO2 derived from the decay of the peat deposits (paper ).
Extensive dissolution and kaolinitization of mica, feldspar and mud
intraclasts in the shoreface and tidal HST sandstones (papers and
V) are attributed to incursion of meteoric waters during RSL fall and
progradation of the shoreface and tidal flat complex.
Pseudomatrix, which has been formed by the deformation and
squeezing of ductile mud intraclasts between the rigid quartz grains,
occurs in the LST and FRSWT sandstones (paper ), the HST, FRST
sandstones and above the SB (paper ), and the shoreface HST, tidal
estuarine TST and HST sandstones (paper ).
22
Mechanically infiltrated clay minerals occur mostly in the tidal

estuarine, TST and HST sandstones (paper ). These clay minerals
occur in the TST marginal tidal-flat and marsh sandstones (paper )
and the poorly lithified FRWST and LST sandstone beds (paper ).
Infiltrated clay minerals in tidal estuarine TST and HST sandstones
were presumably introduced into the sands by tidal pumping (paper
). Another possible mechanism is subaerial exposure and infiltration of surface water rich in suspended mud. Although this latter
mechanism cannot be totally discarded, subaerial exposure is unlikely
to occur during rise in the RSL and deposition of TST. The tangential
arrangement of clay flakes around detrital grains in the marginal tidalflat and marsh sandstones suggests formation by infiltration of run off
water during soil formation at the regressive surface (paper ; Moraes
and De Ros, 1990; Ketzer et al. 2003b).
Iron oxide cement occurs in all studied sequences as pore filling cement in poorly lithified FRWST sandstones (below the SB) and
in the LST sandstones (paper ), as coatings around the framework
grains, as pore filling cement and as pelloidal grains (400 to 600 m
across) in all systems tracts, but particularly in TST and HST sandstones (paper ), as platy specularite (5-10 m across) being mainly
grain replacive and in some cases fills the intergranular pores in the
coastal plain HST sandstones (paper ). Extensive cementation by
Fe-oxides has occurred below marine flooding surfaces of tidal flat
sandstones (paper V), which is attributed to precipitation owing to
diffusion of Fe2+derived from the reduction of detrital Fe-oxides and
oxidation at the seafloor. Hence, this pattern of Fe-oxide precipitation
resembles the mechanism of Fe-Mn nodules formation in abyssal
plains of modern oceans.
Pyrite occurs in trace amounts in all systems tracts (papers ,
and ). Pyrite in the FRWST and LST sediments is often partly oxidized (paper ), or almost completely weathered into jarosite and iron
oxides (paper ). Abundant jarosite concretions below the SB and
coal layers are thus presumably derived form complete weathering of
pyrite, which was facilitated by subaerial exposures and desulfurisation of coal (paper ). Glaucony in the TST and the lower part of HST
sediments, was formed in situ, whereas glaucony in the FRWST, the
LST, and the upper part of HST sandstones was reworked and altered
(oxidized and dissolved) presumably through interaction with meteoric waters (paper ).
23
Important mesogenetic alterations linked to sequence

stratigraphy
The most common and abundant mesogenetic alterations in the
paralic and shallow marine successions include Fe-dolomite, rare
ankerite, Mg-rich siderite, illite, chlorite, quartz overgrowths and outgrowths, dickite, albite and anhydrite. Fe-dolomite and ankerite cements (18OV-PDB -16.8 to -13.5) have mainly coarse crystalline to
poikilotopic texture and occur in the tidal estuarine TST and HST and
below the MFS sandstones (paper ) and was precipitated subsequent to considerable increase in burial depth from evolved brackish
to marine porewaters. Mg-siderite occurs in TST and HST (paper )
as scattered, grain-replacing patches comprised of coarse crystals that
fill intergranular pores. Mg-siderite (18OV-PDB = -13 to -11.4) is
mesogenetic in origin as evidenced by occurrence in sandstones with
close packed grains, and engulfment, and hence postdating of quartz
overgrowths that precipitated at temperature of 105C to 162C (paper
).
The various textural habits of illite (platelet-like, fibrous, filamentous, honeycomb-like, booklets-like and mat-like), which occurs
in the tidal estuarine TST and HST sandstones (paper ), suggest
formation by various processes including transformation of a clay precursor, precipitation from porewaters (authigenesis), replacement kaolinite and feldspar (e.g. Worden and Morad, 2003). The platelet-like
illite occurs as continuous tangential coatings around the framework
grains and at the grain-to-grain contacts, indicating formation by
transformation of infiltrated clay (Moraes and De Ros, 1990). The
honeycomb-like illite has most likely been formed by the transformation of authigenic smectite (Worden and Morad, 2003) during progressive increasing in burial depth (Burley and MacQuaker, 1992).
Fibrous and filamentous illite, which cover the honeycomb-like illite,
have likely been formed by precipitation from porewaters as evidenced by their absence at grain-to-grain contacts (Gven, 2001). The
occurrence of fibrous and mat-like illite on the scale of few mms excludes formation of the latter by collapse during sample preparation,
which was suggested by De Waal et al. (1988) and Kantorowicz
(1990).
Grain coating and grain replacing chlorite is more abundant in
the tidal estuarine, HST sandstones than in the TST sandstones (paper
). The occurrence of continuous chlorite coatings as platelet-like
crystals that are arranged perpendicular to ultra-thin layer ( 1 m
thick) of poorly characterized clay mineral substrate supports the importance of substrate in the nucleation and growth of chlorite. Substrates with similar molecular surface configuration to chlorite mini24
mize the interfacial energy between the growing nucleus and the substrate (Wilkinson and Hazeldine, 2002). The absence of perpendicular
aligned chlorite crystals at grain-to-grain contacts indicates that chlorite nucleation and growth occurred from porewaters.
Various occurrence habits of quartz cements (overgrowths,
outgrowths, discrete crystals and rare micro-quartz) within the different depositional facies and systems tracts indicate different origin.
Quartz overgrowths are most abundant in the shoreface to coastal
plain, HST sandstones (paper ) and TST and HST sandstones (paper V), whereas quartz outgrowths occur mainly in the tidal estuarine
TST and HST sandstones (paper ).
Abundant quartz overgrowths in the shoreface, HST sandstones compared to their rare occurrence in the tidal estuarine, TST
and HST sandstones is attributed to facies-controlled variations in the
distribution of clay coatings and extent of intergranular pressure dissolution (paper ). Quartz overgrowths and intergranular pressure dissolution are known to be significant at temperature of about 90-130C
and burial depths greater than 3 km (McBride, 1989; Walderhaug,
1996). The amounts of quartz overgrowths (0-25%; av. 14%; paper
) in the shoreface, HST sandstones are controlled mainly by availability of quartz grains with clean surfaces, which could act as nuclei
for growth of quartz overgrowths (Bloch et al., 2002). The common
presence of intergranular pressure dissolution and stylolites together
with quartz overgrowths in the shoreface, HST sandstones suggests
that silica required for quartz cement was derived internally (Walderhaug, 1994; Walderhaug and Bjrkum, 2003).
Fibrous and platelet-like illite and chlorite coatings around the
quartz grains have retarded the precipitation of quartz overgrowths but
not of prismatic and coarse-crystalline quartz outgrowths in the tidal
estuarine, TST and HST sandstones (paper ). Healed fractures in the
quartz grains have apparently provided substrates for the nucleation
and growth of coarse-crystalline to poikilotopic quartz (paper ). The
formation of quartz outgrowths, which occurred subsequent to the
overgrowths, may have required higher degree of silica supersaturation, which is commonly achieved during deep-burial diagenesis
(Bjrlykke and Egeberg, 1993).
Fluid inclusion thermometry indicates that quartz cementation
occurred at temperatures of 105-162C (paper ). The wide variation
in salinity of fluid (4 to 28 eq. wt.% NaCl) involved in precipitation of
quartz cements at temperatures of 105-162C corresponding to depths
of 2.9 to 5 km (paper ) is difficult to constrain, but could be due to
episodic flux of saline fluid from the overlying Permian anhydrites
and/or to dilution of formation waters by the expulsion of water derived from the illitization of smectite in the mudstones (Boles and
25
Franks, 1979) and from maturation of organic matter (Hanor, 1994;

Burley et al., 1989). The incursion of meteoric water is unlikely in
deeply buried sandstones (Hanor, 1994), and hence cannot account for
the lower-salinity formation waters.
Anhydrite, which occurs as coarse to poikilotopic crystals that
fill intergranular cement and strongly replace the framework grains, is
restricted to the tidal estuarine, HST sandstones (paper ). Anhydrite
engulfs, and hence postdates quartz overgrowths, suggesting precipitation during mesodiagenesis at temperature > 105C, which is the
minimum homogenization temperature obtained for quartz overgrowths (paper ). The sulfur isotope values (34SCDT = +10) of
the anhydrite cement in the tidal estuarine HST sandstones are much
lower than the contemporary, Lower to Middle Devonian seawater
(34SCDT = +22; Claypool et al., 1980), but consistent with the Late
Permian seawater (34SCDT = +10; Claypool et al., 1980). Therefore,
dissolved Ca2+ and SO42- needed for anhydrite cement formation have
likely been derived from dissolution of anhydrite in the overlying
Permian Khuff Formation, which is in contact, through faulting with
the upper HST of the Jauf Formation (Wender et al., 1998). Accordingly, the restricted occurrence of anhydrite in the tidal estuarine HST
sandstones that stratigraphically overly the tidal estuarine (TST) and
shoreface (HST) sandstones does not reflect a sequence stratigraphic
control but rather the structural control on anhydrite cementation. Dissolution of haliteanhydrite sequences in the deep subsurface normally produces sulfate-rich brines (Hanor, 1994). Such sulfate source
has been adopted for mesogenetic anhydrite cement in deeply buried
sandstones from other basins (Dworkin and Land, 1994; Morad et al.,
1994; Sullivan et al., 1994; Rossi et al., 2002).
Dickite, which is distinguished from kaolinite by two strong
reflections (2.50 and 2.32 ), occurs as blocky crystals (5-20 m)
with vermicular stacking pattern containing etched kaolinitic remnants
(paper ). Kaolin is engulfed by, and hence predates, quartz overgrowths. With increase in burial depth, kaolinite has been transformed
progressively into dickite through small-scale dissolution and reprecipitation (Ehrenberg et al., 1993; Morad et al., 1994), which is evidenced by: (i) the association of dickite and etched kaolinite, and (ii)
preservation of vermicular and booklet stacking pattern of kaolinite in
dickite.
Albite occurs as numerous small, lath-like crystals (1-15 m
across) that are parallel aligned to each other and to remnants of severely etched K-feldspar and plagioclase grains, and can hence be
considered as albitized feldspar (e.g. Morad, 1986). Albitized feldspar
was encountered in the tidal estuarine, TST and HST sandstones (paper ). Partly albitized plagioclase grains have preserved their origi26
nal twining pattern, whereas partly albitized K-feldspar contain irregular patches of albite and of the detrital host feldspar. Albitized feldspars, particularly plagioclase, contain variable amounts of intragranular pores. Completely albitized feldspars are untwined, vacuolated and
display patchy extinction patterns. These feldspars display petrographic features similar to albitized feldspars described by Morad
(1986), Morad et al. (1990) and Saigal et al. (1988). Albitization of Kfeldspar has acted as a source of potassium needed for the formation
of illite (up to 8%; Morad et al., 1990; Bjrlykke and Aagaard, 1992).
27
Reservoir quality and heterogeneity models
This thesis has shown that linking diagenesis to sequence

stratigraphy of paralic and shallow marine siliciclastic sediments has
important implications for unraveling and predicting the spatial and
temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and of their impact on
reservoir quality evolution. Four predictive conceptual models have
been obtained from the studied successions, which illustrate the different evolution pathways of reservoir quality in relationship to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic frameworks (Figs. 2 to 5).
Model 1: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution

pathway of shoreface sandstones (paper )
A summary model that integrates the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations in Upper Jurassic siliciclastic shoreface sediments into the sequence stratigraphic framework is proposed
(Fig. 2). Changes in RSL have resulted in changes in porewaters
chemistry, which in turn have had a significant impact on the
diagenetic alteration of siliciclastic deposits. The proposed model emphasizes: (i) the distribution of eogenetic alterations within FRWST,
LST, TST, and HST, (ii) the distribution of cemented vs. noncemented sandstones, and hence reservoir-quality evolution pathways
(e.g., reservoir rocks and diagenetic trap), and (iii) the cementation
pattern (e.g., concretionary-cemented versus continuously cemented
layers) and texture (microcrystalline vs. poikilotopic) of calcite cements.
Formation of stratabound, poikilotopic calcite concretions with
dominantly meteoric isotopic signatures occurred in FRWST, LST
and the upper part of the HST (Fig. 2A, C). Poikilotopic calcite cement was sourced by complete dissolution of carbonate bioclasts in
the host sand beds as a result of considerable meteoric-water flux under a warm, humid paleoclimate. Mechanical infiltration of clays and
cementation by vadose micritic calcite and by opal, chalcedony, and
gypsum occurred in the interbedded, poorly lithified sandstones under
an arid to semiarid paleoclimate (Fig. 2B). Microcrystalline calcite
28
cement in sandstones and mudrocks of the TST and the lower part of
the HST, which has dominantly marine isotopic signatures, is suggested to be sourced through diffusion of Ca2+ and HCO3- from overlying seawater (Fig. 2D, E). Glaucony in the TST and the lower part
of HST sediments was formed in situ, whereas glaucony in the
FRWST, the LST, and the upper part of HST sandstones was reworked and altered (oxidized and dissolved) through interaction with
meteoric waters.
Shoreface deposits are common hydrocarbon systems in which
the distribution of reservoirs, seals, and source rocks is strongly controlled by changes in the RSL (Proust et al., 2001). Therefore, the Jurassic shoreface deposits from NW France serve as an analogue that
provides further insight into reservoir and seal-rock development owing to diagenetic alterations (Fig. 2). Although the Jurassic succession
discussed here was not buried deeper than 500 m (El Albani, 1991),
the anticipated burial-diagenetic modifications that could be encountered to depth of 3 km and related reservoir-quality evolution pathways were envisaged. The speculative depth of 3 km is chosen because it encounters a number of key modifications, including pressure
dissolution and concomitant quartz cementation, as well as the formation of deep-burial illite and chlorite (Morad et al., 2000).
Sandstones of the TST and the lower part of the HST have
poor depositional reservoir quality owing to their high mud matrix
content, and/or pervasive cementation by microcrystalline calcite. The
continuously calcite-cemented layers are expected to act as fluid-flow
baffles during diagenesis and hydrocarbon production (Fig. 6).
Diagenetic alterations, which are expected to occur in such sandstones
during burial to the arbitrary depth of 3 km, include: (i) recrystallization of the microcrystalline calcite into coarse-crystalline calcite, (ii)
illitization and chloritization of infiltrated smectite, and (iii) mechanical compaction of the poorly cemented, very fine-grained sandstones,
resulting in further deterioration to reservoir quality.
The present-day reservoir quality of the FRWST and LST
sandstones varies widely, being related mainly to variations in the
amounts and distribution patterns of poikilotopic calcite. Coalesced
calcite concretions (100-200 cm in diameter) in these sandstones
might act as fluid-flow baffles (Kantorowicz et al., 1987; Ketzer et al.,
2003a). Conversely, the friable to poorly lithified sandstone beds
would likely evolve to excellent reservoir quality, as evidenced by the
well interconnected primary and secondary pores (total porosity is up
to 50%) and the dominant point contacts between the framework
grains. Diagenesis during progressive burial to the arbitrary depth of 3
km of the poorly lithified sandstone beds would probably result in
dissolution of calcite bioclasts and precipitation of calcite cement
29
(Walderhaug and Bjrkum, 1998). Opal and, to certain extent, chalcedony are metastable phases, and will thus be dissolved and reprecipitated initially as grain-coating micro-quartz (e.g., Lima and De
Ros, 2003). Micro-quartz is concluded to retard mechanical and
chemical compaction as well as precipitation of quartz overgrowths,
and hence preservation of reservoir quality even when the sandstone is
buried deeply (Aase et al., 1996; Bloch et al., 2002).
30
SB
E. Cementation by marine microcrystalline calcite

SL5
SL6
TSE
SB
LST
RSE
Meteoric water
Depositional
Sequence
ST
relative
sea level
RSE
MFS
TST
FRW
HS
Upper part of HST

Lower part of HST
0m
TST
RSE
MC, IG
LST
FRWST
2
MC, IG
D. Cementation by marine microcrystalline calcite

SL5
low
PC, DG
MC, DG
HST
SB
high
MC, IG
Diffusion
Ca2+ and HCO 3
MC, IG
MC, IG
SL4
teo
ric
MC, IG
MC, IG
PC, RG
RG
PC, RG
RG
PC, RG
SL4
wa
ter
arid to semi arid
LST
FRWST
SL3
10
PC, RG
SB
O/C+G, RG, VC
PC, RG
B. Infiltration of clays and cementation by vadose

calcite and phreatic opal/chalcedony and gypsum
O/C+G, RG
12
PC, RG
O/C+G, RG
PC, RG
FRWST
warm humid
Sequence stratigraphy:
RSE
Regressive surface of marine erosion
SB
Sequence boundary
TSE
Transgressive surface of marine erosion
MFS
PB
FRWST Forced regressive systems tract
LST
TST
Transgressive systems tract
HST
SL2
SL3
A. Cementation by phreatic poikilotopic calcite

SL1
me
teo
ric
14
O/C+G, RG
16
PC, RG
18
wa
ter
SL2
FRWST
HST
mud
silt
fg
mg
cg
Fine-grained sandstones
Medium-grained sandstones
Coarse-grained sandstones
TSE
RG
Grain size
fg
mg
cg
MFS
MC, IG
MC, IG
C. Cementation by phreatic poikilotopic calcite
me
TST
LST
FRWST
LST
Stratabound concretions
Infiltrated clay
Mud intraclast
Intense bioturbation
Continuously cemented layer
Poorly lithified sandstone
Siltstone
Mudstone
MC
Microcrystalline calcite cement
PC
Poikilotopic calcite cement
IG
In-situ glauconite
RG
Reworked glauconite
O/C+G Opal/Chalcedony and gypsum
VC
Vadose calcite cement
MC, IG
TST
FRWST
SL5
SL6
SL4
SL3
SL2
SL1
Lower part of HST
warm humid
Grain Size

&IGURE #ARTOON SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN DIAGENETIC MODIFICATIONS WITHIN A SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT OF THE 5PPER *URASSIC SUCCESSION WHICH INCLUDES MUDROCKS AND FINE GRAINED
SANDSTONES BELONGING TO THE TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEMS TRACT 434 AND THE LOWER PART OF HIGHSTAND SYS
TEMSTRACT(34 ANDSANDSTONESOFTHEFORCEDREGRESSIVEWEDGESYSTEMSTRACT&2734 THELOWSTAND
SYSTEMS TRACT ,34 AND THE UPPER PART OF THE (34 -INOR DIAGENETIC MODIFICATIONS ARE OUTLINED IN
THESTRATIGRAPHICLOGLEFT 0YRITEOCCURSINALLSYSTEMSTRACTSBUTISOVERALLMOREABUNDANTINTHE434
AND (34 SEDIMENTS THAN IN THE &2734 AND ,34 SEDIMENTS PYRITE IN THE &2734 AND ,34 SEDIMENTS
ISOFTENPARTLYOXIDIZED
RSE

pathway of wave-dominated delta and tide and mixedenergy estuaries sandstones (paper )
The diagenetic evolution of the Upper Cretaceous sandstones
has followed five main pathways (Fig. 3). The summary model of the
diagenetic evolution pathways illustrates the distribution of eogenetic
alterations in sandstones within FRST, LST, TST, and HST (Fig. 3).
Emphasis is also made on diagenetic alterations below coal layers and
SB.
The most important diagenetic alterations in the sandstones include two patterns of carbonate cementation that resulted in continuously cemented and concretions layers depending on depositional environments and type of systems tract. Carbonate concretions in the
fluvial channels (LST) and outer estuarine tidal bar (TST) show increasing-upward trend in number and size, as well as in the volume of
dolomite and calcite cements towards the marine flooding surfaces.
This trend of carbonate cement distribution is attributed to the long
residence time of sediments below the flooding surfaces that enhance
the diffusion of dissolved carbon and Ca2+ from the overlaying seawater (Kantorowicz et al., 1987; Taylor et al., 1995; Morad et al.,
2000; Ketzer et al., 2003a). The coarse calcite cement in all systems
tracts was derived from the recrystallization of the microcrystalline
calcite by meteoric water incursion and/or burial diagenesis.
Poorly lithified sandstones, particularly below SB and coal
layers, have been subjected to a significant dissolution and kaolinitization of mica, feldspars and mud intraclast and dissolution of detrital
dolomite and carbonate cements. Increase in the amounts of secondary
porosity in paralic sandstones lying below the SB and below the coal
layer (TST) is attributed to the flux of meteoric water during RSL fall
and to the generation of organic acids and CO2 during percolation of
meteoric waters in the peat deposits, respectively, which resulted in
the silicate grains dissolution (Staub and Cohen, 1978). Conversely,
mechanical compaction has been extensive in samples of the HST and
FRST that are enriched in low-grade metamorphic rock fragments,
which have been squeezed between the rigid framework grains (e.g.
quartz) and resulted in the formation of pseudomatrix. Infiltrated clay
coatings occur around detrital grains in the marginal tidal-flat and
marsh sandstones and formed during soil formation at the regressive
surface (Moraes and De Ros, 1990; Ketzer et al., 2003a).
32
FRST delta, SB and Fluvial LST
SB
FRST
SB
HST
FRST
LST
TST
FRST
LST
HST
Carbonate continuously cemented

layers in the shoreface sandstone
HST delta, SB and fluvial LST
HST
LST
SB
HST
Pyrite concretions in the white

sandstones of upper shoreface HST
FRST Forced regressive systems tract
LST
TST
HST
Sequence boundary
SB
Carbonate concretion
Carbonate continuously-cemented layer
HST
FRST
Zoned dolomite rhombs

Dissolved dolomite
Siderite
Detrital dolomite
Dissolved detrital dolomite

Dissolved calcite cement
Iron oxides
Grain replacive calcite
Pyrite
HST
FRST
LST
TST
Eodiagenesis
Eodiagenesis
Carbonate concretions in the tide

dominated estuarine TST
Eodiagenesis
LST
Outer-estuarine tidal bars
Eodiagenesis
TST
Eodiagenesis
Tide-influenced fluvial channel
Carbonate
Porous
Mechanically
Paleosol &
cemented
sandstones compacted
infiltrated
sandstones clay coating
sandstones Sandstones
below SB &
Regressive
coal layer
surface
TST
Tidal bar & outer estuarine

tidal channel
Kaolinite
Pyrite concretions
Infiltrated clay coating
Coal fragments
Quartz grains
Coal layer
Less porous Moderately porous Highly porous
Dissolved silicate grains

Feldspar
Low-grade metamorphic
rock fragments

&IGURE #ARTOONS SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAIN DIAGENETIC MODIFICATIONS WITHIN A SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT OF THE
5PPER #RETACEOUS SANDSTONES FROM 5TAH 53! 4HE DIAGENETIC EVOLUTION IS OUTLINED IN THE SCHEMATIC MICROGRAPH RIGHT
&IELDPHOTOGRAPHSONTHELEFTHANDSIDEOFTHEGRAPHICLOGSHOWVARIOUSSYSTEMSTRACTSANDDEPOSITIONALFACIES4HEFIELDPHO
TOGRAPHS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE GRAPHIC LOG SHOW THE MAIN DIAGENETIC FEATURES PYRITE CONCRETIONS AND CONCRETIONARY
ANDCONTINUOUSLYCARBONATECEMENTEDLAYERS .OTETHETHREEDIFFERENTCOLORSINTHEGRAPHICLOGTHATREPRESENTPOROSITYDISTRI
BUTIONWITHINTHEVARIOUSSYSTEMSTRACTS

pathway of shoreface HST and tidal estuarine, TST and
HST sandstones (paper )
Recently, there have been increasing number of studies demonstrating that the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations can be better elucidated and predicted when linked to the
systems tracts and key sequence stratigraphic surfaces (Taylor et al.,
2000: Ketzer et al., 2002; Al-Ramadan et al., 2005; Ketzer and Morad,
2006). Grain coating minerals (chlorite, illite and micro-quartz) play
decisive role in reservoir quality preservation in deeply buried sandstones (Ehrenberg, 1993; Aase et al., 1996; Anjos et al., 2003; Salem
et al., 2005). Despite the importance of these grain-coating minerals,
little is known about their spatial and temporal distribution within sequence stratigraphic framework of sandstones, and hence of their impact on reservoir quality evolution.
Establishment of the links between diagenesis and sequence
stratigraphy will, thus, refine the assessment and prediction of the reservoir quality distribution patterns, amounts, texture, and composition
of diagenetic minerals within the systems tracts and below the MFS of
the Jauf Formation (Fig. 4). The Jauf sandstones have followed five
main diagenetic evolution pathways involving variable types and extents of compaction, cementation, mineral alteration and dissolution
and formation of grain-coating clay minerals. These diagenetic alterations have induced various extents of porosity creation, destruction
and preservation (Fig. 4).
Porosity preservation occurred in the tidal estuarine, TST and
HST sandstones and is attributed to the retardation of quartz overgrowths by grain-coating illite and chlorite (pathways A and B; Fig. 4;
Ehrenberg, 1993; Bloch et al., 2002). Grain-coating, platelet-like and
fibrous illite are the main reservoir-qulaity preserving agents in the
tidal estuarine TST and HST. Tidal estuarine HST sandstones with
chlorite and illite coatings have the highest He-porosity (up to 21%)
and intergranular porosity (up to 7%) compared to the tidal estuarine
TST sandstones in which the grains are coated only by illite (Heporosity up to 17% and intergranular porosity up to 5%). Chlorite is
most commonly described in the literature as the effective type of clay
mineral coatings in preventing quartz precipitation (Ehrenberg, 1993;
Pittman et al., 1992). Despite its effect on porosity preservation, graincoating, fibrous illite may induce considerable permeability deterioration by occluding the pore throats partially to completely (Kantorowicz, 1990; Worden and Morad, 2003).
34
Wide variations in porosity and permeability of the tidal estuarine TST and HST sandstones are presumably related partly to variation in the efficiency of grain coating minerals in preserving porosity.
This efficiency depends on amounts, completeness of coating, as well
as grain size and abundance of quartz grains (Walderhaug, 1996;
Worden and Morad, 2000; Bloch et al., 2002). Grain coating illite
with 3% is an arbitrary limit that apparently separates the sandstones
into groups with various amounts of quartz overgrowths. Small to
moderate volumes of intergranular porosity in TST and tidal estuarine
HST sandstones is occluded by poikilotopic quartz outgrowths rather
than by overgrowths and, in some cases, by Fe-dolomite/ankerite,
siderite and anhydrite cementation (pathways A and B; Fig. 4). Clay
mineral coatings have no effect on reservoir quality preservation in
sandstones that are rich in mud intraclasts (up to 28%), which induce
porosity-permeability reduction owing to ductile deformation.
Conversely, porosity destruction occurred in the shoreface
HST sandstones that lack of thick grain-coating clays, which were,
consequently, cemented extensively by quartz overgrowths (pathway
C; Fig. 4). The shoreface, HST sandstones are also characterized by:
(i) abundant microporosity in kaolinitized and illitized mud intraclasts,
and illitized kaolin that resulted in reduction of permeability (pathway
D; Fig. 4), and (ii) presence of isolated intragranular and moldic pores
formed by partial to complete dissolution of feldspar and mica that
were prevented from compaction by the presence of quartz overgrowths (pathway D; Fig. 4), which helped supporting the sandstones
framework (Souza et al., 1995).
Porosity destruction in sandstones that occur below MFS (Heporostiy = 2-5%) is attributed to extensive cementation by Fedolomite/ankerite (up to 44%; pathway E; Fig. 4), presumably forming reservoir baffles on top of the tidal estuarine TST, which is the
most important reservoir facies in the Jauf Formation (Rahmani et al.,
2003). Consequently, the MFS has compartmentalized the TST reservoir sandstones from the above lying tidal estuarine HST sandstones,
which are characterized by fairly good reservoir porosity (up to 21%).
Sandstones lying below the MFS are subjected to extensive cementation by eogenetic carbonates owing to diffusive flux of Ca2+ and
HCO3- from the overlying seawater, which is facilitated by long residence time of sediment below the seafloor (Morad et al., 2000; Taylor
et al., 2000; Ketzer et al., 2003a). However, the 18OV-PDB values of
pre-compactional Fe-dolomite/ankerite indicate wide range of inferred
precipitation temperatures (40-60C), which can be attributed to: (i)
formation of Fe-dolomite/ankerite by replacement of near surface calcite during progressive burial. Similar origin of Fe-dolomite was inferred by Morad et al. (1996) based on the presence of belemnite that
35
(B) Tidal estuarine HST
Legend
Mesodiagenesis
Illitization of clay coatings &

retardation of quartz overgrowths
Ultra-thin clay coating
K-feldsapr
Infiltrated clay (IC)
Plagioclase
Illitized IC
Mica
Pseudomatrix
Mud intraclasts
Kaolinite
Quartz overgrowths
Fibrous illite
Quartz outgrowths
Chlorite+illite
Albitized feldspar
Dickite
Kaolinitized mica
Siderite
Illitized kaolinite
Replacive siderite
Stylolitic surface
Anhydrite
Fe-dolomite/ankerite
Pyrite
Rock fragments
Porosity
Replacive Fe-dolomite/ankerite
Clay infiltration
Eodiagenesis
Quartz grain
Illitization & chloritization of clay coatings

& retardation of quartz overgrowths
Mesodiagenesis
Eodiagenesis
Clay infiltration
WAS MIMICALLY REPLACED BY ANKERITE OR II PRECIPITATION OF &E
DOLOMITEANKERITE STARTED BELOW THE SEAFLOOR AND PROVIDED NUCLEI FOR
FURTHERPRECIPITATIONOF&E DOLOMITEANKERITEDURINGPROGRESSIVEBURIAL

(A) Tidal estuarine TST
(C & D) Shoreface HST
Meteoric water flux &

kaolinitization of mica, feldspar
grains & mud intraclasts
Mechanical compaction &

formation of pseudomatrix
Eodiagenesis
Intensive pressure dissolution
(E) MFS
Dickitization of kaolinite
Post compactional Fe-dolomite

cementation
Mesodiagenesis
Intensive pressure dissolution &

precipitation of quartz overgrowths
&IGURE #ARTOON SHOWING THE DIAGENETIC AND RELATED RESERVOIR QUALITY EVOLUTION
PATHWAYS OF THE TIDAL ESTUARINE TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEMS TRACT 434 AND HIGHSTAND
SYSTEMSTRACT(34 ANDSHOREFACETOCOASTALPLAINOFTHE(34INTHE*AUF&ORMA
TION0ATHWAYS!" ILLUSTRATESTHATSANDSTONESOFTHE434ANDTIDALLYINFLUENCED
(34SANDSTONESHAVEGOODRESERVOIRQUALITYOWINGTOTHEPRESENCEOFGRAINCOATING
ILLITE AND CHLORITE 4HESE CLAY MINERALS RESULTED IN RETARDATION OF CEMENTATION BY
QUARTZOVERGROWTHSANDTHUSENHANCEDPOROSITYPRESERVATION)NFILTRATEDCLAYS)#
HAVEBEENPRESUMABLYINTRODUCEDINTHETIDALESTUARINE434AND(34SANDSTONESBY
TIDAL PUMPING 4HE PLATELET LIKE ILLITE OCCURS AT GRAIN TO GRAIN CONTACTS SUGGESTING
FORMATIONBYTRANSFORMATIONOF)#WHILETHEFIBROUSILLITEISABSENTATGRAINCONTACT
SUGGESTING FORMATION BY PRECIPITATION ON CLAY SUBSTRATE (ONEYCOMB LIKE ILLITE HAS
ALSOACTEDASSUBSTRATEFORTHEFORMATIONOFFILAMENTOUSANDFIBROUSILLITE0ATHWAY
# ILLUSTRATES POROSITY DESTRUCTION IN THE SHOREFACE (34 SANDSTONES THAT HAVE THE
POORESTRESERVOIRQUALITYDUETOTHEABSENCEOFGRAINCOATINGSILLITEANDCHLORITEAND
CONSEQUENTLY MORE EXTENSIVE CEMENTATION BY QUARTZ OVERGROWTHS 0ATHWAY $
SHOWS THAT THE SHOREFACE (34 SANDSTONES ARE ALSO CHARACTERIZED BY ABUNDANT MI
CROPOROSITY IN KAOLINITIZED AND ILLITIZED MUD INTRACLASTS AND ILLITIZED KAOLIN THAT
RESULTEDINREDUCTIONOFPERMEABILITY0ATHWAY% ILLUSTRATESPOROSITYDESTRUCTIONIN
THESANDSTONESLYINGBELOWTHE-&3OWINGTOEXTENSIVECEMENTATIONBY&E DOLOMITE
WHICH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL TO COMPLETE REDUCTION IN POROSITY &E DOLOMITEANKERITE
MAYHAVEBEENFORMEDBYTRANSFORMATIONOFNEARSURFACECALCITEORDOLOMITEPRECUR
SORSANDHENCEACCOUNTINGFORTHELOWoxygen isotope VALUES


pathway of tidal flat sandstones (paper V)
Rapid rise in the RSL has resulted in partial cementation by
marine intergranular microcrystalline as well as grain-coating, fibrous
and scalenohedral/dogtooth calcite in the TST sandstones (pathway A;
Fig. 5). Extensive cementation by Fe-oxides has occurred below marine flooding surfaces of tidal flat sandstones, which is attributed to
precipitation owing to diffusion of Fe2+derived from the reduction of
detrital Fe-oxides and oxidation at the seafloor. Subsequent fall in
RSL resulted in the progradation of the tidal flat complex and meteoric water incursion that induced pervasive dissolution and kaolinitization of framework silicates as well partial dissolution of marine calcite cement, and hence creation of secondary intra- and intergranular
porosity. The amounts of kaolinite increase considerably towards the
sequence boundary. Mesogenetic alterations include intergranular
pressure dissolution and formation of variable amounts of syntaxial
quartz overgrowths in all systems tracts (pathway B; Fig. 5).
38
sea-level 1
Upper part of the HST
Pathway B
Marine
Eodiagenesis
Pathway A
TST and lower part of the HST
alluvial and coas tal

plain s ediments
s hallow-marine
s ediments
offshore-marine
sediments
2
3
sea-level 1
sea-level 2
sea-level 3
Meteoric
Eodiagenesis
KE Y
Legend
Quartz
Fibrous & scalenohedral

calcite
Mica
Microcrystalline calcite
Feldspar
Coarse crystalline calcite
Mud intraclasts
Kaolinite
Porosity
Well crystallized kaolinite
Altered mica
Quartz overgrowths
Mesodiagenesis
Meteoric water flux
Iron oxide
&IGURE #ARTOON SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN DIAGENETIC MODIFICATIONS WITHIN A
SEQUENCESTRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT OF TIDAL FLAT SANDSTONES OF THE !DEDIA &ORMATION Cambro/RDOVICIAN 3INAI%GYPT$IAGENETICALTERATIONSOFTHETRANSGRESSIVESYSTEMSTRACT434
INCLUDEPARTIAL CEMENTATION BY MARINE INTERGRANULAR MICROCRYSTALLINE AS WELL AS GRAIN
COATING FIBROUSANDSCALENOHEDRALDOGTOOTHCALCITE3UBSEQUENTFALLINRELATIVESEALEVELRESULTEDINTHEPROGRADATIONOFTHETIDALFLATCOMPLEXANDDEPOSITIONOFHIGHSTANDSYSTEMSTRACT
(34 SANDSTONESANDINMETEORICWATERFLUXINTOTHE434AND(34SANDSTONESTHATINDUCED
PERVASIVEDISSOLUTIONANDKAOLINITIZATIONOFFRAMEWORKSILICATESASWELLPARTIALDISSOLUTION
OF MARINECALCITECEMENTANDHENCECREATIONOFSECONDARYINTRA ANDINTERGRANULARPOROSITY
-ESOGENETICALTERATIONSINCLUDEINTERGRANULARPRESSUREDISSOLUTIONANDFORMATIONOFVARIABLE
AMOUNTSOFSYNTAXIALQUARTZOVERGROWTHSINALLSYSTEMSTRACTS

Diagenetic
compartmentation/sealing
MFS
TSE
SB
Depositional
Sequence
RSE
Partial diagenetic
compartmentation/sealing
HST
TST
LST
FRWST
??
??
Reservoir rocks
RSE
Continuously calcite cemented Poorly lithified sandstones Poorly lithified sandstones Calcite-cemented
that overlie and underlie the that host the concretions
sandstones/mudrocks
sandstones in
concretions in FRWST and LST
in TST and HST
FRWST and LST
in FRWST and LST
Bioclasts
Opal and chalcedony cement
RSE
SB
TSE
MFS
PB
Regressive surface of marine erosion

Sequence boundary
Transgressive surface of marine erosion
In situ glauconite with microcracks
Dolomite rhombs
Framboidal pyrite
Dissolved silicate grains
Reworked glauconite
Sand grains dominated by

quartz
FRWST
LST
TST
HST
Forced regressive systems tract

Microcrystalline calcite cement

Pseudomatrix
Infiltrated clay coatings
Bioturbated site cemented by
microcrystalline calcite cement
Quartz overgrowth
Vadose calcite cement
Gypsum
&IGURE #ARTOON SHOWING THE PRESENT DAY RESERVOIR QUALITY DISTRIBUTION OF THE
FORCED REGRESSIVE WEDGE SYSTEMS TRACT &2734 LOWSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT ,34
TRANSGRESSIVESYSTEMSTRACT434 ANDHIGHSTANDSYSTEMSTRACT(34 DEPOSITS4HE
&2734AND,34SANDSTONESVARYWIDELYINRESERVOIRQUALITYBEINGRELATEDMAINLY
TOVARIATIONSINTHEAMOUNTSANDDISTRIBUTIONPATTERNSOFPOIKILOTOPICCALCITEANDTO
ASMALLEREXTENTGYPSUMCHALCEDONYANDOPALCEMENTSCLAYPSEUDOMATRIXGRAIN
COATING INFILTRATED CLAY AND OF SECONDARY POROSITY 4HE CONCRETIONARY CALCITE
CEMENTEDSANDSTONELAYERSWOULDACTASBAFFLESTOFLUIDFLOWDURINGDIAGENESISAND
HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION PARTICULARLY IN PLACES WHERE THE CONCRETIONS HAVE COA
LESCEDINTONEARLYCONTINUOUSLYCEMENTEDLAYERS,OCALOVERALLSLIGHTDETERIORATION
TORESERVOIRQUALITYOFTHESESANDSTONESHASOCCURREDOWINGTOPARTIALPATCHYCE
MENTATION BY CHALCEDONY OPAL GYPSUM INFILTRATED CLAY MINERALS AND MUD PSEU
DOMATRIX 3ANDSTONES OF THE 434 AND (34 HAVE POOR RESERVOIR QUALITY OWING TO
THEIR HIGH MUD MATRIX CONTENT VERY FINE GRAIN SIZE ANDOR PERVASIVE CONTINUOUS
CEMENTATION BY MICROCRYSTALLINE CALCITE 4HE CONTINUOUSLY CEMENTED LAYERS ARE
EXPECTED TO ACT AS DIAGENETIC BARRIERS COMPARTMENTALIZING THE RESERVOIRS AND AS
BAFFLESFORFLUIDFLOWDURINGDIAGENESISANDHYDROCARBONPRODUCTION

Summary of the papers
Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in

Siliciclastic Shoreface Deposits Within Sequence
Stratigraphic Framework: Evidence From The Upper
Jurassic, Boulonnais, NW France
The distribution of diagenetic alterations in Upper Jurassic, siliciclastic shoreface sediments from NW France has been linked to the sequence stratigraphic framework. Calcite cement in mudrocks and
sandstones of the transgressive (TST) and lower part of the highstand
(HST) systems tracts has microcrystalline and occurs as continuously
cemented layers and stratabound concretions. The average 18OV-PDB
(-2.6) and 87Sr/86Sr (0.7078) compositions of microcrystalline calcite indicate precipitation from largely marine porewaters.
Calcite cement in sandstones of the forced regressive wedge
(FRWST) and lowstand (LST) systems tracts has poikilotopic texture
and occurs mainly as stratabound concretions. Complete dissolution of
the carbonate grains and concomitant precipitation of poikilotopic
calcite cement with low average 18O (-5.3) and more radiogenic
Sr-isotope (0.70882) signatures suggest incursion of meteoric waters
into the sandstones during RSL lowstand. The poorly lithified sandstones interbedded with sandstones cemented by poikilotopic calcite
concretions display evidence of diagenesis under episodes of arid to
semiarid paleoclimate, including: (i) partial cementation by opal, chalcedony, gypsum, and minor vadose calcite cement, (ii) mechanically
infiltrated clays and Fe-oxides, and (iii) secondary porosity owing to
partial dissolution of carbonate grains. The integration of diagenesis
into sequence stratigraphy allowed better elucidation and prediction of
the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and related reservoir-quality modifications in shoreface sediments.
41
Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in

Relationship to Depositional Facies and Sequence
Stratigraphy of Wave- and Tide-Dominated Siliciclastic
Shoreline Complex: Upper Cretaceous Chimney Rock
Sandstones, Wyoming and Utah, USA
This study constrains the distribution of diagenetic alterations and
their impact on reservoir-quality evolution in relation to depositional
environments (wave-dominated delta and tide and mixed-energy estuaries) and sequence stratigraphy (systems tracts and key sequence
stratigraphic surfaces) of Campanian sandstones from Wyoming-Utah,
USA. The diagenetic alterations include cementation by calcite, dolomite, pyrite, micro-quartz, and iron oxides, dissolution of carbonate
cement and detrital dolomite, dissolution and kaolinitization of
framework silicates, mechanical compaction of argillaceous grains,
and infiltration of grain coating clays.
Calcite, which is the dominant cement, is most abundant in the
shoreface sandstones of HST and FRST. Oxygen and strontium isotope values (18O = -15.9 to -3.7 and 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7095-0.7112)
suggest that the calcite cement precipitated from dominantly meteoric
waters. Diagenetic dolomite is more abundant in shoreface HST than
in the FRST, LST and TST sandstones and is attributed to the precipitation of dolomite under marine-meteoric mixing conditions, which is
achieved through progradation and concomitant meteoric water incursion to the shoreface sandstones during times of sea-level highstand.
Kaolinite is most abundant in the distributary channels of HST and
FRST and in upper shoreface sandstones below the SB, which is attributed to the flux of meteoric water. The flux into the paralic sediments occurs during RSL fall and in outer-estuarine tidal bars below
coal layers (TST) aided by the generation of organic acids and CO2
during percolation of meteoric waters in the peat deposits. Iron oxide
cement occurs in all systems tracts, but particularly in TST and HST.
Pyrite occurs below coal layers and SB. Infiltration of grain coating
clays is restricted to the TST marginal tidal-flat and marsh sandstones.
Micro-quartz occurs in trace amounts in all systems tracts.
42
Paper Linking Diagenesis and Porosity Preservation

to Sequence Stratigraphy of Gas Condensate Reservoir
Sandstones, the Jauf Formation (Lower to Middle
Devonian), Eastern Saudi Arabia
Diagenetic alterations play a critical role in porosity preservation and
destruction in the deeply buried (present day depths 4154-5130 m) gas
condensate reservoir sandstones of the Jauf Formation (Lower to
Middle Devonian), eastern Saudi Arabia. This study aims to link the
spatial and temporal distribution of these alterations to the depositional facies and systems tracts of the sandstones in order to achieve a
better understanding and prediction of reservoir quality distribution.
Eogenetic alterations (depth < 2 km; T < 70C) include: (i) infiltration
of grain-coating clays in tidal estuarine sandstones of the transgressive
systems tract (TST) and highstand systems tract (HST), (ii) cementation by ferroan dolomite/ankerite, particularly below maximum flooding surface in the tidal estuarine TST sandstones, and (iii) dissolution
and kaolinitization of mica, mud intraclasts and feldspars in the HST
sandstones, which are attributed to meteoric water flux during fall in
the RSL.
Mesogenetic alterations (depth 2 km; T 70C) include the
formation of grain-coating illite and chlorite as well as quartz, Fedolomite/ankerite, anhydrite and siderite cements. Oxygen isotopic
composition (-9.1) and age (101 Ma)-related of illite (4.2 km) suggest precipitation from evolved formation waters with 18OSMOW value
of +1.24. Quartz overgrowths are most abundant in the shoreface to
coastal plain, HST sandstones (poor in grain-coating clays), whereas
quartz outgrowths occur mainly in the TST and tidal estuarine, HST
sandstones (rich in grain-coating clays).
Sandstones with the best-preserved reservoir quality are encountered in the tidally influenced, channel and estuarine facies of the
TST and HST sandstones, whereas sandstones with pervasive reservoir quality destruction occur in the HST, shoreface facies. Reservoir
quality preservation in the TST and tidal estuarine HST sandstones is
attributed to the presence of significant amounts of grain-coating
clays, which prevented extensive cementation by quartz overgrowths.
This study illustrates that linking diagenesis to sequence stratigraphy
allows better elucidation and prediction of the spatial and temporal
distribution of diagenetic alterations and their impact on porosity
preservation versus destruction in tidal estuarine and shoreface sandstones.
43
Paper V Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in

Sequence Stratigraphic Context of Tidal Flat
Sandstones: Evidence From The Adedia Formation
(Cambro-Ordovician), Sinai, Egypt
This study aims at unraveling the temporal distribution of
diagenetic alterations within the sequence stratigraphic framework of
tidal flat sandstone-dominated of the Adedia Formation (CambroOrdovician) Sinai, Egypt. Initially, a rapid rise in the RSL resulted in
transgression and deposition of transgressive systems tract (TST;
dominantly tidal flat sand) directly on the crystalline basement.
Diagenetic alterations of the TST include partial cementation by marine intergranular microcrystalline as well as grain-coating fibrous and
scalenohedral/dogtooth calcite. Subsequent fall in RSL resulted in the
progradation of the tidal flat complex and deposition of highstand systems tract (HST) sandstones and in meteoric water flux into the TST
and HST sandstones. Meteoric water incursion induced pervasive dissolution and kaolinitization of framework silicates as well partial dissolution of marine calcite cement, and hence creation of secondary
intra- and intergranular porosity. The amounts of kaolinite increase
considerably towards the sequence boundary. Extensive cementation
by Fe-oxides has occurred below marine flooding surfaces of tidal flat
sandstones, which is attributed to precipitation owing to diffusion of
Fe2+derived from the reduction of detrital Fe-oxides and oxidation at
the seafloor. Mesogenetic alterations include intergranular pressure
dissolution and formation of variable amounts of syntaxial quartz
overgrowths in all systems tracts.
This study revealed that the high primary reservoir quality of
sand flat deposits can be further improved due to dissolution of carbonate cement and framework silicates by meteoric waters that percolate into the sand during fall in the RSL and progradation of flat complex.
Paper V The Impact of Diagenesis on Heterogeneity of

Sandstone Reservoirs: A Review of the Links to
Depositional Facies and Sequence Stratigraphy
Heterogeneity in sandstone reservoirs includes variability in porosity,
permeability, capillarity, and mineral-recovery fluid interactions. Unravelling the parameters controlling the distribution and variability of
44
reservoir heterogeneity and quality is of decisive importance for optimal development of hydrocarbon fields. The vertical and lateral distribution patterns of reservoir heterogeneity in sandstone successions,
which determine fluid flow rates and volumes, are controlled by two
main parameters, including depositional facies (grain size, sorting,
degree of bioturbation) and the diagenetic evolution pathways. Variations in the shallow- and deep-burial diagenetic evolution pathways
are, in turn, strongly linked to variations in: (i) depositional facies, and
hence in porewaters chemistry (marine, meteoric and mixed marinemeteoric), degree of bioturbation, and rate of deposition, and (ii) detrital composition of the sand, particularly the amounts and types of intra-basinal grains (carbonate grains, glaucony and mud intraclasts).
Detrital composition of the sand controls the physical (e.g., mechanical compaction of ductile grains) and chemical properties (e.g. grain
dissolution and alteration of feldspars into clay minerals) of sandstones, and (iii) rate of deposition (i.e. residence time of sediments at
certain, near-surface, geochemical conditions).
Depositional facies, degree of bioturbation, rate of deposition as well as the amounts and types of intra-basinal sand grains,
which are controlled, particularly in paralic environments, by changes
in the RSL, can be predicted in a sequence stratigraphic context.
Hence, changes in the RSL exert significant control in the types and
extent of near-surface diagenetic alterations, which will influence, in
turn, the deep-burial diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution pathways of the sandstones, such as tight gas reservoirs. Assessing the
impact of heterogeneities in sandstone reservoir can lead to appropriate enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies.
45
Concluding remarks
Better elucidation and prediction of the distribution of eogenetic

alterations, which in turn impose a profound impact on mesogenetic
alterations and related reservoir quality evolution pathways of paralic
and shallow marine sandstones, is possible when linked to sequence
stratigraphy. Linking diagenetic alterations and their impact on reservoir quality to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphy in four
siliciclastic successions have revealed these important findings:
1. Diagenetic alterations, such as the dissolution and kaolinitization of framework silicates, are closely associated to specific
facies (shoreface), systems tracts (LST and upper HST) and
below the sequence boundary.
2. Shoreface sandstones of the FRWST, LST and upper part of
the HST were cemented by poikilotopic calcite that was
sourced by complete dissolution of carbonate bioclasts in the
host sand beds as a result of considerable meteoric-water flux
under a warm, humid paleoclimate. Conversely, TST and
lower part of the HST mudrocks and sandstones were cemented by microcrystalline that have precipitated from marine
porewaters.
3. Extensive carbonate cementation below marine and maximum
flooding surfaces has shown systematic increase that may lead
to highly compartmentalized and layered reservoir units. Dissolution of carbonate cement and detrital dolomite, by meteoric water were associated with rapid and considerable fall in
the RSL and subsequent sub-aerial exposure.
4. The distribution of grain-coating illite and chlorite in the sandstones, which exerted the main control on reservoir quality
preservation (~ 5 km) through inhibition of quartz cementation, are most abundant in the TST sandstone and the tidal estuarine sandstones of the HST. The grain coating illite and
chlorite have been interpreted to form by the transformation of
clay precursor and precipitation on poorly identified clay substrates. The platelet-like illite was derived from smectite precursor that was presumably introduced into the sand by tidal
pumping. Illite formation occurred concurrently with the albitization of K-feldspar, which thus acted as a source of potas46
sium. The honeycomb-like illite has most likely been formed

by the transformation of authigenic smectite during progressive increasing in burial depth. Fibrous and filamentous illite,
which covers the honeycomb-like illite, have likely been
formed by precipitation from porewaters as evidenced by their
absence at grain-to-grain contacts
5. Intergranular pressure dissolution and stylolites formation
(chemical compaction) mainly in the shoreface HST sandstones have acted as sources of Si4+ needed for cementation by
quartz overgrowths.
6. Anhydrite is restricted to the tidal estuarine HST sandstones
but does not reflect link to sequence stratigraphic context but
rather indicates structural control, which is supported by the
34SCDT (+10) that is consistent with the overlying Permian
anhydrites.
47
Summary in Swedish
Med utgngspunkt frn fyra paraliska och silicioklastiska successioner

frn det marina grundhavet visas i denna avhandling hur frdelningen
av diagenetiska frndringar och deras pverkan p reservoirkvalitet
och olika utvecklingsvgar kan begrnsas relativt avsttninggsmilj
och sekvensstratigrafi (system tracts och kritiska sekvensstratigrafiska ytor).
Typiska eogenetiska frndringar inkluderar upplsning och
kaolinitisering av rymdsilikater nra associerade med shoreface facies of forced systems tract (FRMST), lowstand systems tract (LST),
vre delen av highstand systems tract (HST), samt under sekvensytan. Dessa frndringar tros orsakas av inflde av meteoriskt vatten
p grund av hastiga och omfattande fall i relativa havsytenivn. Omfattande karbonatcementering r tydligast urskiljbar under marina
maxfldesytor, medan upplsning av karbonatcement och detritisk
dolomit uppstr i anslutning till LST och HST, samt under sekvensytan. Parametrar som kontrollerar mnstren och texturen (mikrokristallin vs poikilotopisk) hos kalcitcement har kunnat begrnsas till
sandstenenarnas sekvensstratigrafiska upptrdande. Grovkristallina till
poikilotopiska kalcittexturer hrrrande frn meteoriskt vatten kan
allts nra knytas till FRWST, LST, samt den vre delen av HST
sandstenarna och upptrder framfr allt som stratabundna konkretioner, medan mikrokristallin kalcit, vilken flldes ut frn marint porvatten, upptrder som kontinuerligt utfllda lager i the transgressive
systems tract (TST) ochi den under delen av HST sandstenarna.
I sin tur kommer de eogenetiska frndingarna att utva
omfattande kontroll p frdelningsmnstret av mesogenetiska
frndringar, allts ven p reservoirsandstenarnas kvalitativa
utvecklingsmjligheter (destruktion vs bevarande). Eogenetiskt
infiltrarade leror, vilka upptrder i tidvatten-estuariska TST och
HST sandstenar, har bidragit till att bevara porositeten hos djupt
begravda sandstensreservoirer ( 5 km) genom att omfattande
cementering av kvarts frhindras. Andra viktiga rn som framkommit i denna avhandling inkluderar utredandet av hur bildandet av autigenetisk illit och klorit kontrolleras av ultratunna (
1m tjocka) substrat av lermineral.
48
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank my supervisor Professor Sadoon Morad for

endless discussions, guidance, support, constructive criticism, and
encouragement during this study. I truly want to thank you for your
always being there, for always being such a fast reader of my manuscripts and for having all the patience.
I thank the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
(KFUPM) for granting the Ph.D. studies at Uppsala University and to
the Saudi cultural attach in Germany represented by Dr. Ahmed
Ashy and Dr. Osman Omar for their concern and support during the
four years of my Ph.D. studies. I also acknowledge the NordForsk for
granting some courses in Norway. I wish to gratefully acknowledge
Saudi Aramco for access to the well core, thin section collection and
data. I would like to express my gratitude to Ali Al-Hauwaj for assistance with the subsurface Jauf data.
I wish to thank the faculty and staff members of the Department of Earth Sciences for making me feel welcome and at home in
Uppsala. Special thanks go to Hans Harryson for help with the EMP
analysis, rjan Amcoff for Swedish translation, Per Nysten for help in
identification of ore minerals and to Kersti Glersen for her administrative help. I also thank Dr. J.D. Martn-Martn for assisting me with
the XRD of clay minerals. I am very grateful to Anna, Taher, Johan,
Pr and Leif for all the help with printing and technical issues.
Thanks to all my friends in Saudi Arabia for support and encouragement. Sincere thanks go to my former and present colleagues
and friends, Abbas, Ali-reza, Erik, Faramarz, Hesam, Howri, Mohamed, Osama, Sara, Sofia, Tomasz, Ulf, Yassir and Zurab.
I would like to extend my thanks to my co-authors of the papers, Jean-Noel Proust, Ihsan Al-Aasm, Piret Plink-Bjrklund, A.
Kent Norton, Michael Hulver, Essam El-Khoriby and Marcelo Ketzer,
for their valuable contribution and thoughtful discussions on sequence
stratigraphy and diagenesis.
At KFUPM, there were many professors from whom I learned
a lot including Dr. Mustafa Hariri, the former chairman of Earth Sciences Department, Dr. Mahbub Hussain, Dr. Badrul Imam, Dr.
Mohammad Makkawi, Dr. Salih Saner and Dr. Nazrul Islam Khan49
daker. Also, I am indebted to the present chairman Dr. Abdul-Aziz AlShaibani for his concern and support. Thanks to you all
Finally, the warmest thanks must go to my wife Zainab, for her
love, encouragement, support and understanding. I thank our families
in Saudi Arabia for the great continuous encouragement. This Ph.D.
would not have been possible without the help and support of my wife
and our families.
Last but certainly not least, I would like to express my gratitude towards our very special friends outside the academic world, Dr.
Hassan, Fairouz, Hani, Mahdi, Nazem, Raad, Razaq, Reda, Sajad,
Salah, Salam, Shareef, Waled, Shaker, and their families for all kindness and great moments we spent together in Sweden.
50
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57
Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis

Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations
from the Faculty of Science and Technology 195
Editor: The Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology
A doctoral dissertation from the Faculty of Science and
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are kept at major Swedish research libraries, while the
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Impact of Diagenetic Alterations On Reservoir Quality and Heterogeneity of Paralic and Shallow Marine Sandstone

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Impact of Diagenetic Alterations On Reservoir Quality and Heterogeneity of Paralic and Shallow Marine Sandstone

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from the Faculty of Science and Technology 195

Impact of Diagenetic Alterations

To my wife & parents

Al-Ramadan, K., Morad, S., Proust, J.N. and Al-Asam, I. (2005)

Paper V The Impact of Diagenesis on Heterogeneity of Sandstone

Assessment and, particularly, prediction of the spatial and

Fall in RSL during regression may lead to subaerial exposure and

Aims of the study

Key concepts of sequence stratigraphy

accommodation creation (Fig. 1c; Posamentier and Allen, 1999;

(a) progradation due to normal regression

alluvial and coas tal

(b) progradation due to forced regression

highstand systems tract (HST)

sequence boundary (SB)

regressive surface of erosion (RSE)

Forced regressive wedge

Lowstand systems tract

Highstand systems tract

Maximum flooding surface

Table 1: Table summarizing the main sequence stratigraphy terms (Posamentier et

Summary models of diagenetic alterations

Unraveling the distribution pattern of diagenetic alterations

Important eogenetic alterations linked to sequence

Mechanically infiltrated clay minerals occur mostly in the tidal

Important mesogenetic alterations linked to sequence

Franks, 1979) and from maturation of organic matter (Hanor, 1994;

Reservoir quality and heterogeneity models

This thesis has shown that linking diagenesis to sequence

Model 1: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution

E. Cementation by marine microcrystalline calcite

Upper part of HST

D. Cementation by marine microcrystalline calcite

arid to semi arid

B. Infiltration of clays and cementation by vadose

A. Cementation by phreatic poikilotopic calcite

C. Cementation by phreatic poikilotopic calcite

Lower part of HST

Model 2: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution

FRST delta, SB and Fluvial LST

Carbonate continuously cemented

HST delta, SB and fluvial LST

Pyrite concretions in the white

Zoned dolomite rhombs

Poikilotopic calcite cement

Grain replacive calcite

Carbonate concretions in the tide

Outer-estuarine tidal bars

Tide-influenced fluvial channel

Tidal bar & outer estuarine

Infiltrated clay coating

Dissolved silicate grains

Model 3: Diagenetic and reservoir-quality evolution

(B) Tidal estuarine HST

Illitization of clay coatings &

Ultra-thin clay coating

Infiltrated clay (IC)

Illitization & chloritization of clay coatings

(A) Tidal estuarine TST

(C & D) Shoreface HST

Meteoric water flux &

Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in

Paper Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in

Paper Linking Diagenesis and Porosity Preservation

Paper V Distribution of Diagenetic Alterations in