Digitalcommons@UTEP
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
University of Texas at El Paso DigitalCommons@UTEP Open Access Theses & Dissertations 2011-01-01 Nummulites Biofabrics as Tool for Quality Evaluation of the Eocene Jdeir Formation Reservoirs NW Offshore, Libya Abdusalam Ali Agail University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Agail, Abdusalam Ali, "Nummulites Biofabrics as Tool for Quality Evaluation of the Eocene Jdeir Formation Reservoirs NW Offshore, Libya" (2011). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 2221. https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd/2221 This is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UTEP. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UTEP. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NUMMULITES BIOFABRICS AS TOOL FOR QUALITY EVALUATION OF THE EOCENEC JDEIR FORMATION RESERVOIR NW OFFSHORE, LIBYA ABDUSALAM ALI AGAIL Department of Geological Sciences Approved: ____________________________ Richard P. Langford, Ph.D., Chair ____________________________ Diane Doser, Ph.D. ____________________________ Haithem Minas, Ph.D. _______________________ Benjamin C. Flores, Ph.D Acting Dean of the Graduate School Copyright © By Abdusalam Agail 2011 NUMMULITES BIOFABRICS AS TOOL FOR QUALITY EVALUATION OF THE EOCENEC JDEIR FORMATION RESERVOIR NW OFFSHORE, LIBYA By ABDUSALAM ALI AGAIL THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at El Paso in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Geological Sciences THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO August 2011 Acknowledgements I am so thankful to my supervisors whose help and assistance form initial work to the final steps to accomplish my thesis work. Richard P. Langford, Ph.D Diane Doser, Ph.D Haithem Minas, Ph.D I am very grateful for their support during the work of this thesis, and I offer my great thanks to all of those who supported me in any respect during the completion of my project including Dr. Terry L Pavlis Dr. Yousf Abotraoma (Secretary of Geological Society of Libya) Eng. Salah Mohammed (Zueitina Oil Company) Eni Oil Company Lastly, special thanks to my mother and my family for their encouragement all the time. iv Abstract The southern Tethys margin constitutes an important hydrocarbon reservoir. It is formed mainly of Nummulite rich facies of the Jdeir Formation deposited during the Eocene epoch (Late Ypresian age) in the giant El-Bouri oil field-Sabratah Basin-NW Libya. Deposits of the Jdeir Formation directly overlay the Jirani dolomite and Bilal Formation, and unconformably underlay the Tellil Group and Ghallil Formation. Nummulite accumulations are good indicators for hydrocarbon studies and they have been targets for numerous studies around the world. Nummulite ―Large foraminifera‖ tests are usually identified by two forms: A-form and B-form. Previous studies have highlighted many different aspects of foraminifers including taxonomy, test structure, test transport, abrasion, biofabric, climate, and ecological studies, and test morphology. However, previous studies have not studied in detail the distribution of A-form and B-form. This present study aims to use A/B Ratio distributions within facies and relate that to two aspects; depositional environments and physical processes. The present study will use a Minas`s chart which summaries the relationship between A/B ratio, depositional environment, and physical processes. In addition, classification of death assemblages will be evaluated to distinguish the physical processes. This could provide insight into the vertical and lateral distribution of porosity and permeability, as well as understanding the relationships between Nummulite biofabrics and the physical processes. In addition, diagenesis processes will also be evaluated and examined within the Nummulittic texture of the Jdeir Formation. v Table of Contents Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................................iv Abstract............................................................................................................................................v Table of Contents............................................................................................................................vi List of Tables...................................................................................................................................x List of Figures.................................................................................................................................xi Chapter One Introduction 1-1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1-1-1 Study Area......................................................................................................................3 1-1-2 Geological Setting..........................................................................................................4 1-1-3 Stratigraphy of the Northwestern offshore Libya...........................................................8 1-1-4 Jdeir Formation........................................................................................................….10 1-2 Previous Studies..................................................................................................................12 1-3 Objectives of the Study .....................................................................................................15 1-4 Data and Materials..............................................................................................................16 1-5 Methods and Approaches....................................................................................................18 Chapter Two Classification of Nummulites (Shape, size, A/B ratios and Imbrication) 1-2 Classification of Nummulites-Results..................................................................................22 1-2-1 Small Robust Nummulites............................................................................................25 1-2-2 Small Flat Nummulites. ...............................................................................................27 1-2-3 Large Robust Nummulites............................................................................................29 1-2-4Large Flat Nummulites..................................................................................................30 2-2 A/B ratio – Results..............................................................................................................32 vi 2-3 Nummulites Imbrication Classification – Result ...............................................................33 2-3-1 Chaotic Stacking..........................................................................................................34 2-3-3 Linear Accumulations..................................................................................................36 2-3-3 Edgewise Contact Imbrication..............................................................................…...38 2-3-4 Edgewise Isolate Imbrication......................................................................................40 2-3-5 No Imbrication.............................................................................................................41 Chapter Three Facies and Biofabric Analysis-Results 3-1Facies and Biofabrics-Analysis and Results.................................................................…...43 3-1-1 Numulithoclast..............................................................................................................43 3-1-2 Grainstone-packstone...................................................................................................47 3-1-3 Wackstone-Mudstone...................................................................................................50 3-2 Biofabric analysis and Results ..................................................................................….....52 3-2-1Autochthonous biofabric.......................................................................................…....54 3-2-2 Parautochthonous biofabric or Residual fossil assemblages................................…....56 3-2-3 Allochthonous biofabric or Transported Assemblages .........................................…...57 3-3 Depositional Texture, Imbrication Structure, and Porosity Response.........................…...61 3-4 A/B ratio and Depositional Model of the Jdeir formation..............................................…...70 Chapter Four Diagenesis Processes of the Jdeir Formation 4-1Diagenesis of the Jdeir Formation .............................................................................….....73 4-1-1 Micritization and Precipitation of micrite....................................................................75 4-1-2 Dissolution ..................................................................................................................78 4-1-3 Compaction..................................................................................................................81 4-1-4 Dolomitization..............................................................................................................84 vii 4-1-5 Precipitation of Calcite Spar Cement...........................................................................86