Reactive transport modeling of fluid-rock interactions associated with carbonate diagenesis and implications for reservoir quality prediction

Book excerpt: Diagenesis research is the foundation of hydrocarbon reservoir characterization and exploration. Reactive transport modeling (RTM) is an emerging approach for diagenesis research, with unique capability of quantification and forward modeling of the coupled thermo-hydro-chemical processes of diagenesis. Using TOUGHREACT simulator, this thesis investigates the two most important fluid-rock interactions in carbonate rocks, i.e., dolomitization and karstification, based on generic model analyses and a case study in the Ordos Basin, China. In particular, this study attempts to quantitatively characterize the diagenetic processes and to reconstruct the diagenesis-porosity evolution of carbonate reservoirs. Some controversies in carbonate diagenesis research, which cannot be well explained by classical geological methods, have also been discussed. The results are helpful to better understand the spatial-temporal distribution and co-evolution of diagenesis-mineral-porosity during the complicated diagenetic processes with their potential controlling factors, and to reduce the uncertainty of reservoir quality prediction.