Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T23:18:46.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Methods of laser-based stable isotope measurement applied to diagenetic cements and hydrocarbon reservoir quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

C. I. Macaulay ,
A. E. Fallick ,
R. S. Haszeldine  and
C. M. Graham
C. I. Macaulay*
Affiliation:
Isotope Geosciences Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride G75 0QF
A. E. Fallick
Affiliation:
Isotope Geosciences Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride G75 0QF
R. S. Haszeldine
Affiliation:
Department of Geology & Geophysics, Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK
C. M. Graham
Affiliation:
Department of Geology & Geophysics, Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The stable isotopic compositions of diagenetic minerals can provide valuable constraints on the sources, precipitation temperatures and relative timing of cements in reservoir rocks. This type of information is essential when trying to understand and predict the distribution of cements in the subsurface, and their impact on reservoir quality. Conventional isotope methods contribute to answers to many diagenetic problems, but where core or time are scarce, or where good mineral separation is unobtainable, laser-based stable isotope methods offer several advantages. These include the ability to analyse carbonates, sulphides and anhydrite in situ with 50–100 μm resolution, simple and clear sample and analysis viewing optics, savings on sample preparation time and greatly reduced sample size requirements.

Diagenetic silicates such as quartz and clay cements cannot be analysed in situ by laser but, where in situ analysis of quartz δ18O is demanded, ion microprobe analysis can provide very high resolution (20–30 μm) capability with a precision of ±1%.

Keywords

oilfieldsdiagenesisisotopeslasersreservoir quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , March 2000 , pp. 313 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

†

Present address: Department of Geology & Geophysics, Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK

References

Alonso-Azcarate, I. , Boyce, A.J., Bottrell, S.H., Macaulay, C.I., Rodas, M., Fallick, A.E. & Mas, J.R. (1999) Development and use of in situ laser sulfur isotope analyses for pyrite-anhydrite geothermometry: an example from the pyrite deposits of the Cameras Basin, NE Spain. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 63, 63–509.Google Scholar
Arthur, M.A., Anderson, T.F., Kaplan, I.R., Veizer, J. & Land, L.S. (1983) Stable Isotopes in Sedimentary Geology. SEPM Short Course 10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ball, J.D., Crowley, S.F. & Marshall ID. (1994) A highresolution laser extraction technique for stable isotope analysis of carbonates: the effect of lasersample interaction on the composition of evolved CO2. Eighth Int. Conf. Geochronol. Cosmochronol. Isotope Geol. Abstracts. Berkeley, California.Google Scholar
Borthwick, I. & Harmon, R.S. (1982) A note regarding CIF3 as an alternative to Br F5 for oxygen isotope analysis. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 46, 46–1665.Google Scholar
Crossey, L.J., Loucks, R. & Totten, M.W. (editors) (1996) Siliciclastic Diagenesis and Fluid Flow: Concepts and Applications. SEPM Spec. Publ. 55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowe, D.E., Valley, J.W. & Baker, K.L. (1990) Microanalysis of sulfur-isotope ratios and zonation by laser microprobe. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 54, 54–2075.Google Scholar
Dickson, J.A.D., Smalley, P.C., Raheim, A. & Stijfhoorn, D.E. (1990) Intracrystalline carbon and oxygen isotope variations in calcite revealed by laser micro sampling. Geology, 18, 18–809.Google Scholar
Dickson, J.A.D., Smalley, P.C. & Kirkland, B.L. (1991) Carbon and oxygen isotopes in Pennsylvanian biogenic and abiogenic aragonite (Otero County, New Mexico): A laser microprobe study. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 55, 55–2607.Google Scholar
Emery, D. & Robinson, A. (1993) Inorganic Geochemistry: Applications to Petroleum Geology. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.Google Scholar
Fallick, A.E., McConville, P., Boyce, A.J., Burgess, R. & Kelley, S.P. (1992) Laser microprobe stable isotope measurements on geological materials: Some experimental considerations (with special reference to 5 S in sulphides). Chem. Geol. 101, 101–53.Google Scholar
Farquhar, J. & Rumble, D. (1998) Comparison of oxygen isotope data obtained by laser fluorination of olivine with KrF excimer laser and CO2 laser. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 62, 62–3141.Google Scholar
Fouillac, A.-M. & Girard, J.P. (1996) Laser oxygen isotope analysis of silicate/oxide grain separates: Evidence for a grain size effect. Chem. Geol. 130, 130–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, C.M., Valley, J.W. & Winter, B.L. (1996) Ion microprobe analysis of 18O/16O in authigenic and detrital quartz in the St. Peter Sandstone, Michigan Basin and Wisconsin Arch, USA: Contrasting diagenetic histories. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 60, 60–5101.Google Scholar
Hallam, G.E., Cliff, R.A., Fisher, Q.J., Cook, R. & Macaulay, C.I. (1998) Influence of fluid flow on Rotliegend Sandstone diagenesis–micro structural and isotopic evidence from the Bell Field, southern North Sea. Cambridge Clay Conference: Mineral Diagenesis and Reservoir Quality – the way forward, Abstracts. Google Scholar
Horbury, A.D. & Robinson, A.G. (1993) Diagenesis and Basin Development. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Studies in Geology 36.Google Scholar
Houseknecht, D.W. & Pittman, E.D. (editors) (1992) Origin, Diagenesis, and Petrophysics of Clay Minerals in Sandstones. SEPM Spec. Publ. 47.Google Scholar
Kelley, S.P. & Fallick, A.E. (1990) High precision spatially resolved analysis of δ34S in sulphides using a laser extraction technique. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 54 , 883-888.Google Scholar
Kelley, S.P., Fallick, A.E., McConville, P. & Boyce, A.J. (1992) High precision, high spatial resolution analysis of sulfur isotopes by laser combustion of natural sulfide materials. Scan. Micr. 6, 6–129.Google Scholar
Leshin, L.A., McKeegan, K.D., Carpenter, P.K. & Harvey, R.P. (1998) Oxygen isotopic constraints on the genesis of carbonates from Martian meteorite ALH84001. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 62, 62–3.Google Scholar
Longstaffe, F.J. (1989) Stable isotopes as tracers in clastic diagenesis. Pp. 201–277 in: Short Course in Burial Diagenesis (Hutcheon, I.E., editor). Min. Assoc. Canada Short Course Series, 15.Google Scholar
Macaulay, C.I. & Braithwaite, K. (1997) Diagenesis and reservoir quality in the Hasdrubal Field, offshore Tunisia. BSRG Ann. Conf. Abstract. Google Scholar
Macaulay, C.I., Boyce, A.J., Fallick, A.E. & Haszeldine, R.S. (1997) Quartz veins record vertical flow at a graben edge: Fulmar Oilfield, Central North Sea. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 81, 81–2024.Google Scholar
Marchand, A.M.E., Haszeldine, R.S., Macaulay, C.I., Swennen, R. & Fallick, A.E. (2000) Quartz cementation inhibited by crestal oil charge: Miller deepwater sandstone, UK North Sea. Clay Miner. 35, 35–201.Google Scholar
McConville, P., Boyce, A.J., Fallick, A.E., Harte, B. & Scott, E.M. (2000) Sulphur isotope variations in diagenetic pyrite from core plug to sub-millimetre scales. Clay Miner. 35, 35–303.Google Scholar
McDonald, D.A. & Surdam, R.C. (editors) (1984) Clastic Diagenesis. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Memoir 37. Google Scholar
McRea, J.M. (1950) On the isotope chemistry of carbonates and a palaeotemperature scale. J. Chern. Phys. 18, 18–849.Google Scholar
Montanez, I.P., Gregg, J.M. & Shelton, K.L. (editors) (1997) Basin-wide Diagenetic Patterns: Integrated Petrologic, Geochemical, and Hydrologic Considerations. SEPM Spec. Publ. 57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morad, S. (editor) (1998) Carbonate Cementation in Sandstones. Int. Assoc. Sedimentol. Spec. Publ. 25. Google Scholar
Onasch, C.M. & Vennemann, T.W. (1995) Disequilibrium partitioning of oxygen isotopes associated with sector zoning in quartz. Geology, 23, 23–1103.Google Scholar
Park, Y.R. & Ripley, E.M. (1998) Sulfur isotopic analysis of 3 –10 micromole samples of SO2 from sulfides, sulfates, and whole rocks using conventional combustion and mass spectrometric techniques. Chem. Geol. 150, 150–191.Google Scholar
Powell, M.D. & Kyser, T.K. (1991) Analysis of δ13C and δ18O in calcite, dolomite, rhodochrosite and siderite using a laser extraction system. Chem. Geol. 94, 94–44.Google Scholar
Riciputi, L.R., Cole, D.R. & Machel, H.G. (1996) Sulfide formation in reservoir carbonates of the Devonian Nisku Formation, Alberta, Canada: An ion microprobe study. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 60, 60–325.Google Scholar
Rumble, D. & Hoering, T.C. (1994) Analysis of oxygen and sulfur isotope ratios in oxide and sulfide minerals by spot heating with a carbon dioxide laser in a fluorine atmosphere. Ace. Chem. Res. 27, 27–237.Google Scholar
Rumble, D., Hoering, T.C. & Palin, J.M. (1993) Preparation of SF6 for sulfur isotope analysis by laser heating sulfide minerals in the presence of F2 gas. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 57, 57–4499.Google Scholar
Rumble, D., Farquhar, J., Young, E.D. & Christensen, C.P. (1997) In situ oxygen isotope analysis with an excimer laser using F2 and BrF5 reagents and O2 gas as analyte. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 61, 61–4229.Google Scholar
Saxton, J.M., Lyon, I.C. & Turner, G. (1998) Correlated chemical and isotopic zoning in carbonates in the Martian meteorite ALH84001. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 160, 160–811.Google Scholar
Sharp, Z.D. (1990) A laser-based microanalytical method for the in situ determination of oxygen isotope ratios in silicates and oxides. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 54, 54–1353.Google Scholar
Smalley, P.C., Stijfhoorn, D.E., Raheim, A., Johansen, H. & Dickson, J.A.D. (1989) The laser microprobe and its application to the study of C and O isotopes in calcite and aragonite. Sed. Geol. 65, 65–211.Google Scholar
Smalley, P.C., Maile, C.N., Coleman, M. & Rouse, J.E. (1992) LASSIE (laser ablation sampler for stable isotope extraction) applied to carbonate minerals. Chem. Geol. (Isotope Geoscience Section), 101, 101–43.Google Scholar
Spicuzza, M.J., Valley, J.W., Kohn, M.J., Girard, J.P. & Fouillac, A.M. (1998) The rapid heating, defocused beam technique: a CO2-laser-based method for highly precise and accurate determination of δ18O values of quartz. Chem. Geol. 144, 144–195.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M.D., Macaulay, C.I., Fallick, A.E. & Haszeldine, R.S. (1997) Imported quartz cement in aeolian sandstone grew from water of uniform composition but has complex zonation. Terra Nova, 9, 9–237.Google Scholar
Wiechert, U. & Hoefs, J. (1995) An excimer laser-based microanalytical preparation technique for in situ oxygen isotope analysis of silicate and oxide minerals. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 59, 59–4093.Google Scholar
Young, E.D. & Russell, S.S. (1998) Oxygen reservoirs in the early solar nebula inferred from an Allende CAI. Science, 282, 282–452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, E.D., Fogel MX., Rumble, D. & Hoering, T.C. (1998a) Isotope-ratio-monitoring of O2 for microanalysis of O18/O16 and O17/O16 in geological materials. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 62, 62–3087.Google Scholar
Young, E.D., Coutts, D.W. & Kapitan, D. (1998b) UV laser ablation and irm-GCMS microanalysis of O18/O16 and O17/O16 with application to a calciumaluminium- rich inclusion from the Allende meteorite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ada, 62, 62–3161.Google Scholar