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K-Ar dating of illite in hydrocarbon reservoirs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

P. J. Hamilton ,
S. Kelley  and
A. E. Fallick
P. J. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Isotope Geology Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QU, Scotland
S. Kelley
Affiliation:
Isotope Geology Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QU, Scotland
A. E. Fallick
Affiliation:
Isotope Geology Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QU, Scotland
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Abstract

Some of the many problems associated with the acquisition and interpretation of K-Ar isotope data for authigenic illites in porous sandstone lithologies are discussed. Difficulties arise from a lack of critical awareness of the assumptions made in deriving a K-Ar age of illite formation. Calculations are presented which imply that where sustained reservoir temperatures are high (> 150°C), erroneously low K-Ar ages could result from diffusive Ar loss. Very low levels of detrital contamination with other K-bearing minerals cause further difficulties. Even non-K-bearing contaminants may have a marked effect on apparent ages of illite ‘separates’. However, if considerable care is exercised during separation, the contamination problem is not intractable. The potential of the K-Ar technique to specify temporal development of the characteristics of reservoir rocks suggests that analytical refinements and basic experimental parameters are worth pursuit. Hypothetical examples of depth-age profiles are discussed in the context of their relevance to the timing and nature of hydrocarbon charging of reservoirs.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , June 1989 , pp. 215 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1989

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