Controlling effects of paleo-climate and paleo-ocean on formation of carbonate reservoirs

The controlling effects of paleo-climate and paleo-ocean on the formation of marine carbonate reservoirs were studied taking key carbonate strata in the Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos Basins as examples. Dry heat/aridity and moist heat/moisture are the two distinctive types of paleo-climate as far as carbonate sedimentation and reservoir formation are concerned. The geochemistry of the Phanerozoic ocean experienced cyclic variation, with calcite sea and aragonite sea occurring alternately. Carbonate exploration practice in the Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos Basins shows that the features of carbonate reservoir are evidently controlled by paleo-climate and paleo-ocean environment. The aragonite sea under dry heat/arid climate is most favorable for the formation of porous dolomite reservoirs. The calcite sea under dry heat/arid climate is favorable for the formation of porous dolomite reservoirs with evaporite moldic pores. The calcite sea and aragonite sea under moist heat/moist climate may only lead to the formation of cavernous carbonate reservoir. Paleo-climate and paleo-ocean environment exert great influence on carbonate sedimentation and its diagenesis, and ultimately determine the porosity features and types of carbonate reservoirs.