Characterization of dual porosity in bioturbated tight sandstone reservoir: insight from Mesozoic Jhuran Formation of Kachchh–Saurashtra offshore basin—India
摘要
The Mesozoic Jhuran Formation in the Kachchh offshore basin is a well-established tight gas reservoir with complex lithology. The lithological description highlights sandstones being highly bioturbated, with porosity and permeability distribution resembling a dual porosity system which requires detailed characterization. The present work proposes an integrated approach of porosity analysis in bioturbated sandstones from Offshore Jhuran Formation combining wireline log data (viz. nuclear magnetic resonance log (NMR), formation microresistivity image log (FMI)), laboratory-based routine core analysis (RCAL), and special core analysis (SCAL). Three methods are employed to discern quantitatively and qualitatively pore throat classes in cores. The first method employs pore typing using various NMR parameters (bulk volume irreducible, free fluid index, clay-bound water). The second method uses image analysis to identify dual porosity, bioturbated intervals on microresistivity image. This is a qualitative approach to correlate petrophysical properties with bioturbation. In the third approach, NMR laboratory analysis of selected bioturbated cores was performed to understand T2 cutoff resulting in bimodal porosity distribution from different pore classes in Jhuran sandstone layers. Thus, the integrated analysis of resistivity image logs-FMI, NMR logs along with laboratory-based core petrophysical and NMR data indicates that sandstone reservoirs of offshore Mesozoic Jhuran Formation show a prominent dual porosity system attributed to a higher degree of bioturbation. The study shows the existence of bioturbation-induced dual porosity system within the sand layers of Jhuran Formation and identified pores classes, and these can be categorized as macropores, micropores, and mesopores. Furthermore, analysis is required to fully exploit the extent of bioturbation and its relation to petrophysical properties in other parts of the offshore field.