Dolomitization and Reservoir Characteristics

Dolomite (dolostone) is a common carbonate rock in the geological records and is also a very important carbonate reservoir rock, which stock about 40% of global oil reserves. Most of the dolomites in the geological record are considered to be of replacement origin, although some were precipitated directly from pore-fluids. A variety of dolomitization models in different diagenetic environments are currently proposed for interpreting ancient dolomites: (1) evaporative dolomitization including sabkha and seepage-reflux models, (2) mixed-water dolomitization, (3) marine dolomitization, (4) burial dolomitization, (5) hydrothermal dolomitization. The dolomites formed by each dolomitization model have different geological, petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical features. Based on these features, we can, therefore, identify dolomitization models and diagenetic environments of ancient dolomites. A dolomite reservoir is often of as good quality as a limestone reservoir. Dolomitization affects carbonate reservoir characteristics, such as porosity and permeability, and, as a result, reservoir characteristics are significantly changed from those of primary carbonate rocks. The important factors associated with dolomitization and controlling the characteristics of carbonate reservoir rocks are: (1) increasing crystal size (2) decreasing porosity due to a net addition of dolomite, (3) developing moldic pores, (4) increasing resistance to compaction, and (5) increasing fractures. Dolomitization and diagenetic history of individual carbonate reservoirs differ from each other and result in the complexity of reservoir characteristics. It is, therefore, indispensable to understand the processes that formed each dolomite reservoir.