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Puntira, Henglai. Depositional facies, drowning succession, and diagenesis impact on petroleum reservoir quality of Miocene carbonate buildup near West Baram Line, Central Luconia Area, Sarawak Basin, Malaysia. Doctoral Degree( Geology). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2025.
Depositional facies, drowning succession, and diagenesis impact on petroleum reservoir quality of Miocene carbonate buildup near West Baram Line, Central Luconia Area, Sarawak Basin, Malaysia
Abstract:
Middle Miocene carbonate buildups in Central Luconia area, offshore Malaysia, are the major contributors to hydrocarbon production in Southeast Asia. These carbonates are variable in sizes and their morphologies, from a few km2 to more than 200 km2. Even though, small carbonate buildups, ~30 km2, are common in ancient and modern carbonate systems. The previous studies are not fully emphasized on depositional facies, platform drowning, and impact of diagenesis on petroleum reservoir quality.This research focused on a deeply buried carbonate buildup (3,6004,400 m) near the West Baram line in the east of the Central Luconia area. The studied platform had a thick carbonate reservoir and a large gas column of > ; 600 m. The study area was fully covered by 3-D seismic data in the time domain and five drilled wells (A-E). Only Wells D and E penetrated most of the carbonate platform with a full suite of well-logs.This study was available with core samples, thin sections, porosity and permeability data obtained from routine core analysis, and stable oxygen and carbon isotopes. This dataset allowed for the interpretation of depositional facies change through time, determining geological factors controlling platform drowning, and providing new insights into the diagenesis enhancing petroleum reservoir porosity in the studied platform.The platform was stratigraphically divided into five zones (from top to bottom): Zones 1, 2 Upper, 2 Lower, 3 Upper, and 3 Lower by low porosity intervals. This study classified core samples into thirteen detailed lithofacies before grouping them into five facies groups: (1) coral boundstone, (2) bioclastic packstone, (3) bioclastic wacke-packstone, (4) argillaceous carbonate, and (5) interbedded shale and carbonate.Facies changed in Well D were observed from mainly bioclastic wacke-packstone in Zone 3 to bioclastic packstone and coral boundstone in Zone 1 before being covered by interbedded shale and carbonate at the top. Whereas in Well E, the facies in Zone 3 changed upward from interbedded bioclastic wackestone and packstone facies to abundant coral boundstone facies in Zone 2 before passing upward into the interbedded shale and carbonate.From the interpretation, the seismic reflections can be classified into six seismic facies groups: (1) mounded forms at the reef crest in Zone 1, (2) mounded forms at the platform margin in Zones 2 and 3, (3) sheet-like forms in the platform interior in Zones 2 and 3, (4) parallel to draping reflectors onlapping the platform margin, (5) inclined seismic reflectors onlapping the platform downslope, and (6) sigmoidal oblique geometries of prograding deltas.The facies associations and analysis of seismic facies suggested to five sub-environments: (1) coral boundstone facies deposited at the reef margin, (2) bioclastic packstone facies deposited in backreef environment, (3) bioclastic wacke-packstone facies deposited in a platform interior, (4) interbedded shale and carbonate facies deposited on the slope, and (5) argillaceous carbonate facies deposited as flooding layers.This carbonate buildup exhibited a long-term backstepping trend of depositional environments, which was obviously seen in the coral boundstone along the margins. On a smaller scale, deposition occurred in cycles, starting with a transgressive flooding layers of mud-rich carbonate facies across the platform. Then, platform-top facies belts generally aggraded, and the depositional cycles were truncated with subaerial exposure associated with sea-level fall. During subsequent cycles, the platform facies belt progressively backstepped, ultimately forming a pinnacle geometry.Strontium isotope dating indicated the studied platform drowning at ~12 Ma, which was earlier than other Luconia platforms (810 Ma). More local tectonic subsidence in the studied platform during the Middle Miocene was likely the main cause of the early demise of this carbonate platform.Integration of petrographic observation, seismic interpretation, and stable carbon and oxygen analysis revealed that the studied carbonate platform experienced a complex diagenetic evolution that was influenced by the distribution of primary depositional facies, grain types, and minerals. Five key diagenetic processes were identified: (1) micrite-filling intracoralline pores, (2) calcitization (neomorphism) of coral, (3) dissolution, (4) calcite cementation, and (5) dolomitization. Among these, the dissolution process primarily creates reservoir porosity, mostly found in coral.This study analyzed geochemical compositions of (1) calcitized (neomorphosed) coral, (2) equant calcite cement, (3) dolomitized coralline algae, and (4) pervasive dolomite. Geochemical data from calcitized corals, having d18O values of -6.82 to -6.12‰ (V-PDB) and d13C values of -0.77 to -0.55‰ (V-PDB), were interpreted to be precipitated by freshwater at a surface temperature of ~28°C. Similar to calcite cements, having d18O values of -8.83 to -7.86‰ (V-PDB) and d13C values of -5.6 to -3.5‰ (V-PDB). Dolomitized coralline algae had isotopic values similar to their depositional composition. Two distinct pervasive dolomites, which the first one had a d18O value of 0.45‰ (V-PDB), while the second one had d18O values of -2.05 and -1.88‰ (V-PDB). These pervasive dolomites were interpreted to be compatible with slightly evaporated seawater.Freshwater dissolution below subaerial exposure surfaces created high porosity intervals with variations in reservoir properties due to their depositional facies. Coral boundstone at the reef margin has moderate to high porosity (4-32%) and high permeability (1-988 mD). Bioclastic packstone in backreef environments has high porosity (2-32%) and moderate permeability (0.1-193 mD). Bioclastic wacke-packstone deposited in platform interior environments has moderate porosity (2-19%) and low permeability (0.01-9 mD). Early replacive dolomitization preserved porosity of 23% in the lower platform, whereas the adjacent limestone attained porosity of < ; 5%.A thick gas column and overpressure in the carbonate and overlying shale are the key mechanisms for porosity preservation in the upper part of this deep-buried platform. In contrast to other Luconia platforms, the aquifer in the studied platform is small and should have minimal impact on gas recovery, allowing efficient recovery through gas expansion when reservoir pressure is lowered.