RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ASMARI FORMATION, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: THE ROLE OF DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND DIAGENESIS IN DETERMINING THE POROSITY AND PERMEABILITY PROPERTIES OF THE RESERVOIR LIMESTONE
Sedimentation cycles associated with sequence boundaries were identified using a combination of sand-to-mud ratios and changes in foraminiferal biofacies in combination with porosity and permeability, XRD and XRF.
Preliminary facies analysis suggested two possible sequence boundaries in the Asmari present at the Senayah locality section, and this is attributed to the presence of clay minerals in the examined bed units. The alternation of marl and limestone beds deposition and the presence of an aerial exposure suggest a possible small-scale sedimentation cycle. Porosity and permeability in the Asmari Formation range from 3.5% -19.98% and 0.11 mD – 9.17mD, respectively. The porosity and permeability trends and their relation to sedimentation cycles helped identify the prospects for petroleum exploration and production.
This research is funded by the United Arab Emirates government through UAE University – National Teaching Assistant Program.