The depositional evolution, reservoir characteristics, and controlling factors of microbial carbonates of Dengying Formation in upper Neoprotozoic, Sichuan Basin, Southwest China

Abstract

The Dengying Formation of Neoprotozoic age deposited in north Sichuan Basin, China, is dominated by dolomitic strata containing microbial carbonates. Thirteen cyanobacteria forms, one oncolite and two stromatolitic structures have been identified. Different microfacies may be related to different microbe forms or assemblages as well as depositional environments. Potential hydrocarbon reservoirs in microbial carbonates are of low porosity and permeability. Microbialites develop in the members Z2dn1, Z2dn2, and Z2dn4. The member Z2dn1 and Z2dn2 lying in the lower part, dominated by thrombolitic and spongiostromata dolostone, with three reservoir intervals of overall 190 m thick. Laminite and stromatolitic dolostone are the most important in member Z2dn4, with three reservoir intervals of 119 m thick. Microbial carbonate reservoirs in members Z2dn1 and Z2dn2 were effected by two stages of fresh water dissolution, three stages of burial dissolution, and one stage of hydrocarbon invasion. But one stage of fresh water dissolution, two stages of burial dissolution, and three stages of hydrocarbon invasion modified the reservoirs of member Z2dn4. The dominant factors for microbial reservoirs were microbial textures and development of Mianyang-Changning intracratonic sag.