DETRITAL AND AUTHIGENIC MINERALOGY OF THE PRETTY HILL FORMATION IN THE PENOLA TROUGH, OTWAY BASIN: IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

Abstract

The Pretty Hill Formation in the Penola Trough is a productive gas reservoir in the Katnook, Ladbroke Grove and Haselgrove fields. Thin sections, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micros­copy and electron microprobe analyses have been used to characterise the mineralogy of core samples from eight wells. The reservoir sandstones are typically fine to medium grained, moderately sorted feldspathic litharenites. Framework grains comprise detrital quartz, feldspars (albite, microcline and anorthite), lithics (dominantly volcanic), mica and accessory minerals. Authigenic minerals of chlorite, laumontite, carbonate, quartz, feldspar, sphene, anatase, glaucony and illite are present in all wells. Kaolinite is restricted to Ladbroke Grove-1. Chlorite, laumontite and carbonate are volumetrically the most important authigenic minerals.

There is a wide range in core plug porosity (one to 23 per cent) and permeability (10"3to 103 md) in the reservoir sandstones. In samples with high per­centages of authigenic clays microporosity is im­portant. Regional trends indicate reservoir quality decreases with increasing depth but superimposed on this trend is the influence of the detrital and authigenic mineralogy. Cleaner, coarser sublitharenites and subarkoses have good reservoir char­acteristics but where lithics concentrate in the finer feldspathic litharenites and litharenites deformation of these ductile grains has limited porosity and permeability. Authigenic minerals have both reduced and enhanced reservoir quality. Chlo­rite rims with associated microporosity have decreased the impact of mechanical compaction and inhibited silicification. Pore filling cements of laumontite and carbonate have occluded intergranular pores and replaced grains. Secondary porosity produced by the dissolution of these cements in the gas zones has significantly improved reservoir quality.

Other information gained from the mineralogical study could influence future exploration and production. Lack of contrast on resistivity logs between gas and water zones is not due to the mineralogy of the Pretty Hill Formation. However, the restriction of early diagenetic laumontite to the water zones of gas producing wells does indicate the location of the gas-water contact. Laumontite was dissolved from the gas zone by an increase in C02 prior to hydrocarbon migration. Use of acids to enhance permeability in the Pretty Hill Formation should take into account the probable formation damage caused by reactions with the clays. Kaolin- ite could dissolve to produce a silica gel and the high Fe3+ content of the chlorite will result in a gel unless iron chelators are used in the mud acid. The depositional environment of the Pretty Hill Forma­tion has historically been interpreted as braided fluvial stream deposits interfingering with finer grained lacustrine shales and siltstone. However, this model can not explain the presence of glaucony grains, unless the glaucony has been reworked, but there is no unequivocal evidence to support this hypothesis.