An Integrated Workflow for Modeling Evaporite Sedimentary Systems

Abstract

Evaporite sealed stratigraphic traps constitute an important trap type in stacked carbonate-evaporite successions in many hydrocarbon-bearing Mesozoic sedimentary basins. It is crucial to improve our quantitative understanding of the depositional and diagenetic processes related to evaporite sedimentary systems in order to enhance reservoir quality and seal integrity prediction. However, current quantitative, process-based modeling of evaporite sedimentary system is significantly limited without a coupled approach to evaporite deposition and diagenesis. In this study, we develop a novel approach to couple depositional and diagenetic process modeling. It has been developed and tested for a modern evaporite sedimentary system, the Dead Sea (Jordan Rift Valley) (Warren, 2006). First, process-based diagenetic modeling reconstructs possible evaporation pathways and the associated diagenetic sequence. Results from diagenetic modeling provide key input parameters for subsequent depositional modeling: evaporite minerals, threshold salinities for production and effective evaporite sedimentation rates. The results from process-based depoistional modeling are constrained by previous diagenetic modeling. This integrated approach significantly improves the characterization and prediction of seal integrity and continuity within stacked carbonate-evaporite reservoir-seal units.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90364 © 2019 AAPG Middle East Geoscience Technology Workshop, Integrated Emerging Exploration Concepts: Challenges, Future Trends and Opportunities, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, December 2-4, 2019