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Activity of Silica‐Rich Hydrothermal Fluid and Its Impact on Deep Dolomite Reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin, Southern China
Author(s) -
ZHU Dongya,
ZHANG Dianwei,
LIU Quanyou,
JIN Zhijun,
HE Zhiliang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/1755-6724.13459
Subject(s) - dolomite , quartz , fluid inclusions , geology , hydrothermal circulation , geochemistry , mineralogy , chalcedony , dissolution , dolomitization , structural basin , chemistry , geomorphology , paleontology , facies
Well‐developed dissolution pores occur in the dolomites of the Sinian Dengying Formation, which is an important oil and gas reservoir layer in the Sichuan Basin and adjacent areas in southern China. The pores are often filled with quartz, and some dolomites have been metasomatically altered to siliceous chert. Few studies have documented the characteristics, source or origin of silica‐rich fluids and their effects on the dolomite reservoir. The peak homogenisation temperatures (T h ) of fluid inclusions in pore‐filling quartz are between 150°C and 190°C, with an average of 173.7°C. Gases in the inclusions are mainly composed of CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 . Compared with host dolomite, pore‐filling quartz and metasomatic chert contain higher amounts of Cr, Co, Mo, W and Fe, with average concentrations of 461.58, 3.99, 5.05, 31.43 and 6666.83 ppm in quartz and 308.98, 0.99, 1.04, 13.81 and 4703.50 ppm in chert, respectively. Strontium levels are lower than that in the host dolomite, with average concentrations in quartz and chert of 4.81 and 11.06 ppm, respectively. Rare earth element compositions in quartz and chert display positive Eu anomalies with a maximum δEu of 5.72. The δD SMOW values of hydrogen isotopes in water from quartz inclusions vary from –85.1‰ to –53.1‰ with an average of –64.3‰, whereas the δ 18 O SMOW values range from 7.2‰ to 8.5‰ with an average of 8.2‰ The average 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in quartz and chert are 0.711586 and 0.709917, respectively, which are higher than that in the host dolomite. The fluid inclusions, elemental and isotopic compositions demonstrate that the formation of quartz and chert was related to silica‐rich hydrothermal fluid and that the fluid was the deep circulation of meteoric water along basement faults. Interactions with silica‐rich hydrothermal fluids resulted in densification of dolomite reservoirs in the Dengying Formation through quartz precipitation and siliceous metasomatism. However, it increased the resistance of the host dolomite to compaction, improving the ability to maintain reservoir spaces during deep burial. Evidence for silica‐rich hydrothermal activity is common in the Yangtze Platform and Tarim Basin and its influence on deep dolomite reservoirs should be thoroughly considered.