The Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Belqa Group in Jordan consists predominantly of organic-rich carbonate mudrocks that represent excellent source rocks but are still immature to just entering the oil window. Therefore, they offer a unique opportunity to study lithology, source rock composition, and geochemistry prior to the onset of maturation and expulsion of hydrocarbons. Our study examines the lithological and geochemical characteristics of these high-quality source rocks. To define the lithofacies and analyze the heterogeneities, 23 samples were investigated for their composition and texture using optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, XRD, and XRF). Geochemistry analyses were based on total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and vitrinite reflectance. Four lithofacies were defined in this study: Strongly bioturbated calcareous mudstone (LF1), Slightly laminated calcareous mudstone (LF2), Parallel laminated calcareous mudstone to wackestone (LF3), Fine to coarse silicified wackestone to packstone (LF4), all containing significant organic content (TOC varies from 6 to 20 wt.%) and Sulphur contents (1.3-4.7 wt.%). Kerogen types are predominantly II-S with high HI (Hydrogen Index) values of >700 mg HC/g TOC. XRD results show that the rocks are mainly composed of calcite (75% on average) and quartz (10% on average). Minor amounts of clay (< 7%), pyrite (up to 6%), gypsum (up to 4%), and dolomite (up to 3%) also exist. Our results evidenced the high heterogeneity in the lithofacies of the MCM formation samples. Despite the traditional interpretation of low-energy suspension settling, we demonstrated the presence of bottom currents during the deposition of the Upper Cretaceous source rocks in Jordan (ripples, rip-up mud, reworking material, and fossil-rich lenses) and insight into the bottom water conditions (anoxic and oxic). The integration of the data obtained through the different techniques used in this study, together with the unique characteristics of these source rocks, allowed the characterization of the geological and geochemical properties of the defined lithofacies associations in these immature, Upper Cretaceous source rocks. This, in turn, helped to better evaluate the occurrence and distribution of the different litho- and organic facies and estimate hydrocarbon source potential.

Unconventional gas resources have become important as an environment- friendly source of fuel. It is important to understand the pore level geometries of grains and voids in mudrocks in order to understand the flow potential of gas from these rocks. Recent observations of nanopores within carbonaceous material in mudrocks have led to the hypothesis that such material provides conduits for gas migration within the mudrock matrix. This hypothesis requires that the carbonaceous material exist not as isolated grains but as connected clusters of grains within the mudrock. To examine this hypothesis, we develop an algorithm for the grain-scale modeling of the spatial distribution of grains of carbonaceous matter in a matrix of non-carbonaceous material (silt, clay). The algorithm produces a grain-scale model of the sediment which is precursor to a mudrock, then a sequence of models of the grain arrangement as burial compacts the sediment into mudrock. The carbonaceous material is approximated by the simplest possible geometric model of spherical grains. These grains are distributed randomly within a population of other spheres that represent silt and clay grains. A cooperative rearrangement algorithm is used to generate a disordered packing of the grain mixture having a prescribed initial porosity. This model represents the sediment precursor of the shale in its original depositional setting. Periodic boundary conditions are imposed on the packing to eliminate wall-induced artifacts in the grain arrangement; in effect the packing extends infinitely in all three coordinate directions. We simulate compaction of the model sediment by incrementally rescaling the vertical coordinate axis, repeating the cooperative rearrangement calculation with periodic boundaries after each increment. We determine the size distribution of clusters of touching carbonaceous grains, focusing particularly upon the approach toward percolation (when a cluster spans the entire packing). The model allows estimation of threshold fraction of carbonaceous material for significantly connected clusters to form. Beyond a threshold degree of compaction, connected clusters become much more prevalent. Other factors affecting the threshold fraction such as ductility of the carbonaceous material is also evaluated. Ductility is modeled by taking a grain consisting inner rigid core covered by the outer soft shell which can be penetrated and deformed during geometrical transformation. The emergence of large numbers of clusters, or of a few large clusters, increases the probability that nanoporous conduits within the clusters would intersect a fracture in the mudrock. This should correlate with greater producibility of gas from the mudrock. Thus the dependence of the statistics of the clusters upon other parameters, such as the fraction of carbonaceous material, porosity, degree of compaction, etc., could be useful for estimating resource quality. For example, it is observed that the threshold concentration of carbonaceous material in the initial sediments for “significant clustering” enough to approach percolation is about 20 percent of the volume fraction. The degree of compaction needed to get “significant clustering” is 50%. / text

Grain assemblages in organic-rich mudrocks of the Eagle Ford Formation of South Texas are assessed to determine the relative contributions of intra- and extrabasinal sediment sources, with the ultimate goal of producing data of relevance to prediction of diagenetic pathways. Integrated light microscopy, BSE imaging, and X-ray mapping reveal a mixed grain assemblage of calcareous allochems, biosiliceous grains (radiolaria), quartz, feldspar, lithics, and clay minerals. Dominant fossils are pelagic and benthic foraminifers and thin-walled and prismatic mollusks; echinoderms, calcispheres, and oysters are present. Early-formed authigenic minerals, including calcite, kaolinite, dolomite, albite, pyrite, quartz, and Ca-phosphate, some reworked, add to the overall lithologic heterogeneity. Point counting of images produced using energy-dispersive X-ray mapping in the SEM provides observations at a scale appropriate to classifying the mudrocks based on the composition of the grain assemblage, although grains and other crystals of clay-size cannot be fully characterized even with the SEM. Each sample is plotted on a triangle, whose vertices correspond to terrigenous and volcanic grains (extrabasinal components), calcareous allochems, and biosiliceous grains. As a subequal mix of grains of intrabasinal and extrabasinal origins the detrital grain assemblage of the Eagle Ford, presents a formidable challenge to the task of lithologic classification of this unit, as neither conventional limestone nor sandstone classifications can be readily applied. The abundant marine skeletal debris in the Eagle Ford is accompanied by abundant calcite cementation and the dissolution and replacement of biosiliceous debris is accompanied by authigenic quartz, suggesting that mudrock grain classification has potential for yielding diagenetic predictions. / text

Heightened industry focus on the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) Eagle Ford has resulted from recent discoveries of producible unconventional petroleum resource in this emerging play. However, little has been published on the facies and facies variabilities within this mixed carbonate-clastic mudrock system. This rock-based study is fundamental to understanding the controls, types, and scales of inherent facies variabilities, which have implications for enhanced comprehension of the Eagle Ford and other mixed carbonate-clastic mudrock systems worldwide. This study utilizes 8 cores and 2 outcrops with a total interval equaling 480 feet and is enhanced by synthesis of thin section, XRD, XRF, isotope, rock eval/TOC, and wireline log data. Central Texas Eagle Ford facies include 1) massive argillaceous mudrock, 2) massive argillaceous foraminiferal mudrock, 3) laminated argillaceous foraminiferal mudrock, 4) laminated foraminiferal wackestone, 5) cross-laminated foraminiferal packstone/grainstone, 6) massive bentonitic claystone, and 7) nodular foraminiferal packstone/grainstone. High degrees of facies variability are observed even at small scales (50 ft) within the Eagle Ford system and are characterized by pinching and swelling of units, lateral facies changes, truncations, and locally restricted units. Facies variability is attributed to erosional scouring, productivity blooms, bottom current reworking, and bioturbation. At the 10-mile well spacing scale and greater, the data significantly overestimates intra-formational facies continuity but is successful in defining the following four-fold stratigraphy: The basal Pepper Shale is an argillaceous, moderate TOC, high CGR and GR mudrock. The Waller Member is a newly designated name used in this study for an argillaceous and foraminiferal, high TOC, massive mudrock with a generally moderate CGR and GR profile. The Bouldin Member is a high energy, carbonate-rich (foraminiferal), low TOC, low and variable CGR but high GR zone. Finally, the South Bosque Formation is an argillaceous and foraminiferal, moderate TOC, massive and laminated mudrock with a moderate CGR and GR signature. GR logs alone are inadequate for determination of facies, TOC content, depositional environment, and sequence stratigraphic implications. Using integrated lithologic, isotopic, and wireline log data, cored wells in the study area are correlated across the San Marcos Arch. Geochemical proxies (enrichment in Mo, Mn, U, and V/Cr) indicate that maximum basin restriction occurred during deposition of the Bouldin Member. Bottom current activity influenced depositional processes and carbonate sediment input was driven by water column productivity. These primary controls on Eagle Ford stratigraphy and character are independent from eustatic fluctuation, rendering classical sequence stratigraphy unreliable. / text

Subsurface data derived from ~388 ft of drill core from Martin County (TX) were used to understand the depositional setting of the Wolfcamp-D, a petroleum producing interval in the Midland Basin. Elemental geochemistry collected via x-ray fluorescence revealed a highly variable depositional history marked by the deposition of diverse siliciclastic and carbonate lithofacies. Integration of multiple datasets resulted in the interpretation of nine lithofacies, whose deposition appears cyclical. Correlations between molybdenum and total organic carbon indicate slow recharge of bottom waters and anoxic/euxinicconditions within the basin. The presence of phosphatic nodules coinciding with siliceous black mudrocks suggested high levels of primary productivity driven by upwelling. High-frequency sea level variability, driven by far-field glaciation and regional paleoclimate, were key controls on both the chemostratigraphy and lithofacies. Along-strike variability is seen throughout the basin due to paleobathymetry, proximity and connections to paleochannels, and localized structures. Rhenium-osmium (Re/Os) geochronology was conducted on siliceous mudrocks with high total organic carbon. A depositional age of 300 ± 18 Ma was obtained, partially confirming previous correlations to shelf biostratigraphic data. Scatter in the Re/Os data is likely due to mixing in the basin or non-hydrogenous Os incorporated into the analysis due to the method of preparation.

Ce mémoire s'intéresse aux propriétés de transfert, de résistance et de plasticité de roches argileuses. Deux enjeux industriels directs sont la détermination du potentiel de production de gaz naturel des roches mères et de la capacité de rétention des roches de couvertures utilisées pour les stockages de gaz ou de déchets en milieu souterrain. Dans un premier temps, la perméabilité est décrite comme résultant de l'homogénéisation de l'écoulement d'un fluide visqueux dans le réseau poreux. Un cadre variationnel analogue à celui de Hashin et Shtrikman en élasticité est établi et mis à profit pour proposer une méthode numérique basée sur la Transformée de Fourier Rapide (FFT) pour le calcul efficace de bornes sur la perméabilité à partir de représentations tridimensionnelles voxelisées de milieux poreux. Par ailleurs, des techniques d'homogénéisation analytiques basées sur la définition de cellules perméables équivalentes sont proposées pour fournir des briques élémentaires pour la modélisation micro-mécanique de la perméabilité.Le phénomène de glissement du gaz aux parois est considéré pour rendre compte quantitativement d'effets du type Klinkenberg sur la perméabilité au gaz. L'effet d'une saturation partielle du réseau poreux sur la perméabilité et la pression de percée sont étudiés dans le cas de morphologies particulières des pores. En parallèle, une campagne expérimentale est conduite sur différentes roches argileuses issues de forages pour caractériser leur porosité et leur perméabilité sous diverses conditions de confinement mécanique et desaturation partielle en eau. Dans un second temps, les capacités de résistance sont étudiées sous hypothèse de rupture ductile. Une méthode numérique efficace basée sur la FFT est proposée pour encadrer par l'extérieur le domaine de résistance de milieux hétérogènes à géométrie complexe. D'autre part, une modélisation analytique à trois échelles de la résistance d'un matériau granulaire renforcé par inclusions rigides avec interfaces imparfaites est présentée. Enfin, une relecture élasto-plastique de ce modèle de résistance a abouti à un modèle purement micro-mécanique, dont l'interprétation macroscopique est analogue au modèle Cam-clay, avec écrouissage par changement de porosité et ligne d'états critiques / This thesis is focused on the strength, plasticity and transport properties of mudrocks. Two industrial applications are the shale gas production and the underground gas or waste storage. In a first part, the permeability is described as resulting from the homogenisation of the flow of a Newtonian fluid within the pore space. A Hashin-Shtrikman like framework is derived for the permeability upscaling and used to propose a FFT-based numerical method for the efficient computation of bounds on the permeability, directly compatible with a voxelised representation of the pore space. As an alternative, analytic homogenisation techniques based on the definition of equivalent permeable cells are developed to provide building blocks for the micro-mechanical modelling of permeability. The gas slip at pore walls is accounted for to model Klinkenberg effects for gas permeability. Partial water saturation is also considered to model relative gas permeability and gas breakthrough pressure. In the mean time, a thorough experimental investigation of the evolution of porosity and permeability with confining pressure and partial water saturation has been carried out on several types of mudrocks. In a second part, the ductile strength properties is studied. An efficient FFT-based numerical method is proposed to compute the homogenised strength domain of heterogeneous media with complex micro-structures. Next, a three-scale analytic model of the strength of a granular media reinforced by rigid inclusions with imperfect interfaces is presented. In a third part, this strength model is re-interpreted in plasticity to propose a purely micro-mechanical model, whose macroscopic interpretation is similar to the Cam-clay model, including hardening or softening due to an evolving porosity and a critical state line

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