Hostname: page-component-6dbcb7884d-t8hx9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-14T07:49:04.507Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Authigenic illite within northern and central North Sea oilfield sandstones: evidence for post-growth alteration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

M. Wilkinson ,
R. S. Haszeldine  and
A. E. Fallick
M. Wilkinson*
Affiliation:
School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, The King’s Buildings, West Mains Road. Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK
R. S. Haszeldine
Affiliation:
School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, The King’s Buildings, West Mains Road. Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK
A. E. Fallick
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride G75 0QF, UK
*
*E-mail: mark.wilkinson@ed.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

It has been previously reported that late diagenetic fibrous illite, separated out from oilfield sandstones for dating by the K-Ar method, has systematically shown an increasing K-content with burial depth in the UK northern and central North Sea. This is surprising as fibrous illite is believed to form rapidly, in response to a geological event such as oil charging, and to retain its composition during subsequent burial. If the composition of the illite is related to present-day conditions, rather than the conditions of initial formation, then argon loss may have occurred, making K-Ar ages of questionable validity. Variations in crystal chemistry of the illite and their fundamental particle size and shape (length/width) distribution suggest alteration of the illite from the time of formation. The extent to which K-Ar ages of illite might need to be re-interpreted as a result of this post-formation alteration is not quantifiable at present; however there is evidence to suggest that the ages may be interpreted in terms of burial models involving both crystal nucleation and growth, and that a high proportion of Ar within the crystals may be retained during post-growth recrystallization.

Keywords

authigenic illiteK-Ar age datafundamental particleNorth Seadiagenesis
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 229 - 246
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2014 This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2014

References

Aja, S.U. (1995) Thermodynamic properties of some 2:1 layer clay minerals from solution equilibration data. European Journal of Mineralogy, 7, 325–333.10.1127/ejm/7/2/0325CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baronnet, A. (1982) Ostwald ripening in solution: the case of calcite and mica. Estudios Geológicos, 38, 185–198.Google Scholar
Bauer, A., Velde, B. & Gaupp, R. (2000) Experimental constraints on illite crystal morphology. Clay Minerals, 35, 587–597.10.1180/000985500546909Google Scholar
Burley, S.D. & Flisch, M. (1989) K–Ar geochronology and the timing of detrital I/S clay illitization and authigenic illite precipitation in the Piper and Tartan Fields, Outer Moray Firth, UK North Sea. Clay Minerals, 24, 285–315.10.1180/claymin.1989.024.2.11Google Scholar
Clauer, N., Rinckenbach, T., Weber, F., Sommer, F., Chaudhuri, S. & O’Neil, J.R. (1999) Diagenetic evolution of clay minerals in oil-bearing neogene sandstones and associated shales, Mahakam Delta Basin, Kalimantan, Indonesia. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 83, 62–87.Google Scholar
Darby, D., Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S. & Fallick, A.E. (1997) Illite dates record deep fluid movements in petroleum basins. Petroleum Geoscience, 3, 133–140.10.1144/petgeo.3.2.133Google Scholar
Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. & Zussman, J. (1966) An Introduction to the Rock Forming Minerals. Longman Group Limited, Harlow, England, 528 pp.Google Scholar
Drits, V.A. & McCarty, D.K. (2010) The nature of structure-bonded H2O in illite and leucophyllite from dehydration and dehydroxylation experiments. Clays and Clay Minerals, 55, 45–58.Google Scholar
Eberl, D.D. & Środoń J. (1988) Ostwald ripening and interparticle-diffraction effects for illite crystals. American Mineralogist, 73, 1335–1345.Google Scholar
Ehrenberg, S.N. & Nadeau, P.H. (1989) Formation of diagenetic illite in sandstones of the Garn Formation, Haltenbanken area, mid–Norwegian continental shelf. Clay Minerals, 24, 233–253.10.1180/claymin.1989.024.2.09Google Scholar
Egeberg, P.K. & Aagaard, P. (1989) Origins and evolution of formation waters from oil fields on the Norwegian Shelf. Applied Geochemistry, 4, 131–142.10.1016/0883-2927(89)90044-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fallick, A.E., Macaulay, C.I. & Haszeldine, R.S. (1993) Implications of linearly correlated oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions for kaolinite and illite in the Magnus Sandstone, North Sea. Clays and Clay Minerals, 41, 184–190.10.1346/CCMN.1993.0410207Google Scholar
Giles, M.R., Stevenson, S., Martin, S.V., Cannon S.J.C., Hamilton, P.J., Marshall, J.D. & Samways, G.M. (1992) The reservoir properties and diagenesis of the Brent Group: a regional perspective. Pp. 289–327 in: Geology of the Brent Group (A.C. Morton, R.S. Haszeldine, M.R. Giles & S. Brown, editors). Geological Society London. Special Publication, 61.Google Scholar
Girard, J.P., Munz, I.A., Johansen, H., Lacharpagne, J.C. & Sommer, F. (2002) Diagenesis of the Hild Brent sandstones, northern North Sea: isotopic evidence for the prevailing influence of deep basinal water. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 72, 746–759.10.1306/040102720746Google Scholar
Glasmann, J.R., Clark, R.A., Larter, S., Briedis, N.A. & Lundegard, P.D. (1989) Diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation, Brent Sandstone (Jurassic), Bergen High area, North Sea. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 73, 1341–1360.Google Scholar
Greenwood, P.J., Shaw, H.F. & Fallick, A.E. (1994) Petrographic and isotopic evidence for diagenetic processes in Middle Jurassic sandstones and mudrocks from the Brae area, North Sea. Clay Minerals, 29, 637–650.10.1180/claymin.1994.029.4.18Google Scholar
Hamilton, P.J., Giles, M.R. & Ainsworth, P. (1992) K–Ar dating of illites in Brent Group reservoirs: a regional perspective. Pp. 377–400 in: Geology of the Brent Group (A.C. Morton, R.S. Haszeldine, M.R. Giles & S. Brown, editors). Geological Society London. Special Publication, 61.Google Scholar
Hamilton, P.J., Kelley, S. & Fallick, A.E. (1989) K-Ar dating of illite in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Clay Minerals, 24, 215–232.10.1180/claymin.1989.024.2.08CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogg, A.J.C., Hamilton, P.H. & Mcintyre (1993) Mapping diagenetic fluid flow within a reservoir: K-Ar dating in the Alwyn area (UK North Sea). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 10, 279–294.10.1016/0264-8172(93)90110-EGoogle Scholar
Jiang, W.T., Peacor, D.R. & Essene, E.J. (1994) Clay minerals in the Macadams Sandstone, California; implications for substitution of H.O. and H2O and metastability of illite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 42, 35–45.10.1346/CCMN.1994.0420105Google Scholar
Kang, I.-M., Hillier, S., Song, Y. & Kim I.-J. (2012) Relative coherent stacking potential of fundamental particles of illite-smectite and its relationship to geological environment. Clay Minerals, 47, 319–327.10.1180/claymin.2012.047.3.03Google Scholar
Lander, R.H. & Bonnell, L.M. (2010) A model for fibrous illite nucleation and growth in sandstones. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 94, 1161–1187.10.1306/04211009121CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanson, B. & Champion, D. (1991) The I/S-to-illite reaction in the late stage diagenesis. American Journal of Science, 29l, 473–506.Google Scholar
Lasocki, J., Guememe, J.M., Hedayati, A., Legorjus, C. & Page, W.M. (1999) The Elgin and Franklin fields: UK Blocks 22/30c, 22/30-b and 29/5b. Pp. 1007–1020 in: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 5th Conference (A. Fleet & S.A.R. Boldy, editors). Geological Society, London.Google Scholar
Leveille, G.P., Primmer, T.J., Dudley, G., Ellis, D. & Allinson, G.J. (1997) Diagenetic controls on reservoir quality in Permian Rotliegendes sandstones, Jupiter Fields area, southern North Sea. Pp. 105–122 in: Petroleum Geology of the Southern North Sea: Future Potential (K. Zeigler, P. Turner & S.R. Daines, editors). Geological Society Special Publication, 123.Google Scholar
Liewig, N. & Clauer, N. (2000) K-Ar dating of varied microtextural illite in Permian gas reservoirs, northern Germany. Clay Minerals, 35, 271–281.10.1180/000985500546648Google Scholar
McBride, J.J. (1992) The Diagenesis of Middle Jurassic Reservoir Sandstones of Bruce Field, UK North Sea. PhD thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Macaulay, C.I., Haszeldine, R.S. & Fallick, A.E. (1992) Diagenetic pore waters stratified for at least 35 million years – Magnus Oil-Field, North-Sea. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 76, 1625–1634.Google Scholar
Matthews, J.C., Velde, B. & Johansen, H. (1994) Significance of K–Ar ages of authigenic illitic clay–minerals in sandstones and shales from the North Sea. Clay Minerals, 29, 379–389.10.1180/claymin.1994.029.3.09Google Scholar
Morton, A., Hallsworth, C., Strogen, D., Whitham, A. & Fanning, M. (2009) Evolution of provenance in the N. Atlantic rift: The Early–Middle Jurassic succession in the Heidrun field, Halten Terrace, offshore Mid-Norway. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 26, 1100–1117.10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.07.006Google Scholar
Mullin, J.W. (1961) Crystallization. Butterworth- Heinemann, Oxford.Google Scholar
Nadeau, P.H. (1985) The physical dimensions of fundamental clay particles. Clay Minerals, 20, 499–514.10.1180/claymin.1985.020.4.06CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadeau, P.H. (1987) Relationships between the mean area, volume and thickness for dispersed particles of kaolinites and miceaceous clays and their application to surface area and ion exchange properties. Clay Minerals, 22, 351–356.10.1180/claymin.1987.022.3.10Google Scholar
Neuman, A.C.D. and Brown, G. (1987) The chemical constitution of clays. Pp. 1–128 in: Chemistry of Clays and Clay Minerals (A.C.D. Neuman, editor). Mineralogical Society Monograph, 6, 480 pp.Google Scholar
Nieto, F., Mellini, F. & Abad, I. (2010) The role of H.O. in the crystal structure of illite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 58, 238–246.Google Scholar
Primmer, T.J., Warren, E.A., Sharma, B.K. & Atkins (1993) The stability of experimentally grown clay minerals: implications for modelling the stability of neo-formed diagenetic clay minerals. Pp. 163–180 in: Geochemistry of Clay–Pore Fluid Interactions (D.A.C. Manning, P.L. Hall & C.R. Hughes). Chapman and Hall, London, 427 pp.Google Scholar
Vidal, O., Dubacq, B. & Lanari, P. (2010) Comment on “The role of H.O. in the crystal structure of illite” by F. Nieto, M. Melini, and I. Abad. Clays and Clay Minerals, 58, 717–720.10.1346/CCMN.2010.0580510Google Scholar
Warren, E.A. & Smalley, P.C. (1994) North Sea Formation Waters Atlas. Geological Society, London, Memoir 15.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, M. & Haszeldine, R.S. (2002a) Fibrous illite in oilfield sandstones – a nucleation kinetic theory of growth. Terra Nova, 14, 56–60.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, M. & Haszeldine, R.S. (2002b) Problems with argon: K–Ar ages in Gulf Coast shales. Chemical Geology, 191, 277–283.10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00145-6Google Scholar
Wilkinson, M. & Haszeldine, R.S. (2011) Oil charge preserves exceptional porosity in deeply buried, overpressured, sandstones: Central North Sea, UK. Journal of the Geological Society, 168, 1285–1295.10.1144/0016-76492011-007Google Scholar
Wilkinson, M., Fallick, A.E., Keaney G.M.J., Haszeldine, R.S. & McHardy, W. (1994) Stable isotopes in illite: the case for meteoric water flushing within the Upper Jurassic Fulmar Formation sandstones, UK North Sea. Clay Minerals, 29, 567–574.10.1180/claymin.1994.029.4.13CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S. & Fallick, A.E. (2006) Jurassic and Cretaceous clays of the northern and central North Sea: Hydrocarbon reservoirs reviewed. Clay Minerals, 41, 151–186.10.1180/0009855064110197Google Scholar
Yates, D.M. & Rosenberg, P.E. (1998) Characterization of neoformed illite from hydrothermal experiments at 250°C and P., soln: An HRTEM/ATEM study. American Mineralogist, 83, 1199–1208.10.2138/am-1998-11-1208Google Scholar
Ziegler, K., Sellwood, B.W. & Fallick, A.E. (1994) Radiogenic and stable isotope evidence for age and origin of authigenic illites in the Rotliegend, southern North Sea. Clay Minerals, 29, 555–565.10.1180/claymin.1994.029.4.12Google Scholar