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Introduction and
Properties of
Carbonates

Hypothesis vs.
Theory

Hypothesis
A scientific explanation that fits all available data. A
hypothesis can be tested and may be altered or
rejected as new data become available.

Theory
A hypothesis or a group of related hypotheses
that has/have withstood repeated testing and
is/are generally accepted as correct. A theory can
be disproven but cannot be proven!

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R. Michael Lloyd
19302011

I am practicing the
purest form of our
science.

Petroleum Geology
According to Mike Lloyd
Hypothesis: Develop a play (make a
map).

Test Hypothesis: Drill a well.

Revise Hypothesis: Redraw the map.

Establish a Theory: Drill a productive

well.
Disprove a Theory: Drill a dry infill
well.

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Summary

Differences Between
Carbonates and
Siliciclastics

Oil Production and Proven Reserves

Carbonate
Reservoirs

Siliciclastic
Reservoirs

Middle East

P. M. Harris

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Natural Gas Production and Proven Reserves

Carbonate
Reservoirs

Silicaclastic
Reservoirs

Middle
East

Middle East

P. M. Harris

Carbonate
sediments are
born, not made.

Noel James, 1984

Siliciclastic
Sediment is
Allocthonous
(comes from somewhere else)

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Carbonate Sediment
is Autothonous
(forms close to where deposited)

Siliclastic Sediments
and Rocks are
Composed of
Chemically Stable
Minerals

Carbonate
Sediments and
Rocks are Easily
Dissolved

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Siliclastic Rocks have

Relatively Simple
Pore Systems

Carbonate Rocks
have Complex
Pore Systems

Summary

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Carbonate Minerals

Aragonite
CaCO3
Metastable
2.93 gm/cc

Calcite
CaCO3
Stable
2.71 gm/cc

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Magnesian
Calcite
CaCO3 with 524
mole % MgCO3
metastable

Dolomite
(Ca, Mg)CO3
stable
2.84 gm/cc

Magnesium in Carbonate Minerals

Scholle and Ulmer-Scholle, 2003

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Summary

Modes of
Precipitation

Organic Calcium
Carbonate Precipitation
Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

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Fossiliferous Limestone

Inorganic Calcium
Carbonate Precipitation
H2O + CO2 + CaCO3
Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

Factors Affecting Inorganic Precipitation

of Solid Calcium Carbonate from Seawater
Temperature

Increase Temperature, Lose CO2,

Precipitate Calcium Carbonate

Pressure

Decrease Pressure, Lose CO2, Precipitate

Calcium Carbonate

Salinity

Decrease Salinity, Decrease Competing

Cations, Precipitate Calcium Carbonate

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Ooid Sand Shoals

Joulters Cays, Bahamas

Inorganically Mediated Precipitation:

Photosynthesis

6H2O + 6CO2
C6H12O6 + 6O2

Whitings

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Summary

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