PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Volume 46, Issue 2, April 2019

Online English edition of the Chinese language journal

Cite this article as: PETROL. EXPLOR. DEVELOP., 2019, 46(2): 314–323. RESEARCH PAPER

Control factors of reservoir oil-bearing difference of

Cretaceous Mishrif Formation in the H oilfield, Iraq

ZHAO Limin1, 2, *, ZHOU Wen1, ZHONG Yuan3, GUO Rui2, JIN Zhimin4, 5, CHEN Yantao4, 5
1. Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610051, China;
2. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China;
3. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company, PetroChina, Chengdu 610041, China;
4. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China;
5. Branch of Deposition and Accumulation, PetroChina Key Laboratory of Carbonate Reservoir, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu
610500, China

Abstract: To reveal the law of oiliness of the Upper Cretaceous carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East and factors controlling the oili-
ness, the Mishrif Formation of the H oilfield in Iraq was examined comprehensively. Based on core observation and description, casting
thin section analysis, and statistics of physical property and pore-throat structure parameter, etc., in combination with previous achieve-
ments and understanding, it is pointed out that the coring interval of Mishrif Formation has strong oiliness heterogeneity, and can be di-
vided into 4 grades, oil rich, oil immersed, oil spot, and oil trace; the oil-bearing grade has obvious facies-controlled characteristic in
macroscopic view; and in different oil-bearing grades, relatively oil-rich sections present higher karst development intensity, better phys-
ical properties and pore-throat structure characteristics. It is concluded through the study that the sedimentary microenvironment and
eogenetic karstification determine the macroscopic oiliness of the reservoir in Mishrif Formation of H Oilfield, and the improvement of
pore-throat structure caused by eogenetic karstification is the decisive factor of the micro oil-bearing difference of the reservoir. Finally,
the genetic model of reservoir development and oil-bearing difference was established.

Key words: carbonate reservoirs; eogenetic karstification; reservoir oiliness; Mishrif Formation; Upper Cretaceous; Iraq

Introduction tion of reservoir space were mainly controlled by the deposi-

About 80% of the oil and gas in the Middle East is pro-
duced from carbonate reservoirs[14]. The Cretaceous Mishrif
Formation is the most important reservoir in the Middle
East[57], which is developed widely in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates[8]. The carbonate reser-
voirs of Mishrif Formation developed in central and southern
Iraq have proven reserves accounting for about 40% of the
Cretaceous oil reserves and nearly 30% of the total oil re-
serves in Iraq[9].
The H oilfield, located in southeastern Iraq, is currently at
the initial stage of development, where the Mishrif Formation
is major target of Cretaceous carbonate. Many achievements
have been obtained in the previous studies on sedimentation
and reservoirs of Mishrif Formation. Some researchers
thought that the tectonic activity was weak during the deposi-
tion of Mishrif Formation[10] in open platform and platform
margin environments[6, 1113]; and the formation and reforma-
tional environment, penecontemporaneous dissolution and late
supergene karstification[6, 1420]. After comprehensive study of
Mishrif Formation in the H oilfield, we reached the following
findings: (1) The depositional environment should mainly be
open platform, where there may be platform margin deposits
but not in a large scale[21]. (2) The karst type is the fa-
cies-controlled eogenetic karstification, which is characterized
by the combination of penecontemporaneous dissolution and
exposed dissolution in shallow buried period[22]. The concep-
tual model of karst development has been established, and
three zones are identified according to the characteristics of
dissolution-filling karstification intensity in cores from high to
low, namely, the tight basement zone, cavernous dissolution
zone and groove (pore) filling zone[22]. (3) The reservoirs are
mainly composed of karst formations, grainstone, packstone,
and wackestone, etc., with the reservoir space dominated by
intrafossil pores, intragranular pores (moldic pores), intergra-
nular pores, inter-filling micropores, and framework pores[2223].

Received date: 11 Oct. 2018; Revised date: 24 Jan. 2019.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: zhaolimin@petrochina.com.cn
Foundation item: Supported by the China National Science and Technology Major Project (2017ZX05032004-001).
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60011-X
Copyright © 2019, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina. Publishing Services provided by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Com-
munications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323
(4) The formation of reservoir space and pore throat structure
mainly depends on the sedimentary microfacies and eogenetic
karstification[2223]. Further studies showed the coring intervals
of Mishrif Formation in the H oilfield have big differences in
oil-bearing property and strong heterogeneity. Even though
physical properties and oiliness are in positive correlation in
general, there are exceptional reservoir section with good
physical properties but no oil, indicating the law of oil-bearing
property needs to be explored in depth. It is of significant
reference value to the prediction of effective reservoirs in the
future. However, no study on this subject has been reported yet.
Based on a large amount of basic experimental data and
previous achievements, the major control factors of reservoir
oil-bearing property of Mishrif Formation in the H oilfield
were preliminary studied and analyzed, in the hope to guide
the later practical exploration and development of the oilfield,
and provide directions and experience in the oiliness analysis
of the carbonate reservoir in Mishrif Formation of H oilfield.
1. Regional geology
The H oilfield is located in Misan Province, southeast of
Iraq, and is 400 km from Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The
study area covers an area of about 288 km2. Tectonically, it is
the unstable continental shelf in the north of the Arabian Plate
on the northern margin of Gondwanaland, in the south of the
eastern unstable continental shelf, Mesopotamian and Tigris.
It is a third-order tectonic unit with the largest burial depth,
thickest deposits and relatively stable structure in the Meso-
potamian Basin[2425], with platform deposits developed (Fig.
1), and an anticline extending from northwest to southeast
gently. The Mishrif Formation deposited in the Mid-Late Cre-
taceous Period, is mainly composed of grainstone, packstone,
wackestone, and shell floating rocks[24]. It comes in bands in
Fig. 1. Regional structure of Iraq and location of the study ar-
ea.[30]
 315 
southeast strike at the border between Iraq and Iran and in
Basra[2629]. The overlying Khasib Formation consists of
grey-brown chalky limestone and microcrystalline clastic
limestone, and is in unconformable contact with the Mishrif
Formation. The Mishrif Formation is in conformable contact
with the underlying Rumaila Formation composed of largely
yellow brown-grayish white porous limestone. As the most
important oil-producing layer, the Mishrif Formation is up to
400 m thick, and is further subdivided into 18 layers (Fig. 2).
Its top is a regional unconformity due to Late Cretaceous
Laramide Orogeny[7].
2. Analysis of reservoir oiliness
2.1. Experimental samples and methods
This work is mainly based on the data of Wells M316,
N137, N195, Y115 and Y161, in which the coring lengths of
Mishrif Formation are 286.92 m, 107.50 m, 77.00 m, 81.00 m
and 45.00 m, respectively. The core photos are complete, in
which the oil-bearing features are clear and easily observable.
As the coring intervals include the MC2-1 to MA1 sub-layers,
the data of all the wells combined can reflect the overall dep-
osition, reservoir development and oiliness distribution of
these intervals (Fig. 2). At an average sampling frequency of
1/m, a total of 603 thin slices were taken, including 286, 105,
87, 80 and 45 from the cores of the five wells respectively. All
thin slices were provided by the Research Institute of Petro-
leum Exploration Development, and their observation and
analysis were completed by the Sedimentary Geology Re-
search Center of Southwest Petroleum University, Key Labo-
ratory of Carbonate Reservoirs, CNPC. On the basis of thin
slice analysis, the microscopic constitution of thin slices was
studied, with focus on distinguishing reservoir space types,
dissolution features and oiliness. Moreover, physical property
data of more than 1800 samples and mercury injection data of
920 samples can provide data support for discussion on the
main factors causing reservoir oiliness difference.
2.2. Characterization of oiliness heterogeneity
Based on the basic data acquired and previous achieve-
ments, the reservoir oiliness is further analyzed, and the fol-
lowing results are obtained.
2.2.1. Division of oil-bearing grade
Through observation and analysis, the cores of Mishrif
Formation collected from 5 coring wells in the H oilfield can
be divided into 4 oil-bearing grades, oil rich (oil saturated), oil
immersed, oil spot, and oil trace according to the Standard
SYT5364-89 [31] (Fig. 3). The oil rich grade means the
oil-bearing area is more than 70% of the total rock area. For
example, the karst rock from 3 042.55 m of Well N137 has a
characteristically high content of oil. Dark brown, the rock is
full of and evenly saturated with oil, in striking contrast to the
oil-free bioclasts (Fig. 3a). The oil immersed grade means the
oil-bearing area is 40%70% of the total rock area. For
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323

Fig. 2. Stratigraphic columnar section of Cretaceous Mishrif Formation and nearby formations in H oilfield and coring intervals in the
wells.

Fig. 3. Oil-bearing grades and main characteristics of Mishrif Formation cores.

example, the bioclastic packstone from 3 131.50 m of Well
N137, with grooves of irregularly shape filled with carbonate
muds and sands. It is dark brown, and has overall high oil
content, but the base rock is grayish white and oil-free (Fig.
3b). The oil spot grade denotes the oil-bearing area is
5%40% of the total rock area. For example, in the bioclastic
wackestone from 3034.35 m of Well N195, are organism bur-
rows in spots and strips, based on which, grooves and caves
are formed. The fillings are relatively oil-rich and light brown,
but most of the original rock is oil-free (Fig. 3c). The oil trace
 316 
grade means the oil-bearing area is less than 5% of the total
rock area. For example, in the bioclastic wackestone from
3 086.70 m of Well M316, the oil-bearing parts are scattered
organism burrows with light brown fillings, and the original
rock is grayish white and fairly tight (Fig. 3d).
2.2.2. Oiliness of coring intervals
Taking Well M316 with the most abundant coring data as
an example, the composite columnar section of oiliness shown
as Fig. 4 was compiled according to the detailed description
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323

Fig. 4. Composite columnar section of sediments and oil-bearing property of Mishrif Formation in Well M316.

and analysis of cores. The Mishrif Formation includes multi-
ple cycles that are upward shallowing cycles dominated by
descending semi-cycles, with wackestone and micrite lime-
stone of interbank subfacies and open sea subfacies at the bot-
tom, and wackestone and grainstone of platform low-energy
beach subfacies and platform margin high-energy beach sub-
facies at the top. Karstification is very common throughout
the whole interval, there are karst caves and grooves in cha-
otic occurrence in almost every single cycle. In the relatively
high porosity and permeability layers dominated by grain-
stone and packstone, karst caves and low-angle grooves are
the major reservoir space and are filled by plastic breccia,
carbonate mud and sand, and clasts. In addition, there are a
large number of cavernous pores with generally favorable
 317 
oiliness. In the relatively low porosity and permeability layers
dominated by wackestone and micrite limestone are a large
number of organism burrows, and high-angle and low-angle
grooves develop based on them; there are also cavernous dis-
solution pores in some parts, with oil appearing in spots and
patches on the whole.
The vertical oiliness of Mishrif Formation was further
studied based on the interpretation of typical sedimentary-oil-
bearing characteristics at specific depth. In the depth interval
from 2 898 m to 2 906 m in Well M316, four upward shal-
lowing cycles were identified. Each cycle consists of inter-
bank wackestone in the lower part and platform packstone in
the upper part. The packstone and wackestone have clearly
different dissolution and oil-bearing characteristics. In the
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323

packstone are many irregular grooves, and a large amount of
plastic karst breccias or brecciated original rocks, this rock is
abundant in oil, showing oil-rich to oil-saturated characteris-
tics. The wackestone contain a large number of organism bur-
rows, and high-angle grooves or caves created based on the
organism burrows. It generally is oil-immersed or oil-spot
grade (Fig. 5).
2.3. Analysis of oil-bearing grade difference
2.3.1. Oil-bearing grade distribution in major types of
reservoirs
After analyzing the distribution frequency of oil-bearing
grades in major types of reservoirs in coring intervals of Wells
N137, N195, Y115, Y161 and M316, some regularity was
found (Fig. 6). The wackestone is mostly oil spot grade, with
a occurrence frequency of 87.3%. The occurrence frequency
of oil rich, oil immersed and oil trace grades are 1.4%, 2.6%
and 8.7%, respectively. In the packstone, the occurrence fre-
quency of oil spot decreases significantly to 44.6%, while that
of oil immersed and oil rich increase remarkably to 35.9%
and 19.5%. In the grainstone, the frequency of oil spot is the
lowest, 22%, while that of oil immersed and oil rich grades
are 70% and 8% respectively. As the reservoir rocks vary
from low-energy rocks to high-energy rocks, the oil-bearing
grade of cores also change from oil spot, oil trace to oil im-
mersed, oil rich, showing obvious facies-controlled character-
istic.
2.3.2. Occurrence frequency of dissolution-filling zones of
different oil-bearing grades
According to the occurrence frequency of karst zone at
sample points of different oil-bearing grades on cores, in the
oil-saturated and oil-rich cores, the karst grooves (caves)
filled zone takes dominance, with an occurrence frequency of
83.7%, followed by the cavernous dissolution zone with a
frequency of 16.3%. In the oil-immersed grade, the occur-
rence frequency of karst grooves (caves) filled zone is 68%,
that of the cavernous dissolution zone is 28.7%, and that of
the tight basement zone is 3.3%. In the oil spot grade, the
occurrence frequency of karst grooves (caves) development
zone further decreases to about 38.2%, frequency of cavern-
ous dissolution zone and tight basement zone are 47% and
14.8%. In the oil trace grade, the occurrence frequency of
tight basement zone is close to 100%. Therefore, with the

Fig. 5. Oil-bearing characteristics of MB1-2A sublayer at 2898–2906 m in Well M316.

 318 
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323
Fig. 6. Oil-bearing grades in major types of reservoirs.
Fig. 7. Occurrence frequency of karst zones of different oil-
bearing grades.
increase of karstification strength, the oil-bearing grade of
core gradually increases (Fig. 7).
2.3.3. Physical properties of dissolution-filling zones in
different oil-bearing grades
The statistics of physical properties of karst zones where
sample points locate on coring intervals in different oil-bear-
ing grades show: The grooves (caves) filled zone in the oil-
saturated and oil-rich grade cores has the best physical prop-
erties, with an average porosity of 21.2% and permeability of
34×103 μm2, followed by the cavernous dissolution zone, with
an average porosity of 14.5% and permeability of 1.3×103
μm2. The groove (cave) filled zone in the oil-immersed grade
cores has the best physical properties, with an average poros-
ity of 21.9% and permeability of 25.4×103 μm2, followed by
the cavernous dissolution zone, with an average porosity of
21.5% and permeability of 8.7×103 μm2. The groove (cave)
Fig. 8. Physical properties of karst zones of different oil-bearing grades.
 319 
filled zone in the oil-immersed grade cores also has the best
physical properties, with an average porosity of 22.8% and
permeability of 15.5×103 μm2. The cores of oil trace grade are
mainly discovered in the tight basement zone with poor
physical properties. In conclusion, in cores of different
oil-bearing grades, the groove (cave) filled zone always has
the best physical properties, followed by the cavernous disso-
lution zone, and the tight basement zone has the poorest
physical properties (Fig. 8).
2.3.4. Pore-throat structure of dissolution-filling zones of
different oil-bearing grades
In this study, five typical types of mercury intrusion curves
were identified, with pore-throat structure gradually worsen-
ing from type I to type V. According to the distribution fre-
quency of typical mercury injection curves in karst zones in
different oil-bearing grades (Table 1), the oil-bearing groove
(cave) filled zone in the oil-saturated and oil-rich cores is
dominated by type I and type II curves, while the cavernous
dissolution zone is dominated by type I, type II and type III
curves, with favorable pore-throat structure. In the
oil-immersed cores, the oil-bearing groove (cave) filled zone
is dominated by type I and type II curves, the cavernous dis-
solution zone is dominated by type I, type II and type III
curves, and the oil-free tight basement zone is dominated by
type III, type IV and type V curves. In the oil spot cores, the
oil-bearing groove (cave) filled zone is dominated by type I,
type II and type V, the cavernous dissolution zone is domi-
nated by type I and type III curves, and the oil-free tight
basement zone is dominated by type IV and V curves. In the
oil trace cores, the oil-bearing groove (cave) filled zone and
cavernous dissolution zone are characterized by type I curve,
while the oil-free tight basement zone is mainly characterized
by type IV and V curves.
3. Discussions
3.1. Main factors controlling oiliness
3.1.1. Determination of depositional microenvironment
and eogenetic karstification on the distribution of
macroscopic reservoir oiliness
According to the above statistics, the sedimentary microen-
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323

Table 1. Distribution frequency of typical mercury pressure well-developed groove (cave) filled zone and cavernous dis-
curves in dissolution-filling zone of different oil-bearing grades in solution zone, the karstification reformed zone has better
Mishrif Formation of H oilfield. physical properties and pore-throat structure, is filled with oil
Distribution frequency of evenly and often oil saturated and oil rich or oil immersed. In
Oil- contrast, the area reformed by karstification limitedly is al-
mercury injection curve/%
bearing Karst zone
Type Type Type Type Type ways dominated by tight basement zone, but in areas reformed
grade
I II III IV V by karstification, the groove (cave) filled zone and cavernous
Tight basement zone dissolution zone still have fairly good physical properties and
Oil rich Cavernous dissolution zone 14.3 28.6 57.1 0 0 pore-throat structure and higher oil content than the basement
Groove (cave) filled zone 36.1 61.1 0 0 2.8 zone, with uneven oil-bearing distribution, so they are often
Tight basement zone 0 0 25.0 25.0 50.0 oil spot and oil trace grades. In other words, the material basis
Oil im-
Cavernous dissolution zone 19.4 13.9 58.3 2.8 5.6 of reservoir and karst development intensity are the major
mersed
Groove (cave) filled zone 44.6 38.6 7.2 1.2 8.4 factors determining the macroscopic distribution of reservoir
Tight basement zone 0 0 13.6 18.2 68.2 oiliness.
Oil
Cavernous dissolution zone 34.3 10.0 44.3 0 11.4 3.1.2. Improvement of pore-throat structure is the
spot
Groove (cave) filled zone 56.7 24.5 5.7 1.9 11.3 decisive factor of the micro oil-bearing difference of reservoir
Tight basement zone 0 0 0 33.3 66.7
Oil Based on observation of cores and thin sections at sample
Cavernous dissolution zone 100.0 0 0 0 0
trace points and statistics of basic data, it is found that a great dif-
Groove (cave) filled zone 100.0 0 0 0 0
ference in oiliness would occur in the case of similar lithology
vironment is the basic factor determining the macro distribu- and physical properties. For example, the samples taken from
tion of oil-bearing property in reservoirs of Mishrif Formation 3 060.38 m and 3 061.38 m in Well N137 are both bioclastic
in H oilfield. wackestone with a porosity of about 11%13% and perme-
In the grainstone, packstone and other relatively high-en- ability of (23)×103 μm2, with little difference. But the oili-
ergy deposits, the rich primary intergranular pores provide ness observation shows the core at 3 060.38 m is oil rich and
favorable material basis for later reformation by karst water or oil saturated, and the core at 3 061.38 m is only oil spot grade.
oil and gas filling, so beach deposits have a higher oil content Further microscopic observation reveals dissolution is more
than low-energy deposits such as interbank and open sea. The intense at 3 060.38 m, giving rise to a largenumber of intra-
eogenetic karstification also controls the reservoir oiliness granular pores, moldic pore, intergranular pores, so the overall
strongly. Under the influence of facies-controlled keogenetic pore-throat structure is better (Fig. 9a). At 3061.38 m, the
karstification, areas with different karst development intensity, pores include a small number of intragranular dissolution
including the groove (cave) filled zone, cavernous dissolution pores and a large number of matrix micropores few micro-
zone and tight basement zone, are formed. In intervals with scopically visible, and the measured porosity reaches 12.9%,

Fig. 9. Macro and micro characteristics of same rock type samples with oil-bearing difference.
 320 
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323
Table 2. Comparison of physical properties and pore-throat structure parameters of sample points in coring intervals of Well N137.
Porosity/ Permeability/
Depth/m Lithology
% 103 μm2
3 060.38 Bioclastic wackestone 11.1 3.08
3 061.38 Bioclastic wackestone 12.9 2.01
which further reflect the poor-pore throat structure (Fig. 9b). It
is also confirmed by the mercury intrusion experiment results.
All the pore-throat structure parameters of this sample point
are worse than those at 3 060.38 m (Table 2), which indicates
the pore-throat structure is the decisive factor affecting
oil-bearing property microscopically. Although the later ce-
mentation would have a destructive effect on pores and throats
formed previously, as the Mishrif Formation in H oilfield fea-
tures strong dissolution and weak cementation, cementation
has less effect on its pore-throat structure[32]. Therefore, the
eogenetic karstification is undoubtedly the most critical factor
for the improvement of pore-throat structure on the basis of
primary deposition.
3.2. Genetic model of reservoir development and oil-
bearing difference
Based on the above analysis, it is concluded that the forma-
tion of reservoir space in Mishrif Formation of H oilfield is
mainly controlled by sedimentary microfacies and eogenetic
karstification; whereas the reservoir quality and pore-throat
structure directly influence the oiliness of reservoir, resulting
in the oil-bearing grade differences and uneven distribution of
oil. Thus, the genetic model of reservoir development and
oil-bearing difference is established (Fig. 10).
Specifically, at the end of cyclic short-term deposition of
several beaches in the open platform, the relatively high part
of beaches exposed for a short period due to the fall of relative
sea level. Therefore, packstone, grainstone and other rela-
tively high-energy rocks were subjected to early selective
dissolution, forming cavernous dissolution zone; while the
low interbank sea and open sea didn’t have exposure condi-
tions, but were suitable habitat for burrowing organisms,
therefore, organism burrows are common in wackestone, mic-
rite limestone and other low-energy rocks (Fig. 10a). In the
subsequent mid-term regression, the previously deposited
shallow buried strata exposed again, and grainstone and pack-
stone were reformed again on the basis of the previous disso-
lution, forming caves and grooves that were filled with plastic
breccia, loose carbonate sediments and biological debris later.
Moreover, the organism burrows and fractures in the wack-
estone and other low-energy rocks acting as channels of karst
water were reformed by karstification and enlarged due to
dissolution, even connecting the upper and lower beaches
with higher porosity and permeability in local parts. Some
parts with relatively higher porosity and permeability also
ended with the cavernous feature as a result of selective dis-
solution (Fig. 10b). With another mid-term transgression-re-
gression cycle taking place, the above processes occurred
repeatedly, multiple mid-term cycles overlapped, finally giv-
 321 
Displacement Median Mean throat Mercury withdrawal
pressure/MPa pressure/MPa radius/μm efficiency/%
0.42 2.32 0.303 0.395
0.80 3.12 0.226 0.383
ing rise to the frequent occurrence of eogenetic karstification
vertically (Fig. 10c, 10d). In the burial stage, when the crude
oil entered into the reservoirs after secondary migration, as the
Mishrif Formation was well connected due to eogenetic kars-
tification, the whole formation was oil-bearing overall. But
the difference of pore-throat structure in different rocks
caused by karstification led to the different oil-bearing grades.
With more groove (cave) filled zone and cavernous dissolu-
tion zone and favorable pore-throat structure, the grainstone
and packstone are often higher in oil-bearing grade, appearing
as oil richoil saturated and oil immersed. In the wackestone
and micrite limestone, due to the general poor pore-throat
structure of basement, crude oil only charged into high-angle
grooves and a few cavernous dissolution zones formed by
burrows, generally forming oil spots, oil traces or even
oil-free parts (Fig. 10e).
This study preliminarily clarified that the favorable sedi-
mentary microfacies and eogenetic karstification are two key
factors determining the reservoir oiliness of Mishrif Forma-
tion in H oilfield. Both of them are indispensable. Compared
with paleogeomorphologically lower beaches, the higher ones
have better original pore-throat structure and homogeneity
after being washed more fully and sorted better, which is more
favorable for the full combination of later eogenetic karstifi-
cation. Thus, in the later study of the plane distribution of
effective reservoirs, the area where high beaches overlap with
the present structural high parts should be the area with most
developed effective reservoirs, which is classified as the type I
area; the area where low beaches overlap with the present
structural high parts is classified as the type II area of effec-
tive reservoir.
4. Conclusions
The coring intervals of Mishrif Formation have strong oili-
ness heterogeneity, and can be divided into 4 grades, oil rich,
oil immersed, oil spot, and oil trace. The general oiliness is
high.
The sedimentary microenvironment is the basis of the for-
mation of original reservoir space. In a relatively high-energy
beach, more high-quality primary pore throats would be
formed due to sufficient washing, as a result, it often has
higher oil content than low-energy non-beach.
The improvement of local pore-throat structure caused by
eogenetic karstification is the decisive factor leading to the
micro oil-bearing difference of reservoir. In cores of different
oil-bearing grades, the higher the karstification intensity, the
better the pore-throat structure, and the higher the oil content
will be, which directly lead to the oiliness heterogeneity on
core scale.
 ZHAO Limin et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2019, 46(2): 314–323

Fig. 10. Genetic model of reservoir development and oil-bearing difference of Mishrif Formation in H oilfield.

The area where the present structurally high part superim-
poses with relatively high-energy beaches has the greatest oil
potential and is the area where effective reservoir is most de-
veloped.
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