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Petrographic analysis of carbonate reservoirs provides description of depositional facies, reconstruction of diagenetic history, and documentation of the porosity system.

Petrographic analysis of carbonate reservoirs provides description of depositional facies, reconstruction of diagenetic history, and documentation of the porosity system.

Depositional facies of reservoir rocks can be inferred on a microscale if diagenesis has not obliterated original carbonate textures. Petrographers recognize a spectrum of original textures that range from mostly carbonate mud (low energy environments) through mostly sand-sized or larger carbonate grains (high energy environments). In fact, this spectrum of textures is the basis for the two most commonly used carbonate classifications, those of Folk<ref name=pt05r56>Folk, R. L., 1959, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1957-60/data/pg/0043/0001/0000/0001.htm Practical petrographic classification of limestones]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 43, p. 1–38.</ref> and Dunham<ref name=pt05r50>Dunham, R. J., 1962, Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture, in Ham, W. E., ed., Classification of Carbonate Rocks: AAPG Memoir 1, p. 108–121.</ref>, summarized in [[:file:thin-section-analysis_fig2.png|Figure 2]]. In certain instances, variation in reservoir quality (porosity and permeability) can be explained on the basis of textural variation related to distribution of depositional facies within the carbonate reservoir.

Depositional facies of reservoir rocks can be inferred on a microscale if diagenesis has not obliterated original carbonate textures. Petrographers recognize a spectrum of original textures that range from mostly carbonate mud (low energy environments) through mostly sand-sized or larger carbonate grains (high energy environments). In fact, this spectrum of textures is the basis for the two most commonly used carbonate classifications, those of Folk<ref name=pt05r56>Folk, R. L., 1959, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1957-60/data/pg/0043/0001/0000/0001.htm Practical petrographic classification of limestones]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 43, p. 1–38.</ref> and Dunham<ref name=pt05r50>Dunham, R. J., 1962, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/carbona2/data/a038/a038/0001/0100/0108.htm Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture], in Ham, W. E., ed., Classification of Carbonate Rocks: AAPG Memoir 1, p. 108–121.</ref>, summarized in [[:file:thin-section-analysis_fig2.png|Figure 2]]. In certain instances, variation in reservoir quality (porosity and permeability) can be explained on the basis of textural variation related to distribution of depositional facies within the carbonate reservoir.

Diagenetic history of carbonate reservoir rocks is important to reconstruct because it influences the volume, size, shape, and distribution of pores. Diagenesis may involve porosity-reducing cementation, porosity-enhancing dissolution, and recrystallization, which may result in either reduction or enhancement of porosity. An important goal of carbonate petrography is to establish the sequence of such events, or paragenesis, of the reservoir. Careful reconstruction of reservoir paragenesis can provide a perspective of the porosity system at the time of hydrocarbon accumulation, thereby enhancing the geologist's understanding of how reserves may be distributed relative to diagenetic facies.

Diagenetic history of carbonate reservoir rocks is important to reconstruct because it influences the volume, size, shape, and distribution of pores. Diagenesis may involve porosity-reducing cementation, porosity-enhancing dissolution, and recrystallization, which may result in either reduction or enhancement of porosity. An important goal of carbonate petrography is to establish the sequence of such events, or paragenesis, of the reservoir. Careful reconstruction of reservoir paragenesis can provide a perspective of the porosity system at the time of hydrocarbon accumulation, thereby enhancing the geologist's understanding of how reserves may be distributed relative to diagenetic facies.