Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil

Sofia Alves Fornero; John M. Millett; Evandro Fernandes de Lima; Candida Menezes de Jesus; Leandro Arrais Bevilaqua; Gabriel Medeiros Marins

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378

Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil

Sofia Alves Fornero^* (Corresponding Author), John M. Millett, Evandro Fernandes de Lima, Candida Menezes de Jesus, Leandro Arrais Bevilaqua, Gabriel Medeiros Marins

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Sill intrusions may play a significant role in the development of petroleum systems in sedimentary basins by promoting maturation of source rocks, influencing fluid migration and acting as reservoirs, traps, and seals for hydrocarbon accumulations. Within this study, we present a novel approach to interpreting geophysical borehole data for a ca. 174 m thick sill from the Parnaíba Basin revealing new insights into both the emplacement mechanisms and impacts of the sill on hydrocarbon migration and trapping. High-resolution ultrasonic and microresistivity borehole image logs were integrated with conventional log data, petrography of eight side wall cores and total gas data recorded during drilling. The petrographic analysis revealed finer crystalline dolerite at the top and bottom layers of the sill while the upper central portion revealed coarser crystalline gabbroic facies, associated with anomalies in gamma ray, neutron porosity, sonic and geochemical log responses. From borehole image logs we interpreted key facies units including massive, fractured, cooling jointed and layered dolerite along with clear evidence for layers containing diverse inclusions interpreted as enclave structures. The integration and correlation of these data with analogue studies allowed the interpretation of gradational cooling with magmatic differentiation, partially melted host rock linked to sulphide production and organic matter maturation, mafic microgranular enclaves related to mingling processes of magma recharge, banding layers related to cumulate zones, and intense cooling fractures in the central sill body. An interval of ca. 44 m at the top of the sill with notably less jointing appears to be responsible for sealing the gas underneath, whilst the fractured central portion of the sill has enabled gas migration evidenced by increased gas signatures. In addition, this work also reveals for the first-time image log evidence for magma mingling and indications of assimilation and anatexis processes within the Parnaíba Basin. This study has important implications for improving the understanding of emplacement mechanisms of thick parallel layer intrusions and their implications for fluid flow in sedimentary basins worldwide.

Original language	English
Article number	106378
Number of pages	22
Journal	Marine and Petroleum Geology
Volume	155
Early online date	21 Jun 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378
Publication status	Published - Sept 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank Petrobras S.A. oil company and Petroleum National Agency (ANP) for providing facilities and research data. Sofia A. Fornero especially wishes to thank Léo A. Hartmann, Antônio Carlos de Freitas Nascimento, João Marinho de Morais Neto and Ivo Trosdtorf Junior for the detailed, constructive comments and provided facilities that helped to improve the quality of the paper. Finally, the authors thank to anonymous reviewers for the excellent suggestions which collaborated, significantly, to the present version of this work.

Data Availability Statement

The authors do not have permission to share data.

Keywords

Borehole image logs
Dolerite sill
Fluid migration
Magma mingling
Parnaíba basin

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

Fornero, S. A., Millett, J. M., Fernandes de Lima, E., Menezes de Jesus, C., Bevilaqua, L. A., & Marins, G. M. (2023). Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 155, Article 106378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378

Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil. / Fornero, Sofia Alves (Corresponding Author); Millett, John M.; Fernandes de Lima, Evandro et al.
In: Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 155, 106378, 09.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Fornero, SA, Millett, JM, Fernandes de Lima, E, Menezes de Jesus, C, Bevilaqua, LA & Marins, GM 2023, 'Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil', Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 155, 106378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378

Fornero SA, Millett JM, Fernandes de Lima E, Menezes de Jesus C, Bevilaqua LA, Marins GM. Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2023 Sept;155:106378. Epub 2023 Jun 21. doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106378

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title = "Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parna{\'i}ba Basin petroleum system, Brazil",

abstract = "Sill intrusions may play a significant role in the development of petroleum systems in sedimentary basins by promoting maturation of source rocks, influencing fluid migration and acting as reservoirs, traps, and seals for hydrocarbon accumulations. Within this study, we present a novel approach to interpreting geophysical borehole data for a ca. 174 m thick sill from the Parna{\'i}ba Basin revealing new insights into both the emplacement mechanisms and impacts of the sill on hydrocarbon migration and trapping. High-resolution ultrasonic and microresistivity borehole image logs were integrated with conventional log data, petrography of eight side wall cores and total gas data recorded during drilling. The petrographic analysis revealed finer crystalline dolerite at the top and bottom layers of the sill while the upper central portion revealed coarser crystalline gabbroic facies, associated with anomalies in gamma ray, neutron porosity, sonic and geochemical log responses. From borehole image logs we interpreted key facies units including massive, fractured, cooling jointed and layered dolerite along with clear evidence for layers containing diverse inclusions interpreted as enclave structures. The integration and correlation of these data with analogue studies allowed the interpretation of gradational cooling with magmatic differentiation, partially melted host rock linked to sulphide production and organic matter maturation, mafic microgranular enclaves related to mingling processes of magma recharge, banding layers related to cumulate zones, and intense cooling fractures in the central sill body. An interval of ca. 44 m at the top of the sill with notably less jointing appears to be responsible for sealing the gas underneath, whilst the fractured central portion of the sill has enabled gas migration evidenced by increased gas signatures. In addition, this work also reveals for the first-time image log evidence for magma mingling and indications of assimilation and anatexis processes within the Parna{\'i}ba Basin. This study has important implications for improving the understanding of emplacement mechanisms of thick parallel layer intrusions and their implications for fluid flow in sedimentary basins worldwide.",

keywords = "Borehole image logs, Dolerite sill, Fluid migration, Magma mingling, Parna{\'i}ba basin",

author = "Fornero, {Sofia Alves} and Millett, {John M.} and {Fernandes de Lima}, Evandro and {Menezes de Jesus}, Candida and Bevilaqua, {Leandro Arrais} and Marins, {Gabriel Medeiros}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Petrobras S.A. oil company and Petroleum National Agency (ANP) for providing facilities and research data. Sofia A. Fornero especially wishes to thank L{\'e}o A. Hartmann, Ant{\^o}nio Carlos de Freitas Nascimento, Jo{\~a}o Marinho de Morais Neto and Ivo Trosdtorf Junior for the detailed, constructive comments and provided facilities that helped to improve the quality of the paper. Finally, the authors thank to anonymous reviewers for the excellent suggestions which collaborated, significantly, to the present version of this work. ",

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AU - Bevilaqua, Leandro Arrais

AU - Marins, Gabriel Medeiros

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Petrobras S.A. oil company and Petroleum National Agency (ANP) for providing facilities and research data. Sofia A. Fornero especially wishes to thank Léo A. Hartmann, Antônio Carlos de Freitas Nascimento, João Marinho de Morais Neto and Ivo Trosdtorf Junior for the detailed, constructive comments and provided facilities that helped to improve the quality of the paper. Finally, the authors thank to anonymous reviewers for the excellent suggestions which collaborated, significantly, to the present version of this work.

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N2 - Sill intrusions may play a significant role in the development of petroleum systems in sedimentary basins by promoting maturation of source rocks, influencing fluid migration and acting as reservoirs, traps, and seals for hydrocarbon accumulations. Within this study, we present a novel approach to interpreting geophysical borehole data for a ca. 174 m thick sill from the Parnaíba Basin revealing new insights into both the emplacement mechanisms and impacts of the sill on hydrocarbon migration and trapping. High-resolution ultrasonic and microresistivity borehole image logs were integrated with conventional log data, petrography of eight side wall cores and total gas data recorded during drilling. The petrographic analysis revealed finer crystalline dolerite at the top and bottom layers of the sill while the upper central portion revealed coarser crystalline gabbroic facies, associated with anomalies in gamma ray, neutron porosity, sonic and geochemical log responses. From borehole image logs we interpreted key facies units including massive, fractured, cooling jointed and layered dolerite along with clear evidence for layers containing diverse inclusions interpreted as enclave structures. The integration and correlation of these data with analogue studies allowed the interpretation of gradational cooling with magmatic differentiation, partially melted host rock linked to sulphide production and organic matter maturation, mafic microgranular enclaves related to mingling processes of magma recharge, banding layers related to cumulate zones, and intense cooling fractures in the central sill body. An interval of ca. 44 m at the top of the sill with notably less jointing appears to be responsible for sealing the gas underneath, whilst the fractured central portion of the sill has enabled gas migration evidenced by increased gas signatures. In addition, this work also reveals for the first-time image log evidence for magma mingling and indications of assimilation and anatexis processes within the Parnaíba Basin. This study has important implications for improving the understanding of emplacement mechanisms of thick parallel layer intrusions and their implications for fluid flow in sedimentary basins worldwide.

AB - Sill intrusions may play a significant role in the development of petroleum systems in sedimentary basins by promoting maturation of source rocks, influencing fluid migration and acting as reservoirs, traps, and seals for hydrocarbon accumulations. Within this study, we present a novel approach to interpreting geophysical borehole data for a ca. 174 m thick sill from the Parnaíba Basin revealing new insights into both the emplacement mechanisms and impacts of the sill on hydrocarbon migration and trapping. High-resolution ultrasonic and microresistivity borehole image logs were integrated with conventional log data, petrography of eight side wall cores and total gas data recorded during drilling. The petrographic analysis revealed finer crystalline dolerite at the top and bottom layers of the sill while the upper central portion revealed coarser crystalline gabbroic facies, associated with anomalies in gamma ray, neutron porosity, sonic and geochemical log responses. From borehole image logs we interpreted key facies units including massive, fractured, cooling jointed and layered dolerite along with clear evidence for layers containing diverse inclusions interpreted as enclave structures. The integration and correlation of these data with analogue studies allowed the interpretation of gradational cooling with magmatic differentiation, partially melted host rock linked to sulphide production and organic matter maturation, mafic microgranular enclaves related to mingling processes of magma recharge, banding layers related to cumulate zones, and intense cooling fractures in the central sill body. An interval of ca. 44 m at the top of the sill with notably less jointing appears to be responsible for sealing the gas underneath, whilst the fractured central portion of the sill has enabled gas migration evidenced by increased gas signatures. In addition, this work also reveals for the first-time image log evidence for magma mingling and indications of assimilation and anatexis processes within the Parnaíba Basin. This study has important implications for improving the understanding of emplacement mechanisms of thick parallel layer intrusions and their implications for fluid flow in sedimentary basins worldwide.

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Emplacement dynamics of a complex thick mafic intrusion revealed by borehole image log facies analyses: Implications for fluid migration in the Parnaíba Basin petroleum system, Brazil

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

Access to Document

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