Geochemical and petrographic analysis reveals distinct early and late carbonate cementation phases in tight sandstone, indicating fluid and temperature controls during burial diagenesis.
To elucidate the formation mechanisms of carbonate cement in the Chang 8 tight sandstone reservoir of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation (Jiyuan Area), the types, paragenetic stages, and genesis of the cement were investigated via thin-section petrography, carbon–oxygen isotope analysis, and fluid inclusion microthermometry. Results indicate two distinct generations of carbonate cement within the Chang 8 reservoir: early micritic calcite cement and late sparry to coarsely crystalline ferroan calcite cement. The late ferroan calcite cement exhibits δ13CPDB values spanning from −7.02‰ to −12.51‰ and δ18OPDB values ranging from −18.81‰ to −30.24‰. The early micritic calcite cement is interpreted to have precipitated from supersaturated alkaline pore fluids during the shallow burial stage (Stage A of early diagenesis) at the close of the Late Triassic. Conversely, the late ferroan calcite cement formed during the Early Cretaceous at temperatures between 100 °C and 110 °C, and its genesis is closely linked to organic-acid-related fluids. These findings elucidate the characteristics of carbonate cements across different stages and have significant implications for predicting the distribution of high-quality reservoirs and for providing guidance for future exploration and development.
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Cai et al. (2026) studied this question.
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