The addition
of vuggy
pore space to interparticle
pore space alters the petrophysical characteristics by altering
the manner in which the pore space is connected, all pore space
being connected in some fashion. Separate
vugs are defined as pore space that is interconnected only through
the interparticle porosity. Touching
vugs are defined as pore space that forms an interconnected
pore system independent of the interparticle porosity (Fig. 6).
Figure
6. Geological/petrophysical classification of vuggy pore space
based on vug interconnection. The volume of separate-vug pore
space is important for characterizing the pore-size distribution.
Separate-Vug
Pore Space
Separate-vug
pore space is defined as pore space that is 1) either within particles
or is significantly larger than the particle size (generally >2
x particle size), and 2) is interconnected only through the interparticle
porosity (Fig. 6). Separate vugs are typically
fabric-selective in their origin. Intrafossil pore space, such as
the living chambers of a gastropod shell; moldic
pore space, such as dissolved grains (oomolds) or dolomite crystals
(dolomolds); and intragrain
microporosity are examples of intraparticle, fabric-selective
separate vugs. Molds of evaporite crystals and fossil molds found
in mud-dominated
fabrics are examples of fabric-selective separate vugs that
are significantly larger than the particle size. In mud-dominated
fabrics, shelter pore space is typically much larger than the particle
size and is classified as separate-vug porosity whereas in grain-dominated
fabrics, shelter pore space is related to particle size and
is considered intergrain porosity.
In grain-dominated
fabrics, extensive selective dissolution of grains may cause
grain boundaries to dissolve, producing composite molds. These composite
molds may have the petrophysical characteristics of separate
vugs. However, if dissolution of the grain boundaries is extensive,
the pore space may be interconnected well enough to be classified
as solution-enlarged interparticle or touching-vug
porosity.
Grain-dominated
fabrics may contain grains with intragrain
microporosity (Pittman 1971). Even though the pore size is small,
intragrain microporosity is classified as a type of separate
vug because it is located within the particles of the rock.
Mud-dominated
fabrics may also contain grains with microporosity, but they
present no unique petrophysical condition because of the similar
pore sizes between the microporosity in the mud matrix and in the
grains.
Touching-Vug
Pore Space
Touching-vug
pore systems are defined as pore space that is (1) significantly
larger than the particle size and (2) forms an interconnected pore
system of significant extent (Fig. 6). Touching
vugs are typically nonfabric selective in origin. Cavernous, breccia,
fracture, and solution-enlarged fracture pore types commonly form
an interconnected pore system on a reservoir scale and are typical
touching-vug pore types. Fenestral pore space is commonly connected
on a reservoir scale and is grouped with touching vugs because the
pores are normally much larger than the grain size (Major et al.
1990).
Fracture porosity
is included as a touching-vug
pore type because fracture porosity is an important contributor
to permeability
in many carbonate reservoirs and, therefore, must be included
in any petrophysical classification of pore space. Although fracturing
is often considered to be of tectonic origin and thus not a part
of carbonate geology, diagenetic processes common to carbonate
reservoirs, such as karsting (Kerans 1989), can produce extensive
fracture porosity. The focus of this classification is on petrophysical
properties rather than genesis, and must include fracture porosity
as a pore type irrespective of its origin.