Dating and characterizing carbonate rocks in Upper Permian reef-dolostone reservoir systems in Sichuan Basin, southwest China: implications for porosity evolution

Large gas fields are hosted in Upper Permian reef-dolostone bodies in Sichuan Basin, southwest China, among which the Puguang gasfield is the largest marine-carbonate gas system in China. The reservoir rocks are mainly composed of intensively dolomitized sponge-reefs constructed within platform margin reef facies in northern Sichuan Basin. Although major reservoir spaces consist of intercrystal pores, dissolved pores and vugs, the knowledge regarding the evolution of porosities is still limited. Using multiple methods, this study focuses on characterising different phases of carbonates (calcite and dolomite) to understand the dolomitization model and porosity evolution of the Upper Permian Panlongdong reef cropped out in northeastern Sichuan Basin. Two-dimensional high-resolution visualization of element contents in reef dolostones was provided by synchrotron-radiation Micro X-ray fluorescence elemental mapping. O and Sr isotope analysis was carried out to trace the nature of fluids during dolomitization. Laser ablation ICP-MS U-Pb dating was performed on dolomite minerals and secondary calcite cements. Our results suggest that: (1) dolomitization of the reef occurred in the early Middle Triassic (~245 Ma) due to the downward reflux of hypersaline seawater rich in Mg²⁺, accompanied by a significant increase in porosity because of the selective dissolution of low-Mg calcites; (2) in the Late Triassic, continental collision between South and North China plates induced uplifting and formation of a large quantity of (micro)fractures in northern South China, followed by Sr-depleted freshwater passing through the reef, leading to precipitation of secondary calcite cements (~206 Ma).