Shrub and pore type classification: Petrography of travertine shrubs from the Ballık-Belevi area (Denizli, SW Turkey)

Abstract

Petrographical and petrophysical properties of the Turkish Ballık-Belevi travertine shrubs demonstrate the necessity of reservoir oriented classifications for shrub-related lithotypes and associated pore types. The presented shrub-related lithotype classification incorporates morphology, size and fabric, which are linked to specific pore-types and sizes. The travertines show highly complex pore networks, as observed from Computed Tomography reconstructions, making them of interest for the development and optimization of pore characterization methodologies and techniques, following an upscaling approach. Porosity (3–15%) and permeability (0–505 mD) strongly vary for the Ballık-Belevi travertines. The highest porosities and permeabilities are measured for horizontal samples dominated by slightly dissolution enlarged intershrub and interdigit growth framework porosity, mostly found for dendritic shrubs. The presented shrub and pore-type classification can be applied to shrubs worldwide. Studying outcrop analogues of continental carbonates helps to better understand heterogeneities, lateral variability and properties of Pre-Salt Cretaceous continental carbonate reservoirs, offshore Brazil and Angola. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA