Clay Minerals (1989) 24, 339-374

C L A Y D I A G E N E S I S A N D OIL M I G R A T I O N I N
B R E N T G R O U P S A N D S T O N E S OF
N W H U T T O N F I E L D , U K N O R T H SEA

I. C. S C O T C H M A N , L. H . J O H N E S AND R . S. M I L L E R *

Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Co., Amoco House, West Gate, Ealing, London W5 1XL, and *Reservoirs Inc.,
115lC Brittmore Road, Houston, Texas 77043, USA

(Received 10 June 1988; revised 15 February 1989)

A BST R A C T: The NW Hutton Field lies within the Brent Province of the East Shetland Basin
and is located in Block 211/27, 130 km NE of the Shetland Islands. Oil of 37~API, the source of
which is the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation, is reservoired in Brent Group
sandstones in a complex, highly faulted and tilted fault-block structure at an average depth of
12000 ft subsea. The Brent Group Reservoir shows a complex diagenetic sequence. Early
calcite concretions showing partial replacement by siderite occur in the marine-facies
sandstones of the Broom and Rannoch Formations. The fluvio-deltaic and marine-facies
sandstones of the Etive, Ness and Tarbert Formations show a different diagenetic sequence
(post-dating carbonate cementation) of secondary porosity formation by K-feldspar dissolution,
followed by quartz overgrowth cementation and kaolinite and iUite authigenesis. Development
of kaolinite was concentrated in the crestal areas of the structure while both illite and quartz
cements increase with depth in the downflank areas. The marine sandstones of the Broom
Formation are the exception, being kaolinite-rich with little illite even below the oil-water
contact. An early phase of oil migration into the structure appears to have been concurrent with
the later stages of quartz overgrowth and clay mineral cementation, the later main phase of
migration causing diagenesis to cease in the crestal part of the field. In the down-flank areas illite
cementation appears to have ceased soon after the main migration of hydrocarbon fluids into the
structure.

The N W Hutton Oilfield, discovered in 1973, provides some o f the deepest oil production
from Brent G r o u p sandstones in the U K sector of the N o r t h Sea (Scotchman & Johnes, 1989).
The field, located in Block 211/27 some 80 miles N E o f Shetland in the East Shetland Basin
(Fig. 1), lies at an average depth of 12000 ft subsea. The hydrocarbons, comprising a low-
G O R crude 0il o f average 37 ~ A P I gravity, are t r a p p e d in a complex Middle to U p p e r
Jurassic, SW-dipping, tilted fault-block structure formed by the re-activation and interaction
o f deep-seated N E - S W and N W - S E fault trends. The productive area o f the field is further
subdivided by N E - S W - t r e n d i n g sealing faults into four m a i n fault blocks (Fig. 2). A water-
bearing, upthrown fault block separates the field from the up-dip H u t t o n Oiltield lying at the
crest o f the major tilted fault-block system which is bounded to the east by the~ D u n l i n -
H u t t o n - N i n i a n fault system. Middle to U p p e r Jurassic Viking G r o u p shales comprising the
H e a t h e r and K i m m e r i d g e Clay F o r m a t i o n s drape the structure and are unconformably
overlain by Lower Cretaceous ValhaU F o r m a t i o n marls and shales.
O i l - w a t e r contact levels vary between the fault blocks, the eastern and central fault blocks
having a c o m m o n contact at 1 1 9 3 0 ft subsea, while in the western fault blocks the o i l - w a t e r
contact steps down from 12452 ft subsea in the inner fault block to 12934 ft subsea in the
9 1989 The Mineralogical Society
340 I. C. Scotchman et al.

0o IOE 2oE 3~
6~- "N

61o! io N

50 ~ N
0~ PE 2~ 3ON

~ BRENT PROVINCE
N 0 20 km
i I OIL FIELD

GAS FIELO

FIG. 1. Generalizedstructure map of the East Shetland Basin showingthe locationof the NW
Hutton Field.

outer block. Petrophysical and production data show a rapid decline in reservoir quality in
the western fault blocks at depths below 12000 ft subsea and, based on the 211/27-A28 well, a
productive limit has been defined at 12500 ft subsea. The eastern and central fault blocks
show a similar decline in reservoir quality with depth.
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 341

61" OB'N-

8'1" 04"N"

NW . ~LW.HUT'rON OiL Fmt.O , 2,e,~a.~.~z,eL-&l

( i~Lm~re~

12000- N~

~ 71.........l~l /// / I II
: "" O~L-W/k.TER COtiTR~" L-w~HE_R C~,TACT

Fro. 2. Simplified top Brent Group sandstone depth-structure map of the NW Hutton Field and
diagrammatic NW-SE cross-section showing the structural subdivision into the four productive
fault blocks.
342 L C. Scotchman et al.

Sedimentological and diagenetic studies were performed on the reservoir sandstones by

Reservoirs Inc. to determine the cause of the structural decline in reservoir quality.

SAMPLING AND TECHNIQUES

Reservoirs Inc. performed the detailed analyses on Brent Group sandstone cores from seven
wells in the NW Hutton Field, in terms of texture, mineralogy, diagenesis and pore-space
properties. Description of over 3400 ft of Brent Group core from the seven wells, detailing
lithology, grain size, physical and biogenic sedimentary structures, contacts and vertical
sequences was made to develop facies models and depositional environments for the
sandstones. A total of 224 samples was selected for petrographic screening by thin-section
analysis. Prior to sectioning, the samples were impregnated with blue-dyed epoxy at 1000 psi
to highlight pore space, the sections being stained with Alizarin Red-S dye for carbonate
mineral identification. All sections were screened by estimation of grain size, sorting, total
clay content, framework-grain and pore-fill mineralogy, and type of visible pore space. From
this screening process a total of 57 representative samples was selected for detailed
petrographic analysis, first by point-counting of 250 points to quantitatively determine
framework and pore-fill mineralogy and types of visible pore space.
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was undertaken on these 57 representative
samples to evaluate rock fabric, porosity type, and the type and arrangement of clay minerals
within the pore system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to provide quantitative
estimates of mineral composition including total clay and the relative abundances of
individual clay mineral species. Both a bulk and a < 5/~m clay fraction were analysed for
each of the 57 samples, the < 5 #m fraction being separated from the sample following bulk
mineral analysis, thus enabling semi-quantitative estimates of the relative proportions of the
clay minerals to be made. The results of these analyses are presented in Tables 1 to 3.

BRENT GROUP STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK AND

SEDIMENTOLOGY
The Brent Group sandstones in the NW Hutton Field average 400 ft in thickness and the
standard five-fold subdivision can be recognized (Deegan & Scull, 1977; Budding & Inglin,
1981 ; Challinor & Outlaw, 1981 ; Eynon, 1981 ; Brown et al., 1987). The coarse-grained basal
Broom Formation sandstones, interpreted by Brown et al. (1987) as an easterly-prograding,
shallow-marine fan delta system, form a distinct stratigraphic unit resting unconformably on
the Lower Jurassic Dunlin Group mudstones. Overlying the Broom Formation is the thick
regressive-transgressive clastic wedge of the main Brent Group sequence which has been
interpreted as a deltaic sequence prograding NE-wards off the Shetland Platform into the
East Shetland Basin (Richards et al., 1988).
The Rannoch and Etive Formations comprise predominantly marine, storm-influenced
barrier bar and coastal plain facies sediments (Brown et al., 1987). Distributary channel
facies sandstones commonly occur in the lower part of the Etive Formation. A transgressive-
lagoonal/marine shale facies occurs at the base of the Ness Formation and is overlain by a
thick development of fluvio-deltaic coastal plain sediments (Budding & Inglin, 1981). The
Ness Formation comprises coalescing distributary channel and crevasse-splay sandstones
intercalated with fine-grained overbank and lagoonal shaly facies. A transgressive marine
mudstone facies forming the Mid-Ness shale subdivides the Ness Formation. Underlying it is
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 343
a thin, transgressive-marine sheet sandstone while an overlying regressive-marine sheet
sandstone marks the return of shallow-water deposition. A marine shale incursion occurs at
the base of the Tarbert Formation and is overlain by regressive-marine sheet sandstones.
Reservoir-quality sandstone bodies comprise distributary channel sandstones, distributary
mouth bars, crevasse-splay lobes, transgressive- and marginal-marine sandstones and sub-
littoral sheet sandstone facies (Table 4). Non-reservoir facies include marine claystones,
lagoonal deposits and delta-plain overbank sediments (Table 4) which act primarily as
permeability barriers.
Reservoir zonation is based on the stratigraphic subdivision of the Brent Group, the
transgressive mudstones at the base of the Rannoch, Ness and Tarbert Formations, and the
Mid-Ness shale forming field-wide vertical permeability barriers. The lagoonal mudstones
and delta-plain overbank deposits allow further zonation of the Ness Formation.

Brent Group sandstone mineralogy and petrography

The Brent Group sandstones have a quartz-arenite composition and comprise a framework
of quartz grains with varying proportions of feldspar, mica and lithic fragments (Tables 1 to
3). Quartz overgrowths, calcite, siderite, kaolinite and illite are the main pore-filling
minerals.
The sandstones vary from very fine to coarse sand depending on the depositional facies.
Details of the petrography of the various depositional facies are presented in Table 5.

Porosity distribution
Three main types of pore space occur in the Brent Group sandstones: (i) intergranular
pores, (ii) secondary pores, and (iii) intercrystalline clay micropores. Of the three pore types,
the intergranular pores are the most significant in the storage and transmissibility of fluids,
with a thin-section point-count average of 9.5 vol%, ranging up to 18 vol%. Coarse-grained
distributary-channel sandstones with low clay content have the highest intergranular pore-
space content (average 12.9 vol%), resulting in large interconnected pores. Permeability is
therefore high and these sandstones have the best reservoir quality. The marine-bar facies
sandstones also contain abundant intergranular pores ranging from 4 to 16 vol% (average
10.4 vol%).
Secondary pores result from the partial or complete leaching of unstable grains such as
feldspar (Fig. 3d) in the sandstone framework and are present in all sandstones not cemented
by early calcite, ranging from 0 to 8 vol% (average 3.7 vol%). These pores are generally poorly
interconnected and only effectively enhance permeability and transmissibility when
connected with intergranular pores. Secondary porosity significantly promotes reservoir
quality in the Broom Formation due to the large-scale leaching of the feldspar present in these
sandstones.
The intercrystalline clay micropores are non-effective with respect to fluid transmission
due to their extremely small pore throats and high tortuosity and capillarity. Porosity in fine-
grained sandstones such as the Rannoch Formation is predominantly of this type,
particularly those with a high authigenic clay content. Here porosity is relatively high but
permeability is very low, this pore-type being associated primarily with illite, although in the
Broom Formation sandstones it is associated with kaolinite.
344 L C. Scotchman et al.

..=

L~

=
t"-

"= .~

i,+

('9

.o
,J=

~6
..=
~3

,-?.
~a

| | ++

".~ ~ ~ ~ .-~ '~

Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 345

~. ~g

~ 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 0
346 I . C . Scotchman et al.

"9.
.=.

"7.

Z
"9.
..=
~ 6 o ~ " ~ " " ~ " ~

- ~ ~ ~ ~

..=
~ ~ _. . . . ~ o 9 ~

"9.

b
"9.
N .=.

e4
m

| o~~ ~ ~ ~ ~o
=~
~
~
o
 Clay diagenesi~ and oil migration in Brent sandstones 347

~ o 6 6 6 6 6 ~ AA66
~

P+

~ 0 0 0 0 0 ~ ~ 0 0 ~O00 ~

++ ++
9 ~ ++~ + ++ + ~
++++++++++++3~+i+ ++~+|
"+ ~ 'm-+ + + + ~ + +
348 I . C . Scotchman et al.

a~ o ~ ~ I~ ~

~8

I llrl~llrllllafllr
?
o

t~

i
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 349

er r ~ ~ tr ~ ,~- r c.q ~ .~- ~ ~1~ ~ i/'~ [.,~ t-,q [,~ i"~-

~ ~ 6 ~ 6 I I I I ~ 6 ~s

+~

v.~

illl~liJllll~l~f ~Jlll

I~ltl~lrllllJll i i i~r

r~ ~ ~ .,..., ,...,
350 I . C . Scotchman et al.

~ O0
-.~ ~ : o

II II II II

III

e~

~.)

o=
~. fl H I[ H II

~rj

[-
H II H II u
i [-
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 351

TABLE4. Major facies in Brent Group Sandstones of NW Hutton.

RESERVOIR SANDSTONE FACIES

Distributary channel sandstones (10-50fi thick) that have limited lateral continuity and trend at high angles to
depositional strike.
Distributary mouth-bar(s) and associated delta-front sandstones (55-150 fi thick) which, due to a high,
nearshore, wave climate were partially to completely reworked (coalesced) along strike to form a laterally
continuous, arcuate-shaped, sand body representing a 'coastal barrier bar' fronting the delta.
Crevasse-splay lobe (mouth-bar) sandstones (lO-20ft thick) that are relatively thin and non-persistent but may
coalesce to produce 'sheet' sandstones which infill large expanses of the lagoon/bay.
Transgressive and regressive marginal-marine sandstones (10-20 fi thick) that exhibit good lateral continuity
and are associated with transgressions and renewed regressions across the delta.
Sub-littoral sheet sandstone (30-60fi thick) corresponding to the Broom Formation. Separate fan-delta from
overlying main Brent delta system.
NON-RESERVOIR DEPOSITIONAL FACIES (PERMEABILITY BARRIERS)
Shallow-marine silty claystones and siltstones which have a widespread areal distribution and were deposited
across the delta during marine transgressions.
Lagoon/bay silty claystones which typically overlie the distributary mouth bar ('coastal barrier bar')
sandstone and are interbedded with crevasse-splaylobes (mouth bars) and distributary channel sandstones..
Deltaplain overbank deposits which consist of silty claystone, siltstone, and coal and form lateral and vertical
permeability barriers between the interbedded distributary channel sandstones.

TABLE5. Sandstone petrography and texture.

Formation Facies Grain-size Sorting Comments

Broom Sub-littoral Coarse Poor

Rannoch Wave-dominated Veryfine Well Mica-rich
delta-front
Etive and Ness Distributary Coarse at base, Poor to well Fining upwards
channel very fine at top sequence
Etive and Ness Distributary Fine-medium Poor to well
mouth-bar (Ave. = medium)
Etive and Ness Transgressive Very fine medium Poor to well Variety of grain
marine-bar (Ave. -- fine) size variations in
vertical profile
Tarbert and Ness Regressive Very fine-medium Poor to well Coarsening upwards
marine-bar (Ave. -- fine) sequence
Ness Crevasse-splay Very fine-medium Moderate to well Coarsening upwards
lobe (Ave. = fine) sequence

Porosity within the N W Hutton structure shows a decline with structural depth, which is
particularly evident from the western fault blocks. Core data from the Etive Formation
sandstones show an average decline of 0.46%/100 ft from an average of 20.7% in crestal well
211/27-A 1 at 11130 ft subsea to 12.7% in downflank well 211/27-A28 at 12 870 ft subsea (Fig.
4). Etive Formation core permeability shows a rapid decline from a n average 296 md in the
crestal well to an average of < 1 m D beneath the downflank productive limit of 12500 ft
subsea (Fig. 4). Core permeability from the whole field shows a more rapid decline below
about 12000 ft subsea (Fig. 5).
352 L C. Scotchman et al.

FIG. 3. (a) and (b) Etive Formation sandstones showing the down-structure increase in quartz
overgrowth cementation. Intergranular pores have only partially been reduced in size by quartz
overgrowth development (arrows) at the crest of the structure in well 211/27-A19 (a) (~b = 16.2~,
k = 123 roD) at 11 549 ft subsea. In downflank well 211/27-A28 (b) (~b = 13.7~, k = 1.03 mD) at
12 924 ft subsea extensive quartz overgrowth cement has greatly reduced and isolated the
intergranular pores (P) and has partially infilled secondary pores (Ps). 128 x. (c) Broom
Formation sandstones in well 211/27~ at 12 238 ft subsea (~b= 2-5~, k = 0.03 mD) showing
calcite (C) and siderite (S) filling intergranular pore space and partially replacing the margins of
framework grains. Siderite appears to be replacing calcite. Note the open framework grain
fabric indicating early calcite cementation pre-dating compaction. 128 x. (d) Broom Formation
sandstone in well 211/27-A28 at 13 030 ft subsea (~ = 14.8%, k = 1.6 mD). Feldspar (F) has been
preferentially leached along crystallographic axes resulting in minor secondary porosity.
Adjacent intergranular pores are filled with diagenetic kaolinite (K), siderite (S) and quartz
overgrowth (Qo). Leaching of a former framework grain has resulted in secondary pore space
(Ps) being created. 128 x.
 i
J

353
e,I i~1

/ ~' !
/ -~1 ~r.,, ~'~

~l~ ~1~
I
i ~ l~
<;

i-ll
I
I,. t~

H ~ |
I11

<
i
~.~

_o

g
a~
~ N

N.~

! o ~ o ~ .~
w

z ~ ---.. 0 9

0 b 0

i | o
oo ~ o

(SS(]^J. J.NN=II H l d 3 a
354 I . C . Scotchman et al.

10000 1000 100 10 1.0 0".1 0.01

11000 hillll i i lullll i i hillll I , lililll i I llllill I I Jill''' i i

§ .,.++ + +
§ +

++.,.,. i , k ~ . , , ++.,,.++,,t.+%
,,,,,,.,,.+ *'+, + ++* * + *+1 +++++
I.++ 9~ i +-+..
§
++: N." . +*+ .,I,
9 +
§

+ " ~ 4 1 +§ + + *
.II. <..+ 41,1. ..m.Nl+ +
§ 411 I ~ +'it. +..t. + §
I + 4. +
11500 I + +++,,~*O++=++
+~i ' ++ ...,+.=
+"+ ++;+ ++++ + .it,

I 9 + 9 41* + *.. +. § 2 4 79
I ~4a..,~t..,t.~ § ' ~ ' 4 ' + § 'r'''e % + #§
I ++Nil; 'Hi++ 4,+ e + t,, + + .t +
I ++ e.i..ii$.~r .r § -+ u + +
i +e. + + "~'~ _§ +. "+*j. p
, ,,,..,m.,r?z"+:+++%:p,,Z+,.++,,+:,,,,..,,,,<+m +
I I~" . . <,ti+ _ ++~..$~ ~ I ' ~ , . ~ § +.,,.++ +§247 +~, +
11930' EAST/CENTRAL
l--t -- ---'+"
+,. + ~ + ~ + ~ - = 27 <
- , . + ." z.-.. .+.- - - - +,
F+" v ' N ' + + FAULT BLOCKS
+2000 ~ +.,.+*,, ,*+,+.,t,.,.+ ~ § ++="," ++.,.1 ~ §
+ + .~ql:+ ~'4~+ r "+~-§§ § +
X -4 +++++
+ §
a++,,.."+~,,.,.t+i,7.+2
+ "-IK + I~ -','ql,r
~ +.++,,,++
+ § ~
++""
e;% :t ++,It.
,_,.
~. ~ t a.+++., , ~ , *
9" ~ +.* § + ++++++, +§ + .,-

\. . ........ ..-.-....
_~,_., e+ + + Ir +
@ § 12452' INNER WEST
.+wI- + A,-~-:,,
, +,§ FAULT BLOCK
12500- S\\ .
+++ . . . . .
+ L
++§ d ~ l l l . a " ++
RAN ~" \ ~ ' * + ++
MAXIMUM
PERMEABILITY N ' " %+++ t~++++ . . "

.w. ++ % ~+ §

\ %1.%,~\ § "
12932' OUTER WEST
FAULT BLOCK
13000-

PERMEABlUTY /
TRENO WITH
DEPTH

oIL/WATER
~ONTACT

13500 r1111l I I |llllll I I |llllll I I ll'llll I I |lll,ll I I lllllll l I

10000 1000 100 10 1.0 0.1 0.01
CORE PERMEABILITY (MD)

FIG. 5. Core permeability variation with depth for the whole field showing the rapid
deterioration with depth below ~ 12 000 ft subsea.

Depositional controls on reservoir quality

From Table 3 it is apparent that depositional factors have a significant control on reservoir
quality in the Brent Group sandstones of the N W Hutton Field. G r a i n size is the most
important of these factors, the coarsest sands having the highest porosities and permeabilities
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 355

and therefore the best reservoir quality: hence the distributary channel sands have the best
reservoir quality and the delta-front sandstones of the Rannoch Formation the poorest. The
Broom Formation sandstones are the exception: they are coarse grained but have relatively
poor reservoir quality due to differential diagenesis (see below). Detrital clay content is also
an important control on reservoir quality and is greatest in the fine-grained sandstones such
as those of the Rannoch Formation where it dramatically reduces both porosity and
permeability. In general there is an inverse relationship between grain size and total clay
mineral content. The combination of these two variables, for example in the fining-up
channel sandstone downcutting into laterally equivalent crevasse-splay sandstone sequences
(Fig. 6), or coarsening-upwards marine-bar sequences results in the large-scale variation of
reservoir quality both vertically and horizontally within the sandstone bodies and the
formation of lateral and vertical permeability barriers.

NW SE

211127-AgY WELL 211127-3 WELL 211127"-At WELL

~ - - 0.35 miles ~ ~J 0.1 miles i

.,ooo,,,,, '''~176 , "--. L,o,o.

oR ,lrso' ~:."" "'" ' "<';5" - ' "':- '"~ oR
~ - ' - . d IJ . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . ', ' "/| . .~..<DISTR BUTARY " " ' 9 " " "/ . . . . . ~ . . . . /"'- ,: 9 "/.
9 .. .','*'.I. 9 . . ". . . . . . . . . . ~, . " 1 ] ,'.. 2 9 I 9 9 - 9 . - , . " - ." 9 ' " . . . . . ' -'-.-~.'.,~
~ : . . ~ , l " " .CREV/I~$1E-'PLAY LOBE " "~ 9 :]. ":/'../ CHANNEL " """ /CRIEVASSE-SPI~Y'O''~-'~z,I
~"~,'~'r/.l'-" "' ' - IMOUTH BAR) ." " .'' " ~" ." ~ . " " , , ~ - ' " ' " . . . . ' " "" " ' " '/('" " ' mOUTH mARl'.' " ~'U'-+,t+'? . ' j ' ?

"--"51 - --- 11,00.

Z5 ZO m io ~ % ~s ~0 i~ t0 ~ % POROSITy z~ 20 m I0 ~ %

----~ PERMEAelLITY
....... POROSITY

FXG. 6. Reservoir characteristics resulting from distributary channel incision into laterally
equivalentcrevasse-splaysandstones in the LowerNess Member showinglarge-scalehorizontal
and vertical reservoir heterogeneities.

BRENT GROUP SANDSTONE DIAGENESIS

The effects of sandstone diagenesis, which result in pore infilling, are superimposed on the
depositional controls on reservoir quality and are significantly influenced by grain size and
detrital clay content. In particular, the fine-grained, detrital clay-rich sandstones have the
highest authigenic clay content. Also, in both coarse- and fine-grained sandstones the relative
volume of quartz cements increases with structural depth. The combination of both increased
clay content and quartz cement results in greatly decreased reservoir quality on the flanks of
the field.

Pore-filling cements
The main pore-filling phases are quartz overgrowths, calcite, siderite, illite and kaolinite.
Quartz overgrowths. Volumetrically, quartz is the most important authigenic phase with
an uneven distribution within the sandstones, averaging 12-3 vol% and ranging up to 24 vol%.
It forms euhedral syntaxial overgrowths on detrital quartz grains (Figs 3a and 7a). In the
Broom Formation sandstones, which were subject to early calcite cementation, quartz
 356 I. C. Scotchman et al.

~-•

v
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 357
11000

x
11250

xx

x
11500 1

x 1~

11750 ,~
N

12000
x
x i:
~- x

=/ .
x
12250 u_ /

12500 1

i x
xl "

13000 x 1

10250.

10500
0 10.0 20.0 30.0
OUARTZ OVERGROWTH (VOW%)

Fro. 8. Quartz overgrowth cement vs. depth showing extensive cementation in down-dip
portions of the field.

cementation is of lesser importance, averaging only 4,8 vol~ (range 0-9 vol~). The Rannoch
Formation delta-front sandstones average 7.2 vol~ while the Ness Formation sandstones
have much higher values, averaging 15-6 vol~. The amount of quartz overgrowth cement
increases with depth (Fig. 8) and in the down-dip parts of the field becomes very extensive
(Figs 3b and 4), particularly in the finer-grained sandstones, resulting in poor reservoir
quality (Gluyas, 1985).
Calcite. The occurrence of poikilotopic calcite cement (Fig. 3c) is restricted to the marine
sandstone facies, in particular those of the Broom and Rannoch Formations where it occurs
as the primary cement in intervals up to 6 ft thick. The regressive marine-bar sandstones at
the base of the Upper Ness Member are also partly calcite-cemented but in the other
sandstone facies calcite is generally~absent. The calcite-cemented intervals are concretionary
358 L C. Scotchman et al.

in nature and have a limited lateral extent and erratic vertical distribution, but, where
present, completely destroy porosity and permeability. The calcite cementation is interpreted
to be a relatively early event as the sandstone fabric is undercompacted and free of quartz
overgrowths.
Siderite. Siderite is restricted to the marine facies sandstones, particularly the Broom
Formation where it averages 9.8 volvo (ranging up to 33 volvo) as discrete crystals or
aggregates partially or completely replacing calcite (Fig. 3c). The delta-front Rannoch
Formation sandstones also contain appreciable siderite (average 3-4 vol~) with a patchy
distribution of individual crystals at grain margins. In the other sandstone facies, siderite is
absent or present only in trace amounts, although siderite nodules occasionally occur in the
Ness Formation.
Dolomite. Dolomite is rare and is rstricted to the marine facies Broom and Rannoch
Formation sandstones in the downflank parts of the western fault block where it has a patchy
distribution.
Pyrite. Typically occurring only in trace amounts, pyrite is often associated with plant
debris and is most common in the Ness Formation delta-front and distributary-mouth-bar
sandstones where it partially fills pore space.
Kaolinite. Kaolinite is the second most abundant pore-filling phase to quartz overgrowths
and is of authigenic origin as evidenced by its delicate morphology of well-crystallized
booklets and platelets (Fig. 7c). XRD analysis shows an average kaolinite content of 5.3 wt~o
and a range of 1.2-17-6 wt~o. Kaolinite is most common in the Broom Formation sandstones
where it is a significant pore-filling phase, often filling the majority of the intergranular and
secondary porosity (Fig. 3d). Its prevalence is probably due both to the relatively high detrital
feldspar content of the sandstones and to their coarse nature which, coupled with overlying
impermeable shales at the base of the Rannoch Formation, caused fluid flow to be
concentrated laterally through the formation, thus promoting leaching and kaolinite
precipitation. Kaolinite has a patchy distribution in the rest of the Brent Group sandstones,
and is most prevalent in the crestal areas of the field (Fig. 4). Locally, kaolinite occludes
significant amounts of pore space, filling both primary intergranular and secondary pores.
Thin-section point-count data indicate average kaolinite contents ranging from 1.9 volvo in
the delta-front Rannoch Formation to 4.0 volvo in marine-bar sands. Within the fine-grained
sandstone facies, XRD data gives averages of 2-4 and 8-2 Wt~o for the crevasse-splay and
delta-front sandstones respectively.
Illite. Illite, and to a lesser extent mixed-layer illite/smectite, is a significant pore-filling
phase particularly in the fine-grained sandstones and in the down-dip parts of the western
fault block, where it drastically reduces reservoir quality. Average values are 2-0 wt~ for illite
(range 0.2-12,3 wt~o) and 1.1 Wt~o for illite/smectite (up to 6.7 wt~o from XRD data). Illite
concentration is lowest in the distributary-channel and marine-bar sandstones, where it
averages 0-9 and 1.3 Wt~orespectively, and highest in the distributary-mouth-bar and delta-
front sandstones of the Etive and Rannoch Formations respectively (averages of 4.0 and 3.6
wt~o). Illite/smectite exhibits a similar facies relationship.
In the coarse-grained distributary channel sandstones, illite has little effect on reservoir
quality and occurs as a patchily developed pore-lining which only rarely bridges pores. Here,
the illite filaments occur as stubs and rarely protrude into the pore space (Fig. 7c, d). In the
finer-grained sandstone facies, including the upper portions of the distributary channel
sequences and crevasse-splay lobes, illite has a much greater abundance and is developed as a
pore-filling and pore-bridging filamentous morphology comprising long filaments which
Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 359

rn C~ON

' ~ o ~

~:i --~

~DO
Z-~- = Z
o

~.~~.~
360 L C. Scotchman et al.

0
5000-

00 0
0 - 167 SAMPLES ONLY SCREENED 0
I000 - Oq5 o
BY THIN SECTION
9 0@
0 00 9 000 0 0
500 - 9 57 SAMPLES SELECTED FOR
FURTHER ANALYSIS BY 9 o 0
THIN SECTION, SEM,AND XRD 0 Oo IO 0 0
0 09 O0 0
o o 0@0 0 0
0 0 9 0
I00 0 ~ 0
o oOoO 9
9 O0 00 O9
50 0 0 0 0
0 0 9
0 9 9 9
00e eo~
o 9 O0 0
E 0 00000 0
I0
000 9 0 0

..a
ii1
0
Oe "o-
0O0 0
o o800 -
@000 9 ~ o o o
I.O
0 o00~0 ~
~0 0 0 O0
OO@D
OO I~ 0
0 ~
O0

0"1
o 0

oo 0 CALCITE
00
CEMENTED

0"01
,
0
~176
0t 00
0

i
5
r
10
!
15
i
20
21
5

POROSITY (%]

FIG. 10. Relationshipof permeabilityto porosity, showing the wide range of permeabilityfor a
given porosity.

extend into and across pores and pore-throats (Fig. 9a) resulting in greatly reduced reservoir
quality. These filamentous illites contain abundant intercrystalline micropore space and have
little effect on overall porosity but greatly reduce permeability. As a result the sandstones
exhibit a wide variation in permeability for a given porosity (Fig. 10).
Illite abundance generally increases with depth, particularly below 12000 ft subsea (Fig.
11) and with finer grain size (Fig. 12), and, although the Etive and Ness Formation sand-
stones show an increase in illite content in the water zone, the increase in illite cement with
depth is not related to the present-day oil-water contact. In the western flank of the field;
illite content controls the position of the productive limit, ~hich occurs at the top of an illite-
cemented zone as illustrated by the field permeability profile (Fig. 5) and by the water-
saturation profile with depth for the Etive Formation (Fig. 4). Therefore, illite cementation
appears to have occurred prior to hydrocarbon migration, the influx of hydrocarbons causing
diagenesis to cease. Subsequently, only minor illite precipitation occurred beneath the oil-
water contact. Analogy with the present-day oil-water contact suggests that the dramatic
increase in illite cement below 12 000 ft subsea (Fig. 11) is therefore not related to the develop-
ment of a palaeo-oil-water contact, but is a palaeodepth-related phenomenon.
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 361

11000

11250
x/x
11500 1
11750- x/x
12000
^^xx\xx
~ 12250" X

APPROXIMATE ILLITE
TREND WITH DEPTH
~ 12500
\x
12750-
xx
\ X
X
xx x\
13000
x

13250"

13500
0.0 4~0 8.0 12'.0 16.0 20'.0 24.0
ILLITE (Wt %)

FIG. 11. Illite content vs. depth showing dramatic increase in illite beneath ~ 12 000 ft subsea.

Chlorite. Occurring as delicate, intergrown crystal platelets, chlorite forms a minor cement
in pore-filling and grain-coating morphologies (Fig. 9b). It is commonest in the Broom
Formation marine sandstones and Rannoch Formation delta-front facies with average
contents of 1 and 2.2 wt% respectively.

DISCUSSION

Paragenetic sequence
The paragenetic sequence of major diagenetic events is summarized in Fig. 13. Soon after
deposition, thin horizons within the marine sandstones of the Broom and Rannoch
Formations were affected by concretionary poikilotopic calcite cementation, causing
porosity to be totally occluded. A loose-framework grain fabric is preserved, indicating that
cementation occurred before significant compaction. The initial porosity of the sandstotles at
deposition is estimated to be 35-40%, derived from the minus-cement porosity.
These early calcite cements protected the sandstones from the effects of later diagenesis,
particularly the formation of quartz overgrowth cements and the dissolution of minerals such
362 I. C. Scotchman et al.

20-

15-

10-

\\\\\I

0-
I
VERY FiNE
\ \ \ \

FINE MEDIUM COARSE

GRAIN SIZE CLASS

FIG. 12. Illite cement vs. sandstone average grain size.

E o

0
v///~q CALCITE

I
v////ISIDERITE
ICOMPACTION ~r>
r//////////////////////////////JQUARTZ

k\\\\\\\\\~ FELDSPAR
OVERGROWTH
_o
>r

0
3J~

v//////////J KAOLINITE "o

0
:0
v/.///////////////////A ILLITE m

1 7 7 7 ~ CH LORIT E m
V////A FERROAN DOLOMITE
EVENT I"1 I--I [ ] O I L EMPLACEMENT 0
Y / / l l PRECIPITATION
[ ~ DISSOLUTION 2~
r

DEPOSITION - EARLY DIAGENESIS . . . . . BURIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LATE DIAGENESIS

FIG. 13. Diagenetic sequence for the Brent Group sandstones.

 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 363
as feldspar. Siderite followed early calcite cementation as a replacive cement in the Broom
Formation and as discrete crystals on grain margins in the Rannoch Formation, the sand-
stones then being subjected to burial compaction.
Post-compactional cementation began with the widespread development of euhedral
syntaxial quartz overgrowths on detrital quartz grains in those sandstones not affected by
early calcite cementation. Siderite crystals were also engulfed by quartz cement. Quartz over-
growth cementation was followed by an overlapping dissolution event which resulted in the
breakdown primarily of feldspars and, to a lesser extent, micas along grain margins and
cleavages, the partial to complete dissolution of the grains resulting in the creation of
secondary porosity. Cations and silica released during feldspar dissolution promoted the
development of kaolinite cement which fills both primary and secondary pores, particularly
in the Broom Formation. Generally, kaolinite post-dated quartz overgrowth cementation as
it occurs in the centre of pores lined by quartz overgrowths, although a partial overlap in the
timing of these two phases is evident in the Ness Formation in crestal well 211/27-A15.
The development of authigenic illite in both intergranular and secondary porosity was the
last main phase of diagenesis (Fig. 9c, d). The delicate, filamentous authigenic illites line or
fill pores after quartz over-growth cement; the illites generally post-date kaolinite as some
kaolinite crystals have been iUitized, with illite often occurring as a replacive growth.

Hydrocarbon generation and migration

Hydrocarbon generation occurred in the 'source kitchen' to the SW of the field from the
Upper Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Kimmeridge Clay Formation which currently lies within
the 'oil window' at depths greater than 11000 ft subsea (Fig. 14). The organic-rich shales
exceed 1200 ft in thickness and maturation modelling indicates that peak oil generation was
attained in the early Tertiary, agreeing with other studies (e.g. Goff, 1983). Lateral migration
across faults allowed the hydrocarbons, while moving structurally up-dip, to enter the strati-
graphically older Brent Group reservoirs. The NW Hutton structure was progressively filled
from the SW, the increasingly higher oil-water contact levels reflecting the spill-point levels
across successive fault blocks and the sealing nature of the major faults. While of the same
genetic composition, minor variations in oil composition are apparent between the four fault
blocks. Interestingly, the crestal Hutton Field oils are also of the same genetic type but have a
further different composition, suggesting a different source 'kitchen', probably to the E in the
Viking Graben. Different source kitchens and migration routes for the NW Hutton and
Hutton oils appear to be confirmed by the fact that the fault block tested by well 211/27-7
between the two fields was wet.
Timing of hydrocarbon migration into the NW Hutton structure is constrained by the
presence of both water- and oil-bearing fluid inclusions in the quartz overgrowth cements (J.
Cocker, personal communication, 1988). The hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions have an
API gravity of 37~ average, similar to NW Hutton oil (37~ average) and are interpreted to be
the initial phase of oil migration into the structure (J. Cocker, personal communication,
1988). Aqueous fluid inclusions also occur, containing low-salinity brine (0.5 wt~o NaCI),
which formed at a temperature of 108 + 9~ (J. Cocker, personal communication, 1988).
This implies that the brines and hydrocarbons originated at depths in excess of 10000 ft (Fig.
15) and migrated up into the structure which was at this time buried to a depth of about 8000
ft subsea (Fig. 15).
364 I . C . Scotchman et al.

lOE

, y_s 1
' TH,S'T,_EI

/ : " "
J
[ .1
, ' ' /: " t
6~ON ..-__.1 _ 51ON
HEATHER L ' "
/ . 9
/ , ".
NINIA~

SHETLAND ] / "'. .
PLATFORM/ ~ , "~ ~ ' ~ ~LWYN

/ / L \ \ '
/ I !
/
i / /
/
/ : / ~
/~ 1
\
/
/ ~ ALWYN
/ /
/
/
/

I
I~ E

OIL FIELD ~ KIMM. CLAY FM I

DEPOCENTRES
O IO km
l~1 KtMMERtDGE CLAY ~" 1~ Ro I I
FM ABSENT ~ -

FIG. 14. Kimmeridge Clay Formation isopaeh map showing the juxta-position of the NW
Hutton Field to the generating basin to the SW.

K-Ar dating of illites can be used to constrain the timing of hydrocarbon migration
(Thomas, 1986; Liewig et al., 1987; Jourdan et al., 1987). Illites from N W Hutton have an
Eocene age range of 39-49 Ma with an average of 41 Ma for the water zone and 43.1 Ma for
the oil zone (J. Cocker, personal communication, 1988). The reservoir therefore appears to
have been filled over the short period of 5 Ma, the relatively narrow range of the water-zone
samples (40.4-41-3 Ma) suggesting that large-scale fluid movement into the structure ceased
41 Ma ago.
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 365

JURASSIC CRETACEOUS TERTIARY

~
ILLITE CEMENTATION OF
BRENT GROUP RESERVOIRS N.W.
2000- QUARTZ OVERGROWTH & I OIL HUTTON
~ KAOLINITE CEMENTATION J MIGRATION CREST

~ SECONDARY I
\\ \ ~oRos,r~ FM. I ; -1
4000 -

70-80 e C
"~ ,~ \ ~ I
u.
\ ~ \ I I
6000-
'I- r
I.-
W I-'W
CI ~O
W--
8000- ~~
eo
100-110" C
g il \ "-~,,,. i ",~,,..
10000-

12000-

"~l"b4
14000 130" C

150 100 ' 5 ~0 0

MS
Fxo. 15. Burial history curves for the NW Hutton Field and the source kitchen to the SW,
showing timing of main diagenetic events and hydrocarbon generation.

Relationships with structural depth

Comparison of the depth trends of the petrophysical parameters porosity (~b), permeability
(k) and water saturation (Sw) with the mineralogy are instructive. Trends in the western fault
blocks are typified by the Etive Formation sandstones where, as previously noted, the decline
in ~b and k is mirrored by increasing Sw which exceeds 70% beneath the productive limit at
12500 ft subsea and attains 100% at the oil-water contact, at the base of a thick transition
zone (Fig. 4). Quartz overgrowth cement and illite plus illite/smectite both increase with
depth while kaolinite decreases (Fig. 4). These trends are also suggested by data for the other
formations.
Similar petrophysical and mineralogical trends are shown by the sandstones of the central
and eastern fault blocks with their common oil-water contact. Here petrophysical data from
the oil and water zones (Fig. 16) shows a similar ~b decline with depth for each zone but k
shows a significantly greater decline in the water zone than in the oil zone.
366 I.C. Scotchman et al.

83 mD
J211127-7
11000

9211127-A1
211121-7Y ~
11000
\
A211127-AI 9 OIL ZONE AVERAGEPERMEABILITY
r 2 - 0.93 ~, WATERZONE AVERAGEPERMEABILITY
11500

9 OIL ZONE
~ WATERZONE \ ' L " ~ . r==0.95
11500

F- 12.7mD
211/27-A37
~ 12001D

21112Z-A87
! 1200~ ~21t/27-A17
A211/27-A28

12500 211127-11

12500" 211127-119

211127-A25
18000

211127-A28
1800C
6 10000 1000 1()0 10 i 0~1 0,'01
CORE POROSITY(%) CORE PERMEABILITY
(a) (b)-
Fzo. 16. Comparisonof (a) porosity and (b) permeability decline with depth between the oil
zone and the water zone in the eastern and central fault blocks.

Comparison of crestal and down-flank distributary-channel facies sandstones suggests that

the structural decline of ~ and k is related to increasing quartz overgrowth and illite cements
respectively. Porosity is almost completely occluded in down-flank Well 211/27-A28 with its
high quartz overgrowth cement content (Fig. 3b). Porosity decline correlates well with
increasing quartz overgrowth cementation (Fig. 17) and Gluyas (1985) draws a similar
conclusion from the Brent Group of a nearby field. Illite cements are well documented as
causing k deterioration (e.g. Guven et al., 1980; Macchi, 1987) and the large down-flank
increase in illite (compare Figs 7c and 9a) appears responsible for the decline in k which
occurs below the critical depth of ,~ 12000 ft subsea (Fig. 18). A further depth-related trend
appears to be the localized illitization of kaolinite.

Diagenetic model
Carbonate cementation. Carbonate cementation was an early pre-compactional diagenetic
event with calcite precipitation in concretionary bands. Restriction of the calcites to the
marine sandstones suggests that Ca originated from detrital shell material which was
redistributed during early burial to form concretionary bodies, perhaps along coarser-grained
layers. Oxygen isotope studies on similar calcites from other Brent Group sandstone
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 367
30-

9 NESS FORMATION
~7 ETIVE FORMATION
9 TARBERT FORMATION
r 2 - 0.31

~ 20- V 9 9

(3
9 -,...
10-

0
o 1'o 2'0 3'0
Q U A R T Z OVERGROWTHS (Vol.%|

FIG. 17. Correlationof porosity decline with increasing quartz overgrowth cementation in the
Etive, Ness and Tarbert Formations of the western fault blocks.

10000,

1000'

A
100-

\ ,

~ 10' I \'11
9 i\
9 R
L\
8 1. 9 i,\ i
. \
\

0.1.

O.01
0 4,0 8.0 12.0 16.0 20.0
ILLITE (Wt%)

FIG. 18. Relationship between permeability and illite content of the Etive Formation of western
fault blocks.

reservoirs indicate precipitation from meteoric waters (Glasmann et al., 1989). Replacement
of calcites by siderite, particularly in the Broom Formation, indicates both a change to anoxic
conditions, favouring reduction of detrital ferric oxides, and the predominantly meteoric
nature of the pore-fluid (Curtis & Spears, 1968).
368 L C. Scotchman et al.
Feldspar dissolution and silica~clay authigenesis. Dissolution of feldspars and, to a lesser
extent, micas occurred with deeper burial in all sandstones but was concentrated in the
feldspar-rich Broom Formation, creating secondary porosity. Precipitation of authigenic
quartz overgrowths and kaolinite with later illite overlapped feldspar dissolution, which
probably supplied silica, AI, K and other cations. However, simple mass-balance calculations
show that an additional external source of silica is necessary as the volume of quartz and
kaolinite exceeds detrital grain dissolution by a factor of five to ten times.
It is generally accepted that acidic porewaters are required to create significant secondary
porosity and four main sources have been suggested (Giles & Marshall, 1986):
(i) meteoric water;
(ii) carbonic acid from CO2 generated during the maturation of kerogen;
(iii) carboxylic acids, which complex AI and greatly increase its solubility, derived from
kerogen maturation;
(iv) acidic fluids generated by clay mineral reactions in shales.
A large-scale post-burial influx of meteoric waters into the Brent Group sandstones of NW
Hutton seems unlikely as the overlying Upper Jurassic shales are not breached locally by the
base-Cretaceous unconformity which has been regionally invoked as the main period of
meteoric water influx during Brent diagenesis (Blanche & Whittaker, 1978; Bj~rlykke, 1984;
Kantorowicz, 1984; L~noy et al., 1986; Thomas, 1986; Jourdan et al., 1987; Glasmann et al.,
1989). For the nearby Heather Field, which has also remained unbreached by post-Brent
erosion, Glasmann et al. (1989) resort to a flow of meteoric water down faults from the East
Shetland Platform, which appears difficult to envisage and, even if such a mechanism were
operable, Curtis (1983) and Giles & Marshall (1986) have demonstrated that such long-
travelled meteoric waters would have been effectively neutralized early in their flow paths.
Meteoric water appears able to cause widespread development of secondary porosity during
shallow burial where low reaction rates due to low temperatures and high fluid-flow rates
favour silica transport (Giles, 1987). However, feldspar dissolution appears not to be a very
early event in the NW Hutton Field, suggesting that meteoric waters were not the main agent
for secondary porosity development.
Basin-derived acidic porewaters containing CO2 from kerogen diagenesis (Schmidt &
McDonald, 1979) or carboxylic acids (Surdam et al., 1984; Surdam & Crossey, 1985; Curtis,
1987) generated prior to kerogen maturation appear to be responsible for the large-scale
dissolution of feldspar. The zones of secondary porosity and diagenetic cement are related to
the present structure which developed prior to the base-Cretaceous unconformity, suggesting
a deep burial source for the fluids. Kimmeridge Clay Formation source rocks are capable of
generating significant amounts of carboxylic acids and CO2 at temperatures of 70~176
(6000-8000 ft burial) (Fig. 14) during late diagenesis and early maturation from mixed Type
II/Type III kerogen facies (Eglinton et al., 1987; Kawamura & Kaplan, 1987). The formation
in the vicinity of the NW Hutton Field has a total organic carbon (TOC) content of 4.5-6-5%
while underlying mudrocks of the Heather Formation (Middle to Upper Jurassic) and Dunlin
Group (Lower Jurassic) have similar kerogen compositions and could also supply acidic
porewaters, although they tend to be organically leaner with TOCs of 0.7-1-9% and 3.3-3-5%
respectively.
Clay mineral diagenetic reactions, particularly the transformation of random illite/smec-
tite to ordered illite/smectite which occurred in the source rocks at burial depths of 8000 to
10000 ft (Pearson et aL, 1983; Dypvik, 1983; Scotchman, 1987) could have generated
additional acidic porewaters (Bj~rlykke, 1983; McMahon, 1988).
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 369

Quartz overgrowth and kaolinite cements appear to rely both on feldspar dissolution by the
acidic porewaters and on an external source for the supply of cations and silica necessary for
their authigenesis (Hurst & Irwin, 1982; Gluyas, 1985). The illitization of smectite in the
source rock can create silica-charged porewaters (Boles, 1981), providing a possible external
silica source.
Illite precipitation follows quartz overgrowth and kaolinite authigenesis, with some partial
replacement of kaolinite. Two morphologies of illite exist: the filamentous form which
appears to be related to the detrital clay substrate and predominates in the poorer reservoirs,
and platy illites which do not show this relationship and appear to be neoformed (Macchi,
1987). Alternatively, Cocker (1986) suggests that the platy morphology, which predominates
in the oil zone, is the result of the hydrocarbon-water interface passing through the reservoir,
causing the iUite filaments to mat.
Illite is the predominant clay phase in the deeper, downflank parts of the field, and appears
to have formed beneath a critical depth as suggested by Hamilton et al. (1987). Kaolinite is
the main phase in the crestal regions. Hancock & Taylor (1978) report the occurrence of this
general anticorrelation between the two phases from elsewhere in the Brent Group
sandstones. The kaolinite--illite-K-feldspar phase diagram of Gluyas (1985; his fig. 6)
suggests temperature is an important factor as, with over 2000 ft of vertical relief on the NW
Hutton structure, the critical depth below which illite precipitation is favoured over kaolinite
appears to have occurred mid-structure at a present-day burial depth of ~ 12 000 ft subsea.
During the Eocene, this would equate to a palaeo-burial depth of ~8000 ft and a
temperature, assuming a surface temperature of 20~ and a geothermal gradient of 30~
of 90~176 This falls within the temperature range over which illite diagenetically formed
in Gulf Coast Tertiary sediments of the USA (Hower et al., 1976). Experimental work by
Huang et al. (1986) may also explain the kaolinite and illite distribution. They found that
kaolinite precipitates in arkosic sandstone reservoirs with a continued influx of acidic pore-
fluid, illite forming at the expense of kaoline as the fluid flow wanes. Thus early kaolinite
authigenesis occurred in the crest of the structure with the main influx of acidic porewaters
and was followed by later illitization during deeper burial as the flow of acidic waters
diminished, which mainly affected the downflank areas of the field.
The ideal diagenetic sequence of feldspar dissolution followed by quartz overgrowth,
kaolinite and illite cementation appears therefore to be due to, and be controlled by, the
generation and expulsion of acidic pore-fluids from adjacent shale source rocks, prior to
hydrocarbon generation (Fig. 15). This general sequence is repeated, causing complex
interaction of the phases and the development of late quartz overgrowth cements containing
hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions (J. Cocker, personal communication, 1988) as a result
of distinct pulses of acidic pore-fluid reaching the reservoir, perhaps due to the 'seismic
pumping' effects of active faulting (Sibson et aL, 1975).

Deep burial cements: dolomite and chlorite

Dolomite is patchily distributed in the deeper parts of the westernmost fault block in wells
211/27-8ST and 211/27-A28 where it probably represents a late diagenetic cement,
precipitated during deep burial from shale-derived porewaters as suggested by Lon~y et al.
(1986) for the deep Hild Field. Chlorite is more problematic. Sommer (1978), Budding &
Inglin (1981) and Kantorowicz (1984) report the highest contents in the Broom Formation
which Kantorowicz (1984) suggests is due to early, pre-burial suboxic zone diagenesis.
370 L C. Scotchman et al.
However, evidence from the NW Hutton well 211/27-A22 (Fig. 9b) indicates a late
diagenetic, shale-derived deep burial source as suggested by Boles & Franks (1979) and Hurst
(1985).

Relationship of diagenesis to hydrocarbon migration

Dates of illites from NW Hutton suggest that the cessation of silica and clay diagenesis in
the oil zone at 43 Ma is closely related to the migration of hydrocarbons into the structure
from the source 'kitchen' to the southwest, which maturity modelling suggests occurred
around 40-50 Ma ago. Diagenesis appears to have been effectively ended by hydrocarbons
entering the structure, as has been suggested for other Brent Group reservoirs (Hancock &
Taylor, 1978; Thomas, 1986; Jourdan et al., 1987). Unlike these other reservoirs, illite
cementation appears to have ceased in the water zone at 41 Ma soon after oil filled the
structure (J. Cocker, personal communication, 1988), only the Etive and Ness Formations
showing any increase in illite content beneath the oil-water contact. Either the fluid flow
supplying silica and cations ceased, perhaps due to sealing of faults across the migration
route, or a major change in porewater geochemistry followed the main phase of oil migration
causing clay authigenesis to cease.
Illite cementation and oil migration are closely related in time as reported from other East
Shetland Basin Brent Fields (Liewig et al., 1987), post-compactional diagenesis and oil
migration all occurring over a short time span in the Eocene. This suggests a common source
for both the acidic fluids responsible for diagenesis and the hydrocarbons, acidic waters
being expelled from the source rocks along with the earliest generated hydrocarbons prior to
the main hydrocarbon pulse. Locally these appear to have been short-lived events as
regionally generation and expulsion of both hydrocarbons and acidic fluids from the same
kitchen continued into the Oligocene; illite K-Ar ages from the Heather Field to the west
(Glasmann et al., 1989) suggest initial reservoiring of oil in crestal areas by 40-45 Ma with
filling of the field by 27-30 Ma.
The difference in ages between the oil and water zones suggests illite cementation occurred
predominantly before oil migration into the structure and that the main pulse of migration
quenched diagenesis. However, both the Etive and Ness Formations show an increased
amount of illite in the water zone, indicating that some illite cementation continued post-oil
migration. Beneath the productive limit on the western flank of the field, where the transition
zone is thickest, the illite content is increased; this may, in part, represent precipitation
beneath a palaeo-oil-water content during a pause in filling of the structure with
hydrocarbon.

SYNTHESIS: CONTROLS ON DIAGENESIS

Depositional facies and structural depth, also the relationship with the oil-water contact, are
the main controls on diagenesis, the effects of diagenesis being greatest in fine-grained
sandstones beneath the oil-water contact. The coarser-grained distributary-channel facies
sandstones have suffered least diagenesis and retain their relatively better reservoir quality
even on the flanks of the structure.
The illite content is related both to a detrital clay substrate and to the structural depth, the
greatest amounts occurring in the water zone in fine-grained Etive and Ness Formation
 Clay diagenesis and oil migration in Brent sandstones 371

sandstones. Structural depth and initial mineralogy influence the kaolinite distribution.
Kaolinite in the Etive Formation sandstones decreases with depth, but the Broom and
Rannoch Formations remain predominantly kaolinitic with only minor iUite below the oil-
water contact (e.g. well 211/27-A28) and, indeed, contain more kaolinite. The fine-grained,
micaceous, crevasse-splay sandstones of the Ness Formation and the Rannoch Formation
contain the highest amounts of illite, suggesting an overriding lithological and depositional
mineralogical control on iUitization. Sommer (1978) and Kantorowicz (1984) report similar
patterns of illitization within the different Brent Group Formations and its relationship to
kaolinite and hydrocarbons.
Clay diagenesis in the Brent Group sandstones is therefore clearly controlled by
depositional facies and by structural depth, the relationship to the oil-water content being
relatively unimportant. Clearly the general model relating illitization to hydrocarbon
migration proposed by Hancock & Taylor (1978) is too simplistic and cannot be directly
applied to the Brent Group as a whole without taking depositional facies into account.

CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions can be drawn from this study of diagenesis of the Brent Group
sandstones in the NW HuRon Field:
(1) Authigenic quartz overgrowth and iUite cements are responsible for the major decline in
reservoir quality with structural depth, quartz overgrowth being responsible for porosity
reduction and illite for permeability decline.
(2) Regardless of structural depth, reservoir quality remains higher in the detrital clay-free,
coarser-grained distributary sandstones than in the clay-rich, fine-grained crevasse-splay
sandstones: diagenesis reflects facies and lithological variations in the sandstones.
(3) Clay mineral authigenesis is strongly influenced by sandstone depositional facies and
lithology: the feldspathic marine sandstones are highly kaolinitic with little illite even in the
water zone, distributary channel sandstones are generally kaolinitic in crestal areas of the
field and illitic downflank, while fine-grained crevasse-splay sandstones are iUite-rich
regardless of structural depth.
(4) Illite cementation is depth-related and occurs below 12 000 ft subsea. This equates to a
palaeo-burial depth of ~ 8000 ft and a precipitation temperature of 90~176
(5) Illite cementation appears to be related neither to the present-day oil-water contact nor
to any palaeo-oil-water contact.
(6) External factors had a major influence on the course of diagenesis. Meteoric waters
predominated during early diagenesis following burial but, due to the juxta-position of
basinal source rocks, were replaced by acidic, silica-charged porewaters during deeper burial.
These porewaters were derived from the organic-rich mudrocks prior to hydrocarbon
generation and were responsible for feldspar dissolution in the reservoir sandstones and the
precipitation of quartz overgrowth, kaolinite and, later, illite cements.
(7) The relationship of illitization to hydrocarbon migration into the NW Hutton structure
appears to be complex, the oil influx causing iUitization to cease in the oil zone. Minor iUite
cementation continued in the water zone but ceased soon after oil migration due, perhaps, to
the pore-fluid composition becoming unfavourable or, more likely, to the sealing of the fluid
migration path by fault movements.
372 L C. Scotchman et al.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Amoco and the Partners in the NW Hutton Group (Mobil, Enterprise, Texas Eastern
and Amerada Hess) for permission to publish this paper; Bruce Kennedy draughted the fgures. The text
greatly benefited from comments by Josh Cocker and two anonymous reviewers.

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