Controls of depositional facies and diagenetic alterations on reservoir quality of the Fahliyan Formation in the Central Zagros area

The Fahliyan Formation is a member of the Khami Group with Neocomian–Barremian age. In two surface sections in the Izeh Zone and two wells of the southern Dezful Embayment, it includes 12 microfacies deposited on four facies belts as tidal flat, inner ramp (lagoon, Lithocodium–algal mounds and bioclastic–peloidal shoals), middle ramp and outer ramp. A homoclinal ramp model is proposed as its depositional environment. Important diagenetic alterations are dissolution, micritization, compaction, dolomitization, silicification, pyritization, cementation and fracturing. They represent marine, meteoric and shallow to deep burial diagenetic realms. Sequence stratigraphic analysis resulted in the recognition of four depositional sequences that seem to be third-order sequences, according to their relative ages (biozones), thickness and correlation with neighboring areas. Reservoir quality evaluation indicates coupled imprints of facies characteristics and diagenetic alterations on reservoir properties of this formation. Important reservoir units are formed in Lithocodium–algal mounds/patch-reefs (in the Garangan Field) and high-energy facies of shoal setting (in the Gachsaran Field). They include primary pore types such as intra- and interparticle pores and mainly concentrated in highstand systems tracts (HSTs) of depositional sequences. Some secondary pores are also present that include dissolution vugs and molds. In addition, middle ramp facies provide some reservoir units in the transgressive systems tracts (TSTs). No macroscopic pores are recorded in these facies and micropores are responsible for high reservoir quality.