Background
Burrowing activity by organisms alters textural characteristics and diagenetic effects of the substrate, which can result in partial or complete removal of occurring substrate structures and alter sorting. The burrows produced by these organisms contain sediments that are lithological and geochemically distinct from the matrix. The result can cause an increment or reduction in burrow porosity and permeability as compared to the surrounding matrix Organism-substrate interaction has crucial control over reservoir quality. Thus, the ichnological analysis of bioturbated reservoir facies is integral to reservoir characterization. In Ghana, the effect of biogenic activity on reservoir rock quality is under reached; there are no publications concerning this subject. Coupled with a lack of financial support from the industry, our investigations show that there is inadequate sensitization of researchers/students and unavailable laboratory resources. In other countries, relevant universities have received financial support to investigate, characterize, and publish the results of this very important subject matter.
Objectives
- To identify and characterize various trace fossil imprints on reservoir rocks retrieved from Ghana’s sedimentary basins.
- To execute a qualitative and quantitative assessment of biogenic activity influence on the reservoir rock quality.
Proposed Method
- Data Collection: Fieldwork and investigation of reservoir rocks and outcrops shall be conducted. Stakeholders such as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Petroleum Commission (PC) shall be contacted for data mobilization.
- Screening: Supervised machine learning-based techniques shall be used to screen and improve the prediction of biogenic activity in reservoir facies.
- Laboratory analysis: Relevant laboratory tests and analysis shall be executed to collect and consolidate data.