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<p>The Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Group in southwestern Alabama, USA, contains economically significant conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources, but exploration efforts could stand to be enhanced using rapid, nondestructive geochemical proxies for evaluating reservoir potential. The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) for predicting permeability and defining chemofacies within Tuscaloosa rocks. Archival core samples were scanned with a pXRF device, and their permeability was determined with a hand-held air permeameter. Statistical treatment of pXRF data defined four sandstone chemofacies and five combined mudrock + carbonate chemofacies. Results show that a high Si/Al ratio is the best predictor of high permeability in sandstones. Permeability in sandstones is also positively correlated with Si and Si/Ca ratio, while permeability is negatively correlated with Al, K, Rb, Sr, Fe, and Mg concentrations. In mudrocks and carbonates, Ca and Si/Al ratio are positively correlated with permeability, while Fe, K, S, Zn, and Rb concentrations are negatively correlated. Relationships between elemental concentrations and permeability correspond largely to the presence or absence of authigenic minerals, such as chlorite, illite, and kaolinite, as well as matrix content. Stratigraphic patterns related to distinguishing between formations of the Tuscaloosa include high Ca values in the lower Tuscaloosa resulting from carbonate cementation under oxidizing conditions. Conversely, high concentrations of S and Fe in the Middle Tuscaloosa indicate anoxic conditions. Variations in the abundances of Zr and Nb within the Upper Tuscaloosa indicate potential compositional differences in source area. Geochemical analysis and permeability measurements reveal that Tuscaloosa sandstones exhibit exceptional reservoir potential for hydrogen storage applications. The findings demonstrate that the Tuscaloosa Group represents a viable target for hydrogen storage development, though additional laboratory testing is required to validate storage performance.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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X-ray fluorescence analysis of the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Group in southwestern Alabama, USA: implications for the impact of inorganic geochemistry on permeability distribution

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月21日

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  • Husamaldeen Zubi,
  • Brian F. Platt,
  • Lance D. Yarbrough,
  • Jennifer N. Gifford

摘要

The Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa Group in southwestern Alabama, USA, contains economically significant conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources, but exploration efforts could stand to be enhanced using rapid, nondestructive geochemical proxies for evaluating reservoir potential. The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) for predicting permeability and defining chemofacies within Tuscaloosa rocks. Archival core samples were scanned with a pXRF device, and their permeability was determined with a hand-held air permeameter. Statistical treatment of pXRF data defined four sandstone chemofacies and five combined mudrock + carbonate chemofacies. Results show that a high Si/Al ratio is the best predictor of high permeability in sandstones. Permeability in sandstones is also positively correlated with Si and Si/Ca ratio, while permeability is negatively correlated with Al, K, Rb, Sr, Fe, and Mg concentrations. In mudrocks and carbonates, Ca and Si/Al ratio are positively correlated with permeability, while Fe, K, S, Zn, and Rb concentrations are negatively correlated. Relationships between elemental concentrations and permeability correspond largely to the presence or absence of authigenic minerals, such as chlorite, illite, and kaolinite, as well as matrix content. Stratigraphic patterns related to distinguishing between formations of the Tuscaloosa include high Ca values in the lower Tuscaloosa resulting from carbonate cementation under oxidizing conditions. Conversely, high concentrations of S and Fe in the Middle Tuscaloosa indicate anoxic conditions. Variations in the abundances of Zr and Nb within the Upper Tuscaloosa indicate potential compositional differences in source area. Geochemical analysis and permeability measurements reveal that Tuscaloosa sandstones exhibit exceptional reservoir potential for hydrogen storage applications. The findings demonstrate that the Tuscaloosa Group represents a viable target for hydrogen storage development, though additional laboratory testing is required to validate storage performance.

Graphical Abstract