SEDIMENTARY ROCKS REPORT

DESCRIBITION:
THIS REPORT PROVIDES AN
OVERVIEW OF SEDIMENARY
ROCKS, ITS FORMATION AND
CHARACTERISITCS

COURSE NAME:
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

SUPERVISED BY:
PROF. DR. SHOHDY

PREPARED BY:
AHMED MUHAMED FATHY
PETROLEUM ENG. DEPARTMENT
4TH ACADEMIC YEAR
SECTION NO. ONE
 1. Types of Rocks
Three types of rocks that make up the earths crust are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Igneous
rocks have crystallized from a hot, molten liquid. Metamorphic rocks have been recrystallized from
other rocks under high temperatures and pressures. Sedimentary rocks are composed of sediments,
particles that were deposited on the surface of the ground or bottom of the ocean or salts that
precipitated out of water.
2. Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are the rocks that are drilled to find gas and oil. They are the source and reservoir
rocks for gas and oil. They are formed by lithification of loose sediments and particles forming hard
layers of what is called Sedimentary Rocks
2.1 Types of Sediments
Sedimentary rocks are composed of sediments, of which there are three types. Organic sediments are
formed biologically, such as seashells. Crystalline sediments are formed by precipitation of salt out of
water. Limestones and dolomites and examples. As sediments are buried in the subsurface, they become
solid, sedimentary rocks. Clastic sediments are whole particles formed by the breakdown of rocks and
were transported and deposited as whole particles. Boulders, sand grains, and mud particles are
examples forming Sandstones, Conglomerates and breccias.
The sizes of the clastic grains that make up an ancient sedimentary rock are important. The rock is often
classified according to the grain size. Sandstones are composed of sand-sized grains, whereas shales are
composed of fine-grained, clay-sized particles. Also, the size of the grains controls the size of the pore
spaces and the quality of the oil or gas reservoir. Larger grains have larger pores between them. It is
easier for fluids, such as gas and oil, to flow through larger pores and into a well. Clastic grains in
sedimentary rocks are classified by their diameters in millimeters. They are called boulder, cobble,
pebble, granule, sand, silt, and clay-sized particles. The finest grains (sand, silt, and clay-sized) are the
most common.

2.2 Formation of Sedimentary Rocks

Loose sediments become relatively hard sedimentary rocks in the subsurface by the processes of natural
cementation and compaction. No matter how some sediments such as sand grains are packed together,
there will be pore spaces between the grains. Once the grains have been buried in the subsurface, the
pore spaces are filled with groundwater that can be very salty. Under the higher temperatures and
pressures of the subsurface, chemicals often precipitate out of the subsurface waters to coat the grains.
These coatings grow together to bridge the loose grains. This process, called natural cementation, bonds
the loose grains into a solid sedimentary rock. The most common cement is the mineral calcite (CaCO3).
Also, as the sediments are buried deeper, the increasing weight of overlying rocks exerts more pressure
on the grains.
Sedimentary rocks often consist of three parts when examined
under a microscope. First, there are sediment grains. Second, there
are natural cements that coat and bond the grains together. Third,
there are spaces called pores. In the subsurface, these pores are
filled with fluids (water, gas, or oil).
2.3 Characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks
There are five main characteristics of sedimentary rocks that distinguish them from other types of rocks.
These characteristics help identify, study and classify different types of these rocks.
2.3.1 Stratification
Stratification is a layer of rock that looks different from the band of rock above or below it. In other
words, the rock will look like it has banded stripes of color in it.
2.3.2 Fossilization
Sedimentary rocks are formed at just the right temperature and pressure to allow fossils to survive
intact. The layering characteristic of sedimentary rocks also helps to keep fossils intact.
2.3.3 Porosity
Porosity is how great a capacity to hold fluids a rock has. Sedimentary rocks are all considered porous
because the grains of the sediments are usually of completely different sizes, allowing for a lot of space
in the rock for water, oil and/or gas to seep into. There are two classification of porosity, Absolute and
effective porosities. Absolute porosity considers the total pore spaces of rock whether its
interconnected or not. However, effective porosity only considers interconnected spaces and its of
great importance to petroleum engineers than absolute porosity. When pores are interconnected, they
form a conduct for fluids to pass through, creating what is called permeability; ability of rock to transmit
fluids.
2.3.4 Rapid erosion
Rapid erosion is something that sedimentary rocks go through. Erosion is the process of breaking down
surface material and transporting the grains to somewhere else through the mediums of wind, water or
ice.
2.3.5 Marks and imprints
Marks and imprints are often found in sedimentary rocks. These marks are called ripple marks and are
often caused by the effect of water or wind on sedimentary rock.
 2.4 Sandstone
Sandstones are clastic in origin (as opposed to either organic, like chalk and coal, or chemical, like
gypsum and jasper). They are formed from cemented grains and the cements binding these grains
together are typically calcite, clays, and silica. Grain sizes in sands are defined (in geology) within the
range of 0.0625 mm to 2 mm.
The relative abundance of sand-sized framework grains determines the first word in a sandstone name.
Naming depends on the dominance of the three most abundant components quartz, feldspar, or the
lithic fragments that originated from other rocks. All other minerals are considered accessories and not
used in the naming of the rock, regardless of abundance.
Quartz sandstones have >90% quartz grains.
Feldspathic sandstones have <90% quartz grains and more feldspar grains than lithic grains.
Lithic sandstones have <90% quartz grains and more lithic grains than feldspar grains.

2.5 Limestone
Limestone is composed of calcite mineral grains that range in size from very fine to large, sparkling
crystals. The rock is commonly white or light gray in color. The calcite mineral grains are soft enough to
be scratched by a knife and will bubble in cold, dilute acid. Limestones often have fossil fragments that
are also usually composed of calcite. Limestone is a common reservoir rock and is the most important
reservoir rock in the Middle East oil and gas fields. An organic-rich, dark-colored limestone can also be
a source rock for gas and oil.
About 10% of sedimentary rocks are limestones. The solubility of limestone in water and weak acid
solutions leads to karst landscapes, in which water erodes the limestone over thousands to millions of
years. Most cave systems are through limestone bedrock.
2.6 Shale
Shale is composed of fine-grained, clay-sized particles and is the most common sedimentary rock. It is
usually well layered and relatively soft. Shale breaks down into mud when exposed to water. The color
of shale commonly ranges from gray to black, depending on the organic content. The darker the shale,
the higher the organic content. Shale is commonly deposited on river floodplains and on the bottom of
oceans, lakes, or lagoons. Black shales are common source rocks for gas and oil. A gray shale can be a
cap rock on a reservoir rock in a petroleum trap. Mudstone is similar to shale but is composed of both
silt- and clay-sized grains.
3. References
Norman J. Hyne Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling & Production, 3 rd Edition
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary-rocks
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone