Carbonate Reservoirs of the Mediterranean: a Review and Classification for producing assets to frontier exploration

Carbonate reservoirs in the Greater Mediterranean are associated within a wide range of different platform settings, from mixed evaporite-carbonate epeiric platforms, to isolated platforms and reef systems.

In this work we present a new classification scheme based on literature review of 60 commercially exploited carbonate reservoirs. The classification is based on 1) control on poroperm system: diagenetic vs depositional; 2) Gross depositional environment; 3) carbonate factory type. 11 different reservoir types are identified on these bases and their distribution has been mapped out by the location of Mediterranean hydrocarbon fields in which the reservoirs are exploited.

The review highlights the limitations of the “reef” paradigm for understanding carbonate reservoirs in the study area and highlights the need for exploitation strategies to be based on depositional models that are appropriate to the “carbonate factory” of interest.

The classification scheme and associated database are intended for use during both the exploration phase of a project, and the appraisal/ development stage. It provides a tool to select appropriate depositional and diagenetic models, to understand the range of properties associated with different reservoir types and select analogues.