Palynostratigraphy, palynofacies and reservoir characteristics of Upper Oligocene - Lower Miocene sediments in the southwestern Cuu Long Basin, Vietnam

In the early stages of oil and gas exploration in Vietnam, studies on rock samples from exploratory wells provide essential information to forecast the hydrocarbon potential and feasibility of the project. These are premise studies of the upstream segment. This study provides a detailed stratigraphy, depositional environment, rock properties related to reservoir quality, and prediction of hydrocarbon generation potential in the southwestern Cuu Long Basin. Palynology, palynofacies, thin section, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy methods were done in stratigraphic and sedimentological studies at the Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene clastic sedimentary rocks, corresponding to the Bach Ho and Tra Tan formations, respectively. Research result shows that the sediment of the Tra Tan Formation was deposited mainly in a freshwater lacustrine environment and was good in organic matter with good hydrocarbon generation potential, the porosity of the rock was assessed as poor in the Lower Tra Tan and moderate to very good in the Upper Tra Tan Member. The Bach Ho Formation was characterised by two sedimentary cycles with various environments from freshwater plain to inner neritic. The Lower Bach Ho Member was poor in palynomorphs and organic matter and was deposited mainly in freshwater fluvial environment high energy conditions; its porosity was very good, whereas the Upper Bach Ho Member was abundant in palynomorphs and organic matter and was intercalated by condensed sections that were the seals for the entire Cuu Long Basin