Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol.

1, Issue 1, June 2016

Sedimentology and Petrographic study of B-sand of Upper Sands of

Lower Goru Formation, based Well cuttings and Wireline logs from wells
of Southern Sindh Monocline, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan
Sarfraz H. Solangi1, Adeel Nazeer4, Shabeer Ahmed Abbasi3, Latif Dino Napar2, Parveen A. Usmani1, Ali G. Sahito1
1
Center for Pure and Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro
2
Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi
3
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Islamabad.
4
Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Islamabad.

Abstract This study investigates the depositional

environments of B-sand of Upper sands of Early Cretaceous
Lower Goru Formation in the subsurface of the Southern Sindh
Monocline, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan. The B-sand is being
investigated essentially by various sediment logical, mineralogical
and wireline log techniques. These included subsurface facies
analysis, which is based on 62 well cutting samples of five wells of
Badin block. The cumulative frequency curves constructed B-sand
is medium grained sandstone (1.9 to 2.03), moderately to well
sorted (0.48-1.42
skewed. The microscopic study reveals that the sandstones are
predominantly composed of quartz particles of fine, medium to
coarse grained, moderately well sorted sub-angular to well
rounded in shape. Petrographic study indicates that the B-sands
are mature as the samples comprise of 75 to 85% quartz with small
amount of feldspar, muscovite and iron oxide. The XRD analysis
indicates that the sandstone samples contain 75 to 85% quartz as
the major mineral constituent while the cementing material is
calcite. Within the B-sand a number of distinct coarsening and
fining upward sequences found during the study indicates
frequent changes in the sedimentary depositional facies and
characterization of log response. The B-sand gamma ray log
calibrate with the well cuttings samples that shows serrate funnel
shape at the base and followed by one or more cycles of a cylinder
(blocky) or bell shape. The results indicates that the B-sand of
Lower Goru formation were deposited as barrier bar and
transgressive facies in deltaic to shallow marine conditions due to
the fluctuations in sea level and greater sediment supply. The
study proved the B-sand facies as reservoir in the Lower Goru
Formation.

followed by indigenous company OGDCL with discoveries

(Copestake et al., 1995). According to Ahmed et.al (2004) ,
the Lower Goru play discoveries are mostly located within
the platform parts of the Middle and Lower Indus Basin,
extends from Mari High in north to the Badin area, Sindh
Monocline in South (Ahmed, et al., 2004) as shown in
Figure-1.

Keyword: Lower Goru Formation, B-Sandstone,

Transgressive facies, Reservoir quality, Badin block, Sindh,
Pakistan

I. INTRODUCTION
Exploration for petroleum was started in Southern Sindh
Monocline by Union Texas Pakistan (UTP) group in 1977
and first discovery of oil in Upper sands of Lower Goru
Formation was made at Khaskheli in 1981 by UTP. This
discovery was made in Lower Cretaceous Goru Formation
sandstone play (Ahmad, et al, 1998, Abbasi et.al, 2015). By
1997 UTP group as an operator had made a total of 49
discoveries in the Lower Goru Sandstone Play and similarly

Page 7

Fig.1
Map Showing Location of Southern Sindh Monocline
with Prolific Discoveries Lower Goru Sand Play (Modified after
Nazeer et al., 2012-2013)

Sembar - Goru Formation is most important stratigraphic

package of study area (IEDS (1985), Abbasi et.al. (2015))

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

which consist seven members namely; youngest Upper

Sands , Upper Shale, Middle Sands, Lower Shale, Upper
Basal Sands, Talhar Shale and oldest Lower Basal Sands
(Siddiqui et.al, 2012) and shown in Fig 2. Upper Sand is
further divided into four sand bodies as A-Sand, B-Sand, CSand and D-Sand with interbedded shales in Badin. Siddiqui
et al., (2013) discussed source potential in Upper Shale,
Lower Shale and Talhar Shale. Sembar is proved as source
rock of study area (Wandrey 1995) and overlay the Goru
Formation. Chiltan formation underlie the Sembar
Formation with unconformable contact. This paper is based
on sedimentological studies of B sand which is considered as
prolific reservoir in study area.

Study
Area

Badin Block

Fig. 3

Fig.2

Generalized Stratigraphy of Southern Sindh Monocline

(After Abbasi et al., 2015)

The study area consist of five wells drilled in Badin Area

belongs to Southern Sindh Monocline. These well are
Junathi South-1, Zaur-5, Sonoro-1, Jarir-3 and Jagir-4. Mud
cutting samples were donated by BP Pakistan which
formerly known as Union Texas Pakistan. Location Map is
shown in Fig-3. The B-sand is being investigated essentially
by various sedimentological, mineralogical and wireline log
techniques. These included subsurface facies analysis, which
is based on 62 well cutting samples of five wells of Badin
block.

Page 8

Location Map of Study Area & Relevant Oil / Gas wells

II. TECTONIC OVERVIEW

Sindh Monocline is characterized by extensional
tectonics (Memon et al., 1999, Zaigham et al., 2012, Ahmed,
et al., 2014) showing horst and graben structures on seismic
interpretation. Nagar Parker uplift is present in the southeast
of Southern Sindh Monocline, most important structural
feature as structural high. Zaigham (2012) interpreted this
structural feature as Thar basement, the onoclonal basement
structural feature dipping with low angle toward west. Sahito
et al., (2013) interpret it as Badin Platform. While Nazeer et
al., 2012 -2013 called it as Sindh Platform. According to
Copestake et al., (1995), deposition of the reservoir
sandstones and interbedded source rocks took place in a
passive margin region formed during the rifting of the Indian
plate from the eastern margin of Africa during the break up
of Gondwanaland.
III. METHODOLOGY
Total sixty two (62) B-sandstone samples were washed and
preserved for analysis Table-1. The well cutting samples
have been taken at an average interval of 10 feet, which were
investigated for their textural characteristics (size, sorting,
skewness), and mineral composition. Zoom stereo
microscope were used for textural, and lithological
characteristics. A set of British standard sieves with an
aperture interval of 0.25 was used. Ultimately cumulative
weight percentage is plotted against the grain size in phi.
Textural parameters were calculated by Folk and Ward,
1957, techniques. The cumulative frequency curves were
prepared by Microsoft Excel.

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

S. No.

Name of Well

1
2
3
4
5

Jagir-4
Jagir-3
Sonro-4
Zaur-5
Junathi-South-1
Total

No. of well
Cuttings Samples
30
6
7
10
9
62

used for the correlation and interpretation of B-sand

lithofacies and environment of deposition of Lower Goru
Formation.

Well
Name
Jagir-4

Sample
ID.
70

Jagir-3

34

Sonro-4

Zaur-5
Junathi
South-1

S. No.

Table 1. Well cuttings samples of five wells of Badin Block

5

The Thin sections of five chip cuttings samples were

prepared by traditional procedures including cuttings,
lapping and polishing. The thin sections were studied under
Leica DM2500P, Plorarizing microscope. Details of thin
sections and Photographs of the chip cuttings are shown in
Table-2. The identification of minerals in thin sections follows the scheme of Scholle, 1979.
S.
No.

Well
Name

Sample
ID.

Depth
Feet

Sands

Jagir-4

70

7390 7400

Bsand

Jagir-3

34

7210 7220

Bsand

Sonro-4

24

3990 3400

Bsand

Zaur-5

54

6460 6470

Bsand

JunathiSouth-1

66

5190 5200

Bsand

Photographs
of chip
cuttings

Depth Feet

Sands

7390-7400

B-sand

7210-7220

B-sand

24

3990-3400

B-sand

53

6460-6470

B-sand

66

5190-5200

B-sand

Table 3. Samples Chip Cuttings of five (5) Wells are selected for
XRD Analysis.

IV. RESULTS
Interactive wireline correlation was carried out and
shown in Fig.4. Results shows that (Gamma Ray) GR Log
motif of B-Sand has sharp contact with upper lying Turk
Shale and under lying Badin Shale. Lithocurves of Sand B is
consist of Shoreface sand facies with consistent GR value on
lower side with Cylindrical / Box Shaped trend. Samples
were selected for sedimentological studies and were selected
from Cylindrical / Box Shaped trend showing good reservoir
facies. Overall B-Sand is showing R-T trend with deposition
of reservoir sands as discussed by various workers (I.E.D.S.
1995, Copestake et al., 1995. Ahmed et al., 2004, Nazeer et
al., 2012-2013 and Abassi et al., 2015). As sequence
stratigraphy is not scope of this paper, therefore this
correlation has been used to select the best part of reservior
using wireline log mottif.

Table 2. Chip Cuttings of five (5) wells are selected for Preparation
of Thin Section Analysis. The pictures also Shows the
Morphological Features of Grains.

Among various qualitative techniques, the X-Ray

Diffraction is indispensable tool in analytical sedimentology,
especially for sandstones (Kaelble, 1967) and (Brindley and
Brown, 1980). The D8 Advance XRD by Bruker was used to
confirm the mineral phases identified during the thin section
study. Zussman (1977) and Moore and Reynolds (1997) gave
comprehensive treatment of the theoretical and practical
aspects of the XRD technique. The details of the five chip
cuttings samples are given in Table-3. The Gamma ray log is

Page 9

Interactive wireline correlation of Oil / Gas wells Zoom stereo

microscopic analysis and interpretation of well cuttings samples.

Fig. 4

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

JAGIR-4 WELL
Grain Size Analysis shows that B-sand is medium to
coarse grained sandstone (1.48 to 2.1 ), moderately
sorted and strongly negative skewed. Sandstone with 85%
Quartz, coarse grained in sizes, sub-angular to sub-rounded
in thin section. Lithofacies description of B-sand of Jagir
4 well is given in Table.4. Also XRD pattern of Jagir-4 well
also favours petrographic study with quartz 73% (Fig. 5).
Sample
Type

Depth
(Feet)

Composite
Cuttings

73167330

Cuttings

73307340

Composite
Cuttings

Composite
Cuttings

Composite
Cuttings

Composite
Cuttings

Composite
Cuttings

Composite
Cuttings

73407370

73707400

74007420

74207440

74407460

74607484

Lithofacies identified from

B-sand of Jagir-4 well
Light colored, medium grained
sandstone, 80% quartz grained,
moderately to well sorted,
angular to sub-rounded.
Off white and grey, medium to
coarse
grained
sandstone
contain mainly 90% quartz,
moderately sorted and rounded.
Light grey, fine to medium
grained sandstone, moderately
sorted,
and
sub-rounded.
Feldspar grains are also
present.
Grey to light grey, medium to
coarse grained sandstone,
moderately sorted, angular to
sub-rounded.
White to transparent white, fine
medium sandstone. 90% quartz
grained, well sorted, subangular to rounded, glauconitic
grains are also present.
White to off white, medium to
coarse grained sandstone, 70 to
90% quartz grained, well
sorted, sub-rounded.
Transparent white, medium
grained sandstone. Up to 85%
quartz grained, very well
sorted, sub-angular to well
rounded.
White to off white, medium to
coarse sand grained, and 80%
quartz grained well sorted and
sub-rounded.

Table 4. Lithofacies description of Jagir 4 well.

Page 10

Sample Type

Depth
(Feet)

Composite
Cuttings

7000-7030

Composite
Cuttings

7030-7070

Composite
Cuttings

7070-7100

Composite
Cuttings

7100-7130

Composite
Cuttings

7130-7160

Composite
Cuttings

7160-7200

Composite
Cuttings

7200-7240

Composite
Cuttings

7240-7275

Lithofacies identified from

B-sand of Jagir-3 well
Light to dark grey and
brown, medium to coarse
grained sandstone, well
sorted, angular to subrounded,
90%
quartz
grained, and dark colored
heavy minerals.
Off white to light grey, fine
to medium grained sand,
85% quartz grains and about
2% dark colored heavy
minerals.
Whitish to light grey,
medium grained sandstone,
80% quartz, moderately
sorted to well sorted and
sub-angular in shape.
Off white to grey, fine to
medium grained sandstone,
well sorted, angular to subangular.
White to light brown,
medium to coarse grained
sandstone, well sorted, subangular to sub-rounded.
Glauconite grains are also
present.
Light brown, grey, medium
to coarse grained sandstone,
moderately sorted, angular
to sub-rounded.
Light grey, colorless grains,
medium sandstone. 90%
quartz grained, moderately
to well sorted and subrounded in shape.
Light grey, fine to medium
grained sandstone, 85%
quartz grained moderately to
well sorted, well rounded.
Glauconite grains are also
present.

Table 5 Lithofacies Description of Jagir-3

JAGIR-3 WELL
Grain Size Analysis shows B-sand is fine to medium
grained sandstone (2.0 to 2.51), moderately sorted with near
symmetrical and negative skewness. Sandstone with 75%
Quartz, coarse grained in sizes, sub-angular to sub-roundedin.
Thin section No. 34 of Table 5. XRD pattern of Jagir-4 well
also favours petrographic study with quartz 93% (Fig. 5). The
results of the XRD analysis indicate that the sandstone samples
consist of quartz as the major mineral constituent while the
cementing material is calcite and iron oxide. The Jagir-3 well
is similar to Jagir-4 showing same stratigraphy.

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

Jagir-4 well. S.No-70, B-Sand

Quartz (Sio2) S-Q= 76.3%

Calcite (CaCo3) S-Q= 23.7%

quartz 82% (Fig.7).

The results of the XRD analysis indicate
Jagir-3 well. S.No-34, B-Sand
that the sandstone samples consist of quartz as the major
mineral constituent while the cementing material is calcite
and iron oxide.
Sample Type

Composite
Cuttings

Cuttings

Cuttings

Fig. 5a

XRD Analysis Results for Jagir-4 and Jagir-3 Wells

Jagir -3 well. S. No -3 4 , B- Sand

Composite
Cuttings

Quartz (Sio 2) S -Q= 93.4%

Calcite (CaCo 3) S - Q= 6.6%

Composite
Cuttings

Depth Quartz (Sio

Lithofacies
identified
2) S-Q= 93.4%
(CaCoB-sand
3) S-Q= 6.6%
Feet Calcitefrom
of Sonro-4
well
3942White to off white and
3960
transparent grains, fine to
medium
grained
sandstone of light grey
color. 90% quartz grained
very well sorted, well
rounded.
3960Grey to light grey,
3970
medium
grained
sandstone, well sorted,
sub-rounded.
3970Grey, brown, medium to
3980
coarse grained sandstone,
moderately sorted, subangular to rounded grains.
3980Light
brown,
grey,
4000
transparent,
medium
grained sandstone, more
than 85% are quartz
grains, moderately to well
sorted, rounded to subrounded.
4000Light grey, fine to
4031
medium
grained
sandstone, moderately to
well sorted, rounded to
sub-angular.

Table 6 Lithofacies description of Sonoro-4

Fig. 5b

XRD Analysis Results for Jagir-4 and Jagir-3 Wells

SONRO-4 WELL
Grain Size Analysis shows that B-sand is fine to medium
grained sandstone (2.0 to 2.51), moderately sorted with near
symmetrical and negative skewness. The sandstone with
80% quartz mineral, coarse grained, sub-rounded to subangular in shape, Feldspar (F), and Muscovite (M) mineral
are also present (Table 6). Thin Section 24 of Table 10. XRD
pattern of Jagir-4 well also favours petrographic study with

Page 11

JUNATHI SOUTH-01 WELL

Grain Size Analysis shows that B-sand is medium
grained sandstone (1.3 to 2.06), moderately to well sorted
with negative skewed. The sandstone with 85% quartz
mineral, coarse grained, sub-rounded to sub-angular in
shape, Feldspar (F), and Muscovite (M) mineral are also
present. Thin Section 66 of Table 7. The results of the XRD
analysis indicate that the sandstone samples consist of quartz
as the major mineral constituent while the cementing
material is calcite and iron oxide. XRD pattern of Jagir-4
well also favours petrographic study with quartz 87%
(Fig.6).

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

Soro-4, S.No-24, B-Sand

Quartz (Sio2) S-Q= 82.6%

Calcite (CaCo3) S-Q= 17.4%

Sample
Type

Depth
(Feet)

Lithofacies identified from Bsand of Junathi South-1 well

Off white, light yellow, medium
Composite
5169grained sandstone, 90% quartz
Cuttings
5190
grained, well sorted, sub-angular
to sub-rounded.
White, light grey, medium to coarse
5190grained sandstone, contain 85% quartz
Cuttings
5200
grained, well sorted, sub-angular to
rounded.
Light grey, medium to coarse
5200grained sandstone, 90% quartz
Cuttings
5210
grained, sub-angular to wellrounded.
White to transparent white,
medium
to
coarse-grained
5210Cuttings
sandstone, mainly composed of
5220
colorless quartz, moderately
sorted, and sub-rounded.
Off white to transparent medium
to coarse grained, very well sorted
Composite
5220and rounded grains. Glauconite
Cuttings
5244
and few feldspar grains also
present.
Table 7. Lithofacies Description of Junathi-South-1

ZAUR-5 WELL
Grain Size Analysis shows that B-sand is medium
Fig. 6a

XRD analysis results for Sonro-4 and Junathi South-1

Junathi
South

-1,
-66, -San
S.No
B d

strongly negative skewed. The sandstone with 85% quartz

mineral, coarse grained, sub-rounded to sub-angular in
shape, Feldspar (F), and Muscovite (M) mineral are also
presen Thin Section 53 of Table 8. The results of the XRD
analysis indicate that the sandstone samples consist of quartz
as the major mineral constituent while the cementing
material is calcite and iron oxide XRD pattern of Jagir-4 well
also favours petrographic study with quartz 87% (Fig.7).
Sample Type

Fig. 6b

XRD analysis results for Sonro-4 and Junathi South-1

Depth
(Feet)

Composite
Cuttings

64166450

Cuttings

64506460

Cuttings

64606470

Cuttings

64706480

Composite
Cuttings

64806515

Lithofacies identified from B-sand

of Zaur-5 well
Light brownish, medium to coarsegrained sandstone, 90% quartz
grained, very well sorted, sub-angular
to sub-round. Feldspar grains are also
present.
Off white to light grey, medium
grained sandstone, contains mostly
quartz, moderately sorted, and well
rounded.
White to off white, greenish grey,
medium to coarse-grained sandstone,
and 85% quartz grained, very well
sorted, sub-angular to sub-rounded in
shape.
White, Light grey, medium grained
sandstone, 70 to 90% quartz grained,
very well sorted, sub-angular to subrounded.
Off white to Light brown, medium to
coarse grained sandstone, Sub-angular
to sub-rounded, moderately to well
sorted.

Table 8. Lithofacies Description of Zaur-5

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

Zaur -5 well. S. No -68, A-Sand

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE
100

Zaur-5 (B-Sand)

90

Cumulative Weight Percentage

80

Quartz (Sio2) S-Q= 78.1%

Calcite ( CaCo3) S-Q= 21.9%

70
56
55
54
53
52

60
50
40
30
20
10

S.No.
55
55
54
53
52

Mean
1.968
2.25
2.334
2.034
2.334

2.5

Sorting
1.224
1.389
1.278
1.409
0.879

Skewness
-5.758
-0.778
-1.950
-5.165
-3.665

LEGEND

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

3.5

4.5

Grain Size (Phi Value)

Fig. 8a

Fig. 7a

Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Jagir-4

well

XRD Analysis Results for Zaur-5 Well

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE

100

Jagir-4 (B-Sand)

Quartz (Sio 2) S -Q= 87.3%

Calcite (CaCo 3) S -Q= 12.7%

Cummulative Weight Percentage

Zaur -5 well. S. No -54, B-Sand

90

95

80

84

70
60

68
67
66
65
64

50

50
40
30
20

16

10

S.No.
68
67
66
65
64

LEGEND

Mean Sorting Skewness

2.81
1.49
-6.68
2.91
1.38
-6.64
2.87
1.24
-6.86
2.10
1.04
-1.62
2.48
1.39
-4.10

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

Grain Siz e (Phi Value )

Fig. 8b

Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Jagir-4

well
CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE

100
Jagir-3 (B-Sand)
90

Fig. 7b

XRD Analysis Results for Zaur-5 Well

Cumulative frequency curves of B-sand of Jagir-4 well

is shown in Fig.8, Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand
of Jagir-3 well is shown in Fig. 9, Cumulative frequency
curves of B-sand of Sonro-1 well Fig. 10, Cumulative
Frequency Curves of B-sand of Zaur-5 well Fig. 11 and
Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Junathi South1 well Fig. 12. While the Grain Size Analysis is summarized
in Table.9

Cumulative Weight Percentage

80
70

50
40
30
20
10

S.No.
45
44
43
42

Mean Sorting Skewness LEGEND

2.07 1.52
-2.08
1.95 1.56
-5.17
1.93 1.31
-3.47
1.68 1.43
-3.8

41

2.05

1.51

-4.6

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

Grain Size (Phi Value)

Fig. 9

Page 13

45
44
43
42
41

60

Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Jagir-3 well

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

Well

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE

100

Sonro-4 (B-Sand)

Conclusions

Jagir-4

90

strongly negative
skewed

Cumulative Weight Percentage

80

Jagir-3

70

26
25
24
23
22

60
50

moderately sorted, and strongly negative skewed

Sonro-1
symmetrical and negative skewness.

40
30
S.No.
26
25
24
23
22

20
10

Mean
2.324
2.51
2.063
2.125
2.316

Sorting
1.728
1.576
1.239
2.287
1.047

LEGEND

Skewness
-0.571
-0.07
-0.492
-0.492
-3.65

skewed
Junathi
South-1

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

Zaur-5

4.5

symmetrical and/or negative skewness.

Grain Size (Phi Value)

Fig. 10 Cumulative frequency curves of B-sand of Sonro-1 well

Table.9 Grain Size Analysis is summarized in table

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE

100

Zaur-5 (B-Sand)

90

Cumulative Weight Percentage

80
70
56
55
54
53
52

60
50
40
30
20
10

S.No.
55
55
54
53
52

Mean
1.968
2.25
2.334
2.034
2.334

2.5

Sorting
1.224
1.389
1.278
1.409
0.879

Skewness
-5.758
-0.778
-1.950
-5.165
-3.665

LEGEND

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

3.5

4.5

Grain Size (Phi Value)

Fig. 11

Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Zaur-5 well

CUMULATIVE FREQUENCY CURVE

100
Junathi-South-1 (B-Sand)
90

Cumulative Weight Percentage

80
70

64
63
62
61
60

60
50
40
30

S.No.
64
63
62
61
60

20
10

Mean Sorting
2.3
0.701
2.06 1.218
1.34 1.249
2.06 0.473
2.31 0.983

Skewness
-1.094
-0.09
-1.25
-1.799
-1.26

LEGEND

0
-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

Grain Size (Phi Value)

Fig. 12 Cumulative Frequency Curves of B-sand of Junathi

South-1 well

Page 14

Table. 10 Petrographic study of well cuttings samples.

(Pl = Plain light, XPL Polarizing light)

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 2016

V. DISCUSSION
The use of well cuttings data to study lithological,
textural and mineralogical, characteristics using various
techniques predate the modern geological techniques such as
wireline logs and advanced downhole logging techniques. In
recent years there is renewed interest in the well cuttings
analysis as it has been testified by the studies of (Coffey and
Read, 2002; and Thomas and Read, 2006). The data indicates
that most of the facies are predominantly composed of quartz
grains which are moderately to well sorted, angular to subrounded. B-sandstone facies comprises mostly of medium to
coarse sandstone and show frequent vertical changes due to
sea level fluctuations.
Textural signatures i.e. mean grain size, sorting, and
skewness was calculated using (Folk and Ward, 1957). The
grain size range from (1.9 to 2.03) and that indicates
moderate energy conditions during the deposition of Bsandstone. In B-sands particularly the strongly coarse
skewness indicates increasing flood flow competence in
usually occurring in transitional sedimentary depositional
environments (nearshore areas). Overall Sand B is showing
R-T trend with deposition of reservoir sands as discussed by
various workers (I.E.D.S. 1995, Copestake et.al, 1995.
Ahmed et al., 2004, Nazeer et al. 2012-2013 and Abassi et.al,
2015). Coarsening upward sequence is also evident in log
patterns.
The results of the XRD analysis indicate that the
sandstone samples contain 70 to 90% quartz as the major
mineral constituent while the cementing material is calcite
and iron oxide. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses
results confirm with the petrographic results indicate that the
major mineral constituent is quartz. XRD pattern analysis
shows in samples No. 53 and 34 the quartz is 87 to 93% while
in sample No. 34 and 70, calcite is from 6 to 23%.
The correlation of all the five wells analyzed studies
indicates that the thicknesses of B-sand of Upper sands of
Lower Goru are quite variable. The trend of line AB is
roughly in north south direction and it covers a distance of
about 53.3 km. It has been observed that the thickness of Bsand unit generally decrease towards south and the maximum
thickness of B-sands occur in Jagir-3 and Jagir-4 wells.
Interpretation of wireline logs of five wells according to
the identification system of Selley (1985, 1998) indicates
that B-sand GR curve shapes generally exhibits a coarsening
upward sequence with almost uniform sorting. Textural
study proves B-sands bear good reservoir quality sandstone.
On the basis of GR log curves Dolan, (1990) and Ahmad et
al., (2004) the B-sands gamma ray log curve shows serrated
funnel shape at the base and followed by one or more cycles
of a cylinder (blocky) or bell shape. B-sands are interpreted
as barrier bar and progradational facies deposited during high
sea level.

Page 15

VI. CONCLUSIONS
The lithofacies analysis of Lower Goru Formation on the
basis of textural analysis of well cuttings and GR log
response gives us idea that the B-sands of Lower Goru
Formation deposited deltaic to shallow marine shelf
environment. The sandstones are predominantly
composed of quartz with some dark colored minerals and
occasional grains of feldspar.
Petrographic study indicates that the B-sandstone is
mature as the samples comprise 80 to 90% quartz grains.
Other minerals identified in samples are feldspar,
muscovite
The mean grain size in the study area ranges from 1.19 to
2.35. In B-sands particularly the strongly coarse skewness
indicates increasing flood flow competence usually
occurring in transitional sedimentary depositional
environments (near shore areas).
Overall Sand B is showing R-T trend with deposition of
reservoir sands as discussed by various workers (I.E.D.S.
1995, Copestake et al., 1995. Ahmed et al., 2004, Nazeer
et al. 2012-2013 and Abassi et.al, 2015).
The B-sand of Lower Goru is interpreted as clean with
good reservoir quality for hydrocarbon accumulation on
the basis of petrography, XRD Analysis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish to express our appreciation for the assistance
and cooperation of BP Pakistan and Directorate General of
Petroleum concession (DGPC), Islamabad for providing us
the essential data of well cutting samples, digital wireline
logs. We are also grateful to Dr. Rafique Ahmed Lashari for
his invaluable help for this work.

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