New Perspectives in Microfacies

A rapid evolution in our understanding of carbonate rocks was triggered in the mid- to late 50’s by the discovery of carbonate reservoirs in various parts of the world, followed by intensive research of recent carbonates. Modern and ancient carbonate environments, diagenetic processes and facies models were studied between about 1955 and 1965. During the late 60’s and the 70’s microfacies became an essential part of facies analysis and paleoenvironmental interpretation of limestones. The increasing importance of limestones and dolomites as reservoir rocks and the use of thin-section fossils in subdividing carbonate platforms gave substantial impetus to the progress of microfacies research. The 1980’s were characterized by an increased application of geochemical techniques with the object of developing predictive models for carbonate diagenesis and porosity. The subsequent period of time has seen the rapid development of sequence stratigraphy which now plays a major role in the characterization of the geometry and reservoir potential of carbonate rocks.