Page 83 - MSc_thesis_R A Kil

9 Recommendations

This project represents an unprecedented attempt to analyse eastern Favignana’s depositional history
and internal architecture from a hydrocarbon reservoir point of view. The large extension of the outcrops
— together with the relatively limited time span — resulted in a very broad investigation. At the
moment of writing, a similar study carried out at the University of Utrecht is focussing on the detailed
sedimentological description of the calcarenite complex. An additional comprehensive microscopical
description, based on a large number of samples sampling and a detailed sedimentological approach
rather than a petroleum engineering perspective will hopefully increase the insight into the Favignana
calcarenite.

In addition to the ongoing research, few recommendations are presented below in order to improve the
scientific knowledge of the area.

1. Constraints in budget and transportation limited the number of samples large enough to produce
plugs for tests on reservoir properties. In addition the samples were taken in the first fieldwork
campaign, when a final facies subdivision was not yet defined. The result was a lack of samples
representative of certain facies. A more extensive and comprehensive sampling campaign would
therefore greatly improve the quality of the porosity and permeability dataset.

2. The creation of thin sections from calcarenite with low cementation poses some technical difficulties.
Abrasion during the cutting and polishing can change the original orientation and situation of the
grain particles. It is very likely that the thin sections presented in this thesis have been subjected
to this kind of mechanical deformation. Other techniques in order to make thin sections were
not available at the TU Delft, however more professional laboratories might be able to produce
higher quality thin sections. In this way it would be possible to obtain porosity measurements from
microscopical image analysis.

3. The MPS facies modelling algorithm is very sensitive to the training image input. A more experienced
approach to make this image would possibly improve the quality of the facies model. Another
improvement can be achieved with a higher pseudo-well density resulting from more fieldwork in
the area.

4. Additional investigation of the calcarenites deposited on the mainland of Sicily, between Trapani

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