Exploration of carbonate reservoirs in the next decade will necessitate knowledge of the diagenetic and epigenetic processes influencing porosity origins.

New tools and methods (some exotic and expensive) will be used to extend our analytic and perceptive ability. However, most of our exploration effort will rely on less expensive disciplines, combined with original exploratory thinking and studies of the rocks.

Most current carbonate research programs are concerned with depositional environments and fabrics and their relation to currently productive areas. The less-explored changes induced by burial, uplift, and structure are of equal importance in modifying or destroying original fabric. Porosity traps are formed through recrystallization, fracturing, and tectonic dolomitization.

Surface studies of structurally controlled carbonate porosity can be related directly to major, structurally complex, oil-producing reservoirs.

During the 70's our responsibilities will include the search for the subtle clue, which may indicate a nearby potential reservoir, modify our thinking on preexisting reservoirs, and refine our techniques of predictability of both depositional and structurally controlled porosity.

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