Diagenetic evolution in marine carbonate rocks based on the typical case studies: Review and perspectives

Oil and gas derived from marine carbonate rocks are critical energy resources worldwide. The diagenetic process plays a pivotal role in controlling reservoirs, which is essential for understanding reservoir genesis and enhancing oil and gas exploration. Considering the complexity of carbonate rock diagenesis, this review examines the diagenetic mechanisms and stages of marine carbonate rock reservoirs for the first time, with the aim of enhancing the understanding of reservoir evolution and improving oil and gas exploration. This review elucidates the significance of carbonate diagenesis, summarizes the stages of diagenesis, delineates the diagenetic evolution of various types of carbonate rocks, describes the technical methods employed to investigate diagenetic evolution, examines the factors affecting the reservoir, and discusses potential future developments. These findings indicate that compaction, cementation, dissolution, neomorphism, and metasomatism are the primary diagenesis of carbonate rocks. Diagenetic evolution is typically divided into syngenetic, early, intermediate, late, and epigenetic stages. This study employed a basin dynamics perspective to examine the fluid-rock interactions that drive diagenesis. Furthermore, it provided a summary of the diagenesis of microbial and cool-water carbonate rocks. The control of reservoirs through karstification, hydrothermal dissolution, dolomitization, and cementation is dual. In the future, artificial intelligence and artificial neural networks will play significant roles in identifying thin sections and diagenesis. The integration of micro-elements, micro-isotopes, and various techniques is highly significant for studying the diagenetic evolution of carbonate rocks. The storage of CO₂ in marine carbonates is considered a future development trend. This study offers a theoretical basis for the exploration and development of marine carbonates by examining advancements in the diagenetic evolution of marine carbonates, as well as the theoretical and technological aspects.