This book was initiated by a study conducted at Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences for Shell Research. For the present book this study has been considerably enlarged and modified. The book has benefited from discussions with numerous colleagues, and numerous colleagues have provided us with unpublished data and information. Without this support, this book would not have been possible.

Carbonate deposition during early rifting: the Cambrian of Sardinia and the Triassic-Jurassic of Tuscany, Italy T. Cocozza and A. Gandin
Geometry and evolution of platform-margin bioclastic shoals, late Dinantian (Mississippian), Derbyshire, UK
R. L. Gawthorpe and P. Gutteridge
Cyclic sedimentation in carbonate and mixed carbonate-clastic environments: four simulation programs for a desktop computer G. M. Walkden and G. D. Walkden
Middle Triassic carbonate ramp systems in the Catalan Basin, northeast Spain: facies, systems tracts, sequences and controls F. Calvet, M. E. Tucker and J. M. Henton

Heterogeneity is an intrinsic property of all carbonate reservoirs. The properties of these reservoirs considerably change both laterally and vertically. Lateral changes are usually the result of various depositional settings, while vertical heterogeneities are caused by basin evolution through time. Available data from these reservoirs are very limited and so predicting the distribution of properties between the wells is very complicated. The hydrocarbon in place is calculated using these predictions and so they are very important. In fact, many aspects of the reservoir studies are about heterogeneities. Facies analysis and classifications, determining sedimentary environments, reservoir rock typing, flow unit determination and sequence stratigraphy are some examples. <...>

While this book is concerned primarily with porosity evolution and diagenesis in carbonate reservoirs, the reader and the authors must ultimately share a common understanding of the fundamental characteristics of the overall carbonate system. Therefore, the first three chapters are designed to highlight general concepts unique to— and essential for understanding—the carbonate realm.