Rock Mechanics

Mechanical Properties
Study of strength properties of
rocks

PGE 519-617 Petrophysics Petroleum Related Rock Mechanics

Prof. Dr. Salih SANER
Reservoir rocks at subsurface conditions
High pressure
High temperature
Near East University, Nicosia Northern Cyprus Dynamic conditions
S. Saner 2

Major Earth Crust Stresses Stress, s

Stress is the external force (load per unit
Tectonic
area) applied to a rock.
Compressional
F
Tensional s=
Shear A
Overburden
s : stress, Pa or MPa=106 Pa
Total
Net (=Total – Pore Pressure)
F : force, N
A : area, m2
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Stress Conditions Strain

Strain is the relative change in shape or size of a
material due to externally applied forces (stress).
In other words it is the measurement of deformation.
Example: Extensional
strain of a core
L - Lo
Tensile Compressive Shear
e=
Lo

e : strain, fraction (or %)

Lo : initial length
L : length after deformation
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1
 Deformation of a Core on
Application of Stress Stress-Strain Relationship

Caracteristics:
Ductility

Brittleness

Yield point

Compression Extension Tests:

Uniaxial

Stress
Start of plastic
Biaxial
deformation
Triaxial

Elastic limit
S. Saner 7 Strain S. Saner 8

Factors Affecting Stress-

Strain Relationship Rock Strength
TEST CONDITIONS Uniaxial
• Confining pressure Biaxial
• Temperature  Lab Triaxial Ability to resist stress without yield or
Slow loading
• Time
  Reservoir to resist the deformation
 Fast loading
• Reservoir fluids  Dry
 Saturated •Tensional strength
ROCK PROPERTIES
•Compressive strength
• Minerals
• Texture •Shear strength
• Anisotropy  Brittle
• Porosity  Ductile
• Permeability
• Cement type and degree
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Unconfined Compressive Strengths

Under Dry and Saturated Conditions Rock mechanics Parameters

• Poisson’s Ratio
40000
Dry
Unconfined compressive strength (psi)

35000 Saturated

30000 • Young’s Modulus

25000
• Modulus of Rigidity
20000

15000 • Bulk Modulus

10000

5000

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Poisson’s Ratio Young’s Modulus

Elastic constant defined as the The ratio of longitudinal stress to

ratio of latitudinal strain to longitudinal strain
longitudinal strain

F/A
E =
ΔL/L0

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Modulus of Rigidity (Shear

Modulus) Bulk Modulus

Measure of the resistance of a body The change in the bulk volume of a solid
to change in shape, expressed as substance as the pressure on it is changed
the ratio of shear stress to shear
strain.

Shear stress It is reciprocal of matrix compressibility

G =
Shear strain

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Lab Measurements Triaxial Test

Compressive Strength a. Axial pressure in equal increments

• Uniaxial test
b. Axial pressure at a constant rate
• Biaxial test
• Triaxial test
a. Dry
Tensile Strength b. Saturated
• Direct pull test
• Brazilian test
• Beam flexure test a. Drained
b. Undrained
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Triaxial Test System Triaxial Cell

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Axial vs. Confining Pressure Plot

of Seven Granodiorite Samples Compressibility (psi-1)
 Rock matrix (grain) compressibility

 Rock bulk compressibility

 Pore compressibility

or Almost total
compressibility
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STRAIN ELIPSE
Compression

Thrust fault

Thrust fault

23 Compression

4
 TYPES OF FAILURE
(AT VARYING CONFINING PRESSURE)

Shortening
s1
Extension
s3
s2
Extension s3
Shortening s1
s2
s2
1 bar 300 bars 1000 bars
Extension SEMIBRITTLE PLASTIC
EXTENSION BRITTLE SHEAR
s3 FRACTURES FAILURES SHEAR FAILURE
FAILURE
Shortening s1
25

Karot 33 test öncesi Karot 33, test sonrası

Karot 35L, test öncesi Karot 35L, test sonrası

Brittle-Ductile
Brittle Transition
Ductile

5
 Tectonic fractures in Hofuf Fm (N9E & 77W)
Dam Limestone
N

9m
49 m
HOFUF FM
18 m
17 m
DAM FM
90 m
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Hofuf Calcareous Sandstone

UNIAXIAL TEST
9m

PETROGRAPHY
49 m
HOFUF FM
18 m
17 m
DAM FM
90 m

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UNIAXIAL TEST PETROGRAPHY 7400

Stress Width Profiles Width Contours
Width (in.)
% Length
0
0
0.005
20
7450 0.01

2A
40
0.015
60
0.02
80
0.025
90
0.03
7500 95
0.035
99

2B
0.04
0.045
0.05
7550

3A
TVD (ft)

7600

7650
3B
7700

7750
Ju
7800
4000 5000 6000-0.10-0.05 0 0.050.10 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Stress (psi) Width (in.) Length (ft)

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Frac. geometry - UTMN 387, (mean+1 SD) k, 34500 bpd
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 7400
Stress Width Profiles Width Contours
Width (in.)
% Length
0
0
0.004
20
7450 0.008
2A
2A
40
60
80
0.012
0.016
0.02
90
0.024
7500 95
0.028
99
2B2B 0.032
0.036
0.04
7550

3A3A
TVD (ft)

7600

7650 3B
3B
7700

7750 Ju
7800
4000 5000 6000-0.10-0.05 0 0.050.10 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Stress (psi) Width (in.) Length (ft)

Frac. geometry - UTMN 387, (mean+1 SD) k, 34500 bpd

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