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Title: Linking preferred orientations to elastic anisotropy in Muderong Shale, Australia

Journal Article · · Geophysics
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Chulalongkorn Univ., Bangkok (Thailand)
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (Russia)
  3. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  4. CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, Perth (Australia)
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The significance of shales as unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, nuclear waste repositories, and geological carbon storage has opened new research frontiers in geophysics. Among many of its unique physical properties, elastic anisotropy has long been investigated by both experimental and computational approaches. Here we calculate elastic properties of Cretaceous Muderong Shale from Australia with a self-consistent averaging method based on microstructural information. The volume fraction and crystallographic preferred orientation distributions of constituent minerals are based on synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments. Aspect ratios of minerals and pores, determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are introduced in the self-consistent averaging. Our analysis suggests that phyllosilicates (i.e., illite-mica, illite-smectite, kaolinite, and chlorite) are dominant with ~70 vol.%. The shape of clay platelets displays an average aspect ratio of 0.05. These platelets are aligned parallel to the bedding plane with a rather high degree of preferred orientation. The estimated porosity at ambient pressure is ~17 vol.% and is divided into equiaxial pores and flat pores with an average aspect ratio of 0.01. Our model shows results (e.g. at pressure of ~50 MPa with C11 = 26.3; C13 =12.5; C33 = 18.2; C44 = 2.8; C66 = 6.8 [GPa]) that compare satisfactorily with values derived from ultrasonic velocity measurements (C11 = 26.6; C13 = 16.2; C33 = 18.3; C44 = 4.5; C66 = 8.8 [GPa]), confirming the validity and reliability of our approximations and averaging approach.

Research Organization:
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002006
OSTI ID:
1335148
Journal Information:
Geophysics, Vol. 80, Issue 1; ISSN 0016-8033
Publisher:
Society of Exploration GeophysicistsCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Seismic properties and anisotropy of the continental crust: Predictions based on mineral texture and rock microstructure: SEISMIC PROPERTIES OF THE CRUST journal May 2017
Influence of crystal structure defects on the small-angle neutron scattering/diffraction patterns of clay-rich porous media journal August 2018
Texture Development of Clay‐Rich Sediments Across the Costa Rica Subduction Zone text January 2019
A Study of Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Shale Based on Homogenization Method journal June 2019
Deformation mechanisms and evolution of the microstructure of gouge in the Main Fault in Opalinus Clay in the Mont Terri rock laboratory (CH) journal January 2018
Texture Development of Clay‐Rich Sediments Across the Costa Rica Subduction Zone journal August 2019
Deformation mechanisms and evolution of the microstructure of gouge in the Main Fault in Opalinus Clay in the Mont Terri rock laboratory (CH) text January 2018

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
shale
anisotropy
clay minerals
preferred orientation
self-consistent elastic averaging