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Reservoir characterization of Tuscaloosa sand by mineralogical and petrophysical data

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/14274-PA· OSTI ID:6963167

A laboratory investigation has been made of the relationship between mineralogical and petrophysical properties of Tuscaloosa sandstone with a combination of petrographic analyses, formation-resistivity-factor measurements, and rock failure analyses. Petrographic analyses revealed that on the basis of the mineralogy of pore-filling and pore-lining cements, Tuscaloosa sandstones can be divided into two distinct types: those with authigenic quartz-overgrowth cement blocking the pore throats and those with authigenic chlorite cement coating the sand grains and preserving the pore system. For each type of sandstone, a well-defined relationship exists between the cementation factor m and other physical properties of the rock, such as porosity, type of cement, compressive strength, cohesive strength, failure angle, angle of internal friction, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and drilling strength. Furthermore, we found that the fracture mechanism is grain fracturing in a fairly brittle mode for silica-cemented sandstone, while the fracture mechanism is grain sliding and pore closure or expansion for chlorite-cemented sandstones.

Research Organization:
Core Analysis Inc.
OSTI ID:
6963167
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States) Vol. 1:6; ISSN SFEVE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English