Quantitative determination of the mechanical properties of shales

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · SPE Drilling Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/18024-PA· OSTI ID:7248730

Steiger, R P; Leung, P K ^[1]

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1. Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, TX (United States)

Shales make up more than 75% of drilled formations and cause at least 90% of wellbore-stability problems. Physical measurements of shale properties are required to develop realistic constitutive relationships and to understand and define shale strength and behavior under downhole conditions. Quantitative shale-strength data are needed to improve wellbore-stability model predictions. This paper describes a research test program to determine the mechanical properties of different classes of shales and to build a database on their characteristics and mechanical behavior. Shale samples from undisturbed block samples were prepared under controlled conditions. Mechanical test techniques were developed to measure effective-stress/strain properties accurately for shales. The tests require a heavy-duty, triaxial test load frame and other specially designed equipment to obtain precise pore pressure measurements. During the tests, pore pressure, stresses, and strains were monitored accurately by an automatic data-acquisition system. The test techniques described can be used to test shales with different characteristics: soft, hard, brittle, plastic, etc. On the basis on results of several shale tests, high-quality, effective-stress/strain data and failure criteria (shale strength relationships) can be obtained routinely.

• OSTI ID: 7248730
• Journal Information: SPE Drilling Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Drilling Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN 0885-9744; ISSN SDENE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040200 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
OIL SHALES
POROSITY
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCK MECHANICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
STRAINS
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
WELL DRILLING