The Effect of Diagenesis on Stress-Strain Behavior and Acoustic Velocities in Sandstones

Abstract

When sands are buried in sedimentary basins the additional overburden mechanically compact the sands to a denser configuration. Burial also increases temperature and the porosity is reduced by chemical compaction. Therefore, the geomechanical behavior of sandstones is to a large extent controlled by mechanical and chemical compaction. To investigate the relationship between the geological processes and geomechanical properties we conducted rock mechanical tests and petrographical analyses on different sandstones from the North Sea. For all tested sandstones with different degrees of cementation the peak strength is closely correlated with the Young's modulus. There seems to be a strong correlation between porosity and strength. This correlation was further improved by taking into account the primary layering. Sonic travel times also correlate with the peak strength and can be used as a method for calculating rock strength.

Meeting Name

1st Canada-US Rock Mechanics Symposium - Rock Mechanics Meeting Society's Challenges and Demands (2007: May 27-31, Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Compaction; Mechanical properties; Rock mechanics; Sandstone; Sedimentology; Acoustic velocities; Geological processes; Geomechanical behaviors; Geomechanical properties; North seas; Peak strengths; Rock strengths; Sedimentary basins; Stress strains; Strong correlations; Travel times; Young's modulus, Mechanics

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-0415444019

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2007 American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 2007

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