
NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
Recipient: |
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Initial Amendment Date: | February 15, 2011 |
Latest Amendment Date: | February 15, 2011 |
Award Number: | 1044967 |
Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
David Fountain
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
Start Date: | February 15, 2011 |
End Date: | January 31, 2014 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $197,931.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $197,931.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
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History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
W5510 FRANKS MELVILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY STONY BROOK NY US 11794-0001 (631)632-9949 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
W5510 FRANKS MELVILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY STONY BROOK NY US 11794-0001 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): | Tectonics |
Primary Program Source: |
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Program Reference Code(s): | |
Program Element Code(s): |
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Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Tectonic deformation and fluid flow are coupled in many crustal processes. A more comprehensive understanding of such processes in carbonate formation is of importance in many geophysical applications. Field and laboratory observations show that the development of faults and deformation bands in carbonate rocks is significantly more complex than in clastic rocks, involving fundamentally different micromechanical processes. This is likely to impact the evolution of permeability with deformation and failure mode, as well as how it responds to independent changes of stress and pore pressure. In this research project, fundamental questions related to mechanical deformation, failure mode and fluid flow in carbonate rock will be addressed using an integrated approach based on laboratory deformation and permeability measurements, systematic microstructural observations and micromechanical analysis. The microstructure and damage development will be characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as X-ray computed microtomography. The macroscopic and microscopic data will be synthesized to derive micromechanical models for the different failure modes and pore-scale model for permeability and related effective stress behavior.
This research will provide an unusual opportunity to examine a rock physics problem of major concern in energy resources and tectonics. Carbonate rocks contain about 60% of the world?s oil reserves, and yet the characterization of carbonate reservoirs remains challenging because of their heterogeneity and complex microstructure. In this context, it is of critical importance to characterize, in some detail, how the permeability of fluid may evolve with mechanical deformation and stress (associated with tectonics and reservoir activities). The research will be conducted under controlled conditions in the laboratory with the goal to elucidate the fundamental physics for these issues.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
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This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Tectonic deformation and fluid flow are coupled in many crustal processes. A fundamental understanding of such processes in carbonate formation is of importance in many applications related to the natural environment and energy resources.Yet there is a paucity of high-quality data that can address the questions related to the evolution of permeability with deformation and failure mode, as well as how it responds to independent changes of stress and pore pressure. In this project we address these intertwined questions using an integrated approach based on laboratory deformation and permeability measurements, systematic microstructural observations and micromechanical analysis. Several signficant results have derived from this project. First, we have elucidated the geometric complexity of carbonate rocks, in particular, the interplay of macroporosity and microporosity. This represents one of the first systematic effort integrating a diversity of microstructural observational technqiues to proble this issue. Second, we have acquired the mechanical data and developed a micromecahnical model that captures the dual porosity attributes and their control over dilatatant and compactant failures. Third, our permeability data indicate that they are profoundly influenced by the dual porosity. Overall the experimental and theoretical results have significant implications on rock physics and tectonic analyses of mechanical failure and permeability evolution in carbonate reservoirs.
Last Modified: 03/19/2014
Modified by: Teng-Fong Wong
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