Award Abstract # 1044967
Mechanical Deformation, Failure Mode and Permeability Evolution in Carbonate Rock

NSF Org: EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
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: FY 2011 = $197,931.00
History of Investigator:
  • Teng-fong Wong (Principal Investigator)
    Teng-fong.Wong@stonybrook.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: SUNY at Stony Brook
W5510 FRANKS MELVILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
STONY BROOK
NY  US  11794-0001
(631)632-9949
Sponsor Congressional District: 01
Primary Place of Performance: SUNY at Stony Brook
W5510 FRANKS MELVILLE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
STONY BROOK
NY  US  11794-0001
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): M746VC6XMNH9
Parent UEI: M746VC6XMNH9
NSF Program(s): Tectonics
Primary Program Source: 01001112DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):
Program Element Code(s): 157200
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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Baud, P., T.-f. Wong, and W. Zhu "Effects of porosity and crack density on compressive strength: Laboratory data and analytic estimates" Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. , 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2013.08.031i
Ji, Y., P. Baud, V. Vajdova, and T.-f. Wong "Characterization of pore geometry of Indiana Limestone in relation to mechanical compaction" Oil & Gas Sci. and Tech. - Rev. IFPEN , v.67 , 2012 , p.753
Ji, Y., P. Baud, V. Vajdova, and T.-f. Wong "Characterization of pore geometry of Indiana Limestone in relation to mechanical compaction" Oil & Gas Sci. and Tech. - Rev. IFPEN , v.67 , 2012 , p.753-775
Vajdova, V., P. Baud, L.Wu, and T.-f. Wong "Micromechanics of inelastic compaction in two allochemical limestones" J. Struct. Geol , v.43 , 2012 , p.100
Vajdova, V., P. Baud, L.Wu, and T.-f. Wong "Micromechanics of inelastic compaction in two allochemical limestones" J. Struct. Geol. , v.43 , 2012 , p.100-117
Wong, T.-f. and P. Baud "The brittle-ductile transition in porous rock: A review" J. Struct. Geol. , v.44 , 2012 , p.25
Wong, T.-f. and P. Baud "The brittle-ductile transition in porous rock: A review" J. Struct. Geol , v.44 , 2012 , p.25-53

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

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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