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Numerical Estimates of the Maximum Sustainable Pore Pressure in Anticline Formations using the Tensor Based Concept of Pore Pressure-Stress Coupling
Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
  • Andreas Eckert, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • W. Zhang
  • X. Liu
  • M. Paradeis
Abstract

The advanced tensor based concept of pore pressure-stress coupling is used to provide pre-injection analytical estimates of the maximum sustainable pore pressure change, ΔPc, for fluid injection scenarios into generic anticline geometries. The heterogeneous stress distribution for different prevailing stress regimes in combination with the Young's modulus (E) contrast between the injection layer and the cap rock and the interbedding friction coefficient, μ, may result in large spatial and directional differences of ΔPc. A single value characterizing the cap rock as for horizontal layered injection scenarios is not obtained. It is observed that a higher Young's modulus in the cap rock and/or a weak mechanical coupling between layers amplifies the maximum and minimum ΔPc values in the valley and limb, respectively. These differences in ΔPc imposed by E and μ are further amplified by different stress regimes. The more compressional the stress regime is,the larger the differences between the maximum and minimum ΔPc values become. The results of this study show that,in general compressional stress regimes yield the largest magnitudes of ΔPc and extensional stress regimes provide the lowest values of ΔPc for anticline formations. Yet this conclusion has to be considered with care when folded anticline layers are characterized by flexural slip and the friction coefficient between layers is low,i.e. μ=0.1. For such cases of weak mechanical coupling, ΔPc magnitudes may range from 0MPa to 27MPa,indicating imminent risk of fault reactivation in the cap rock.

Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Research Center/Lab(s)
Center for High Performance Computing Research
Keywords and Phrases
  • Pore pressure–stress coupling,
  • Anticlines,
  • Stress regimes,
  • Friction coefficient
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2015 Chinese Academy of Sciences, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
2-1-2015
Publication Date
01 Feb 2015
Citation Information
Andreas Eckert, W. Zhang, X. Liu and M. Paradeis. "Numerical Estimates of the Maximum Sustainable Pore Pressure in Anticline Formations using the Tensor Based Concept of Pore Pressure-Stress Coupling" Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Vol. 7 Iss. 1 (2015) p. 60 - 72 ISSN: 1674-7755
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/andreas_eckert/32/