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4D Synchrotron X-ray Imaging of Grain Scale Deformation Mechanisms in a Seismogenic Gas Reservoir Sandstone During Axial Compaction
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2191-2888
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-5522
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8632-3844
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0653-7565
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5125-5930
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3436-8941
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2253-3273
Abstract Understanding the grain-scale processes leading to reservoir compaction during hydrocarbons production is crucial for enabling physics-based predictions of induced surface subsidence and seismicity hazards. However, typical laboratory experiments only allow for pre- and post-experimental microstructural investigation of deformation mechanisms. Using high-resolution time-lapse X-ray micro-tomography imaging (4D µCT) during triaxial deformation, the controlling grain-scale processes can be visualized through time and space at realistic subsurface conditions. We deformed a sample of Slochteren sandstone, the reservoir rock from the seismogenic Groningen gas field in the Netherlands. The sample was deformed beyond its yield point (axial strain > 15%) in triaxial compression at reservoir P–T-stress conditions (100 °C, 10 MPa pore pressure, 40 MPa effective confining pressure). A total of 50 three-dimensional µCT scans were obtained during deformation, at a spatial resolution of 6.5 µm. Time lapse imaging plus digital volume correlation (DVC) enabled identification of the grain-scale deformation mechanisms operating throughout the experiment, for the first time, both at small, reservoir-relevant strains (< 1%), and in the approach to brittle failure at strains > 10%. During small-strain deformation, the sample showed compaction through grain rearrangement accommodated by inter-granular slip and normal displacements across grain boundaries, in particular, by closure of open grain boundaries or compaction of inter-granular clay films. At intermediate and large strains (> 4%), grain fracturing and pore collapse were observed, leading to sample-scale brittle failure. These observations provide key input for developing microphysical models describing compaction of the Groningen and other producing (gas) reservoirs.
Highlights Time-lapse synchrotron micro-CT imaging reveals grain-scale deformation processes for compaction of Slochteren sandstone, from the Groningen gas fieldAt small axial strains, digital volume correlation shows local strains by small displacements along grain boundaries, without intra-granular cracksAfter yielding, the sample deformed through pervasive grain failure and pore collapse
4D Synchrotron X-ray Imaging of Grain Scale Deformation Mechanisms in a Seismogenic Gas Reservoir Sandstone During Axial Compaction
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2191-2888
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-5522
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8632-3844
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0653-7565
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5125-5930
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3436-8941
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2253-3273
Abstract Understanding the grain-scale processes leading to reservoir compaction during hydrocarbons production is crucial for enabling physics-based predictions of induced surface subsidence and seismicity hazards. However, typical laboratory experiments only allow for pre- and post-experimental microstructural investigation of deformation mechanisms. Using high-resolution time-lapse X-ray micro-tomography imaging (4D µCT) during triaxial deformation, the controlling grain-scale processes can be visualized through time and space at realistic subsurface conditions. We deformed a sample of Slochteren sandstone, the reservoir rock from the seismogenic Groningen gas field in the Netherlands. The sample was deformed beyond its yield point (axial strain > 15%) in triaxial compression at reservoir P–T-stress conditions (100 °C, 10 MPa pore pressure, 40 MPa effective confining pressure). A total of 50 three-dimensional µCT scans were obtained during deformation, at a spatial resolution of 6.5 µm. Time lapse imaging plus digital volume correlation (DVC) enabled identification of the grain-scale deformation mechanisms operating throughout the experiment, for the first time, both at small, reservoir-relevant strains (< 1%), and in the approach to brittle failure at strains > 10%. During small-strain deformation, the sample showed compaction through grain rearrangement accommodated by inter-granular slip and normal displacements across grain boundaries, in particular, by closure of open grain boundaries or compaction of inter-granular clay films. At intermediate and large strains (> 4%), grain fracturing and pore collapse were observed, leading to sample-scale brittle failure. These observations provide key input for developing microphysical models describing compaction of the Groningen and other producing (gas) reservoirs.
Highlights Time-lapse synchrotron micro-CT imaging reveals grain-scale deformation processes for compaction of Slochteren sandstone, from the Groningen gas fieldAt small axial strains, digital volume correlation shows local strains by small displacements along grain boundaries, without intra-granular cracksAfter yielding, the sample deformed through pervasive grain failure and pore collapse
4D Synchrotron X-ray Imaging of Grain Scale Deformation Mechanisms in a Seismogenic Gas Reservoir Sandstone During Axial Compaction
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2191-2888
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-5522
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8632-3844
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0653-7565
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5125-5930
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3436-8941
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2253-3273
Abstract Understanding the grain-scale processes leading to reservoir compaction during hydrocarbons production is crucial for enabling physics-based predictions of induced surface subsidence and seismicity hazards. However, typical laboratory experiments only allow for pre- and post-experimental microstructural investigation of deformation mechanisms. Using high-resolution time-lapse X-ray micro-tomography imaging (4D µCT) during triaxial deformation, the controlling grain-scale processes can be visualized through time and space at realistic subsurface conditions. We deformed a sample of Slochteren sandstone, the reservoir rock from the seismogenic Groningen gas field in the Netherlands. The sample was deformed beyond its yield point (axial strain > 15%) in triaxial compression at reservoir P–T-stress conditions (100 °C, 10 MPa pore pressure, 40 MPa effective confining pressure). A total of 50 three-dimensional µCT scans were obtained during deformation, at a spatial resolution of 6.5 µm. Time lapse imaging plus digital volume correlation (DVC) enabled identification of the grain-scale deformation mechanisms operating throughout the experiment, for the first time, both at small, reservoir-relevant strains (< 1%), and in the approach to brittle failure at strains > 10%. During small-strain deformation, the sample showed compaction through grain rearrangement accommodated by inter-granular slip and normal displacements across grain boundaries, in particular, by closure of open grain boundaries or compaction of inter-granular clay films. At intermediate and large strains (> 4%), grain fracturing and pore collapse were observed, leading to sample-scale brittle failure. These observations provide key input for developing microphysical models describing compaction of the Groningen and other producing (gas) reservoirs.
Highlights Time-lapse synchrotron micro-CT imaging reveals grain-scale deformation processes for compaction of Slochteren sandstone, from the Groningen gas fieldAt small axial strains, digital volume correlation shows local strains by small displacements along grain boundaries, without intra-granular cracksAfter yielding, the sample deformed through pervasive grain failure and pore collapse
4D Synchrotron X-ray Imaging of Grain Scale Deformation Mechanisms in a Seismogenic Gas Reservoir Sandstone During Axial Compaction
F. Van Stappen, J. (author) / McBeck, J. A. (author) / Cordonnier, B. (author) / Pijnenburg, R. P. J. (author) / Renard, F. (author) / Spiers, C. J. (author) / Hangx, S. J. T. (author)
2022
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
BKL:
38.58
Geomechanik
/
56.20
Ingenieurgeologie, Bodenmechanik
/
38.58$jGeomechanik
/
56.20$jIngenieurgeologie$jBodenmechanik
RVK:
ELIB41
Micromechanics of compaction in an analogue reservoir sandstone
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000