Evaluation of tensile strength using hydraulic fracturing test results and its comparison with Brazilian tensile strength and point load strength, case study: Asmari formation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 MSc Student of Engineering Geology, Department of Engineering Geology, Tarbiat Modares University

2 Assistant professor, Department of Engineering Geology, Tarbiat Modares University, nikudelm@modares.ac.ir

3 PhD of Engineering Geology, Gamane – Kav Consultant Engineers Company, Tehran

Abstract

 
Nowadays, the need to enhance the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources due to importance and increase in the rate of consumption of this material is more crucial than ever. On the other hand, the rock formations with low effective porosity, which are considered as hydrocarbon reservoirs prevented to have a suitable productivity of these reservoirs. Hydraulic fracturing is known as a process of initiation and propagation of fractures caused by fluid injection into the part of the boreholes in rock formations, which has an important role in increasing of the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs with low efficiency. Initiation and propagation fractures have a high dependency to the parameters and properties of reservoir rocks. Among these parameters can mention, such as rock material, rock tensile strength, pore pressure and etc. Importance tensile strength of rock for predicting the breakdown pressure of hydraulic fracturing test is remarkable and this parameter is a function of lithology of reservoir rock. Hence, in this study with sampling at typical section of Asmari formation, evaluation of breakdown pressure parameter as a function of rock tensile strength and lithology parameters has been paid. The ratio of hydraulic fracturing tensile strength to Brazilian test tensile strength and Point load test allows prediction of the tensile strength and is an important parameter for simulation of hydraulic fracturing test results. Comparison of these ratios shows that the tensile strength parameter is dependent on the test method. Rock tensile strength that obtained from hydraulic fracturing test is 20.08 MPa and proportion between tensile strength of hydraulic fracturing test to Brazilian test is equal to 2.35. Slight differences in the distribution of data and regression coefficient 0.9 are due to the small karst cavities, relatively low porosity and intragranular voids because of fossils in the rock structure. All evidences, including the results of physical and mechanical properties reveal the influence of lithology on the results of tensile strength obtained from hydraulic fracturing test.

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References

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Scientific Quarterly Journal of Iranian Association of Engineering Geology
Volume 8, Number 3 & 4
March 2015
Pages 65-80

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 September 2014
  • Revise Date: 19 March 2016
  • Accept Date: 20 July 2016

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