Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in Shale Rock Properties and Wave Velocity Anisotropy Induced by Increasing Temperature

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water saturation, organic matter content, and fractures are important factors influencing the physical properties of shale. In this study, shale samples were subjected to heating at 1 °C/min and then gradual cooling. An initial suite of tests was conducted at temperatures of 100 °C, 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C. The P-wave and S-wave velocities were measured, rock mechanics parameters were calculated, and then the uniaxial compressive strength test was performed. The mineral composition changed at 500 °C and the montmorillonite transformation of the shale to illite and rock diagenesis were gradually enhanced. Under the condition of heating, shale water saturation and organic matter content were reduced. The difference in the thermal mineral grain (thermal expansion anisotropy and inhomogeneous thermal expansion.) caused the corresponding changes in the internal structure of the rocks. When the changes exceeded those of the rock itself to some extent, they tended to produce microcracks within the rock, resulting in a change in the rock mechanics parameters. The results provide the fundamental parameters for rock mechanics and an important guide for high-temperature wellbore stability and hydraulic fracturing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cho, J. W., Kim, H., Jeon, S., & Min, K. B. (2011). An experimental study on deformation and strength anisotropy of transversely isotropic rocks in Korea. In 12th ISRM congress. International society for rock mechanics and rock engineering.

  • Deng, J. X., Shi, G., Liu, R. X., & Yu, J. (2004). Analysis of the velocity anisotropy and its affection factors in shale and mudstone. Chinese Journal of Geophysics-Chinese Edition, 47(5), 862–868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Z., & Harrison, J. P. (2002). Development of a local degradation approach to the modelling of brittle fracture in heterogeneous rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 39(4), 443–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geng, Z., Chen, M., Jin, Y., Yang, S., Yi, Z., Fang, X., et al. (2016). Experimental study of brittleness anisotropy of shale in triaxial compression. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 36, 510–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Géraud, Y. (1994). Variations of connected porosity and inferred permeability in a thermally cracked granite. Geophysical Research Letters, 21(11), 979–982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heard, H. C. (1980). Thermal expansion and inferred permeability of climax quartz monzonite to 300 C and 27.6 MPa. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 17(5), 289–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettema, M. H. H., Niepce, D. V., & Wolf, K. H. (1999). A microstructural analysis of the compaction of claystone aggregates at high temperatures. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 36(1), 57–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettema, M. H. H., Wolf, K. A., & De Pater, C. J. (1998). The influence of steam pressure on thermal spalling of sedimentary rock: Theory and experiments. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 35(1), 3–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornby, B. E., Schwartz, L. M., & Hudson, J. A. (1994). Anisotropic effective-medium modeling of the elastic properties of shales. Geophysics, 59(10), 1570–1583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamaluddin, A. K. M., Bennion, D. B., Thomas, F. B., & Ma, T. (1998). Application of heat treatment to enhance permeability in tight gas reservoirs. In Annual technical meeting. Petroleum Society of Canada.

  • Keir, D., Belachew, M., Ebinger, C. J., Kendall, J. M., Hammond, J. O., Stuart, G. W., et al. (2011). Mapping the evolving strain field during continental breakup from crustal anisotropy in the Afar Depression. Nature Communications, 2(1), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q., Chen, M., Jin, Y., Zhou, Y., Wang, F. P., & Zhang, R. (2013). Rock mechanical properties of shale gas reservoir and their influences on hydraulic fracture. In IPTC 2013: International petroleum technology conference (p. cp-350). European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.

  • Li, X., Lei, X., Li, Q., & Li, X. (2017). Experimental investigation of Sinian shale rock under triaxial stress monitored by ultrasonic transmission and acoustic emission. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 43, 110–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, K., & Sheng, J. J. (2019). Experimental study of the effect of stress anisotropy on fracture propagation in Eagle Ford shale under water imbibition. Engineering Geology, 249, 13–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. R., & Wu, X. D. (2008). Microscopic experiment of thermal treated rock. Journal of Southwest Petroleum University (Science & Technology Edition), 29(4), 006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S., & Xu, J. (2015). An experimental study on the physico-mechanical properties of two post-high-temperature rocks. Engineering Geology, 185, 63–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meredith, P. G., & Atkinson, B. K. (1985). Fracture toughness and subcritical crack growth during high-temperature tensile deformation of Westerly granite and Black gabbro. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 39(1), 33–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nooraiepour, M., Mondol, N. H., Hellevang, H., & Bjørlykke, K. (2017). Experimental mechanical compaction of reconstituted shale and mudstone aggregates: Investigation of petrophysical and acoustic properties of SW Barents Sea cap rock sequences. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 80, 265–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otto, C., & Kempka, T. (2015). Thermo-mechanical simulations of rock behavior in underground coal gasification show negligible impact of temperature-dependent parameters on permeability changes. Energies, 8(6), 5800–5827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter, D., & Simmons, G. (1974). Thermal expansion behavior of igneous rocks. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 11(10), 403–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rickman, R., Mullen, M. J., Petre, J. E., Grieser, W. V., & Kundert, D. (2008). A practical use of shale petrophysics for stimulation design optimization: All shale plays are not clones of the Barnett Shale. In SPE annual technical conference and exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Ross, C. M., Rangel-German, E., Castanier, L. M., Hara, P. S., & Kovscek, A. R. (2006). A laboratory investigation of temperature-induced sand consolidation. SPE Journal, 11(02), 206–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saiang, C., & Miskovsky, K. (2011, January). Effect of heat on the mechanical properties of selected rock types–a laboratory study. In 12th ISRM congress. International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

  • Sarout, J., & Guéguen, Y. (2008). Anisotropy of elastic wave velocities in deformed shales: Part 2—Modeling results. Geophysics, 73(5), D91–D103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somerton, W. H., & Gupta, V. S. (1965). Role of fluxing agents in thermal alteration of sandstones. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 17(05), 585–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somerton, W. H., Mehta, M. M., & Dean, G. W. (1965). Thermal alteration of sandstones. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 17(05), 589–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sondergeld, C. H., Newsham, K. E., Comisky, J. T., Rice, M. C., & Rai, C. S. (2010). Petrophysical considerations in evaluating and producing shale gas resources. In SPE unconventional gas conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • Thirumalai, K., & Demou, S. G. (1970). Effect of reduced pressure on thermal-expansion behavior of rocks and its significance to thermal fragmentation. Journal of Applied Physics, 41(13), 5147–5151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomsen, L. (1986). Weak elastic anisotropy. Geophysics, 51(10), 1954–1966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian, H., Ziegler, M., & Kempka, T. (2014). Physical and mechanical behavior of claystone exposed to temperatures up to 1000 C. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 70, 144–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernik, L., & Nur, A. (1992). Ultrasonic velocity and anisotropy of hydrocarbon source rocks. Geophysics, 57(5), 727–735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., Ge, H., Wang, J., Wang, D., & Chen, H. (2016a). Evaluation of the micro-cracks in shale from the stress sensitivity of ultrasonic velocities. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 49(12), 4929–4934.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, D., Ge, H., Wang, X., Wang, J., & Meng, F. (2015). The Mechanical properties of gas shale under uniaxial stress. In 13th ISRM international congress of rock mechanics. International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

  • Wang, Y., & Li, C. H. (2017). Investigation of the P-and S-wave velocity anisotropy of a Longmaxi formation shale by real-time ultrasonic and mechanical experiments under uniaxial deformation. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 158, 253–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Xie, L., Xie, H., Ren, L., He, B., Li, C., et al. (2016b). Effect of layer orientation on acoustic emission characteristics of anisotropic shale in Brazilian tests. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 36, 1120–1129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waters, G. A., Lewis, R. E., & Bentley, D. (2011). The effect of mechanical properties anisotropy in the generation of hydraulic fractures in organic shales. In SPE annual technical conference and exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

  • White, J. E., MARTINEAU-NICOLETIS, L., & Monash, C. (1983). Measured anisotropy in Pierre shale. Geophysical Prospecting, 31(5), 709–725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterstein, D. F., & Paulsson, B. N. P. (1990). Velocity anisotropy in shale determined from crosshole seismic and vertical seismic profile data. Geophysics, 55(4), 470–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, X. D., Liu, J. R., & Qin, J. S. (2003). Effects of thermal treatment on wave velocity as well as porosity and permeability of rock. Journal-University of Petroleum China Natural Science Edition, 27(4; ISSU 138), 70–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing, Z., Beaucour, A. L., Hebert, R., Noumowe, A., & Ledesert, B. (2011). Influence of the nature of aggregates on the behaviour of concrete subjected to elevated temperature. Cement and Concrete Research, 41(4), 392–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S. Q., Xu, P., Li, Y. B., & Huang, Y. H. (2017). Experimental investigation on triaxial mechanical and permeability behavior of sandstone after exposure to different high temperature treatments. Geothermics, 69, 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yong, C., & Wang, C. Y. (1980). Thermally induced acoustic emission in Westerly granite. Geophysical Research Letters, 7(12), 1089–1092.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, S., Hong-kui, G., Xiao-qiong, W., Fan-bao, M., & Jun-rong, L. (2018). Instruments and methods with high-precision for wave velocity measurement on shale debris. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 39(1), 385–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Z. N., Tian, H., Jiang, G. S., & Cheng, W. (2018). Effects of high temperature on the mechanical properties of Chinese marble. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51(6), 1937–1942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhubayev, A., Houben, M. E., Smeulders, D. M., & Barnhoorn, A. (2016). Ultrasonic velocity and attenuation anisotropy of shales, Whitby. United Kingdom. Geophysics, 81(1), D45–D56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zomeni, Z. (1997). Thermally induced microfracturing in quartzite. Masters of Science dissertation, Mining and Geological Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, 199.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Yu Suo, Zhixi Chen & Sheikh S. Rahman

Authors
  1. Yu Suo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhixi Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sheikh S. Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu Suo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Suo, Y., Chen, Z. & Rahman, S.S. Changes in Shale Rock Properties and Wave Velocity Anisotropy Induced by Increasing Temperature. Nat Resour Res 29, 4073–4083 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-020-09693-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-020-09693-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation