A novel experimental system for measurement of coupled multi-physics-induced surface alteration processes in geomaterials. (15th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siddiqui, Mohammed Abdul Qadeer; Lv, Adelina; Regenauer-Lieb, Klaus; Roshan, Hamid
• Is Part Of: Measurement. Volume 166(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-15
• Subjects: Surface alteration measurement -- Geomaterial -- Shale -- In-situ stresses -- Multiphysics; Weights and measures -- Periodicals; Measurement -- Periodicals; Measurement; Weights and measures; Periodicals; 530.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2020.108211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-2241

Abstract

Highlights: A novel surface alteration measurement design under in-situ stresses. Interferometry used to capture coupled chemo-mechanical surface alteration phenomena. Surface swelling on shales is not uniform but rather localized. Microstructural surface alteration is due to reduction in shear strength. Abstract: Despite significant advances in micro-scale measurement techniques for investigations in subsurface energy-bearing geomaterials, they have been unable to incorporate subsurface geomechanical conditions such as in-situ stresses in their applications. To overcome such lacking, we designed a novel high-pressure shear cell capable of measuring chemo-thermo-mechanical behaviour of actual (not synthetic) geomaterials by allowing application of critical stresses while simultaneously being exposed to different fluids. For assessment of the novel setup, a set of measurements for shale surface and micro-structural alteration due to ionic solution under different states of stress (isotropic/anisotropic) were performed. The system generated accurate results showing that surface swelling on shales is not uniform but rather localized and the cause of fluid-induced microstructural alteration is associated with reduction in rock's shear strength. Such results highlight the importance of performing rock-related measurements under in-situ stresses which paves way for more application areas that can be potentially benefitted through this setup.