Anisotropic Geomechanical Rock Properties Modelling for Unconventional Shale Gas Formation

Abstract Geomechanical rock properties correlations and modeling approach for conventional reservoirs are inappropriate and unsuitable for unconventional shale gas reservoirs where the shale formation is strong and has very low porosity. These correlations are critical in the development of 1D and 3D geomechanical models which are used for various field applications including drilling optimization, hydraulic fracturing design and operation, and field management. The study investigates various geomechanical rock properties and their relationships to one another using data extracted from rock mechanics testing conducted on shale core samples. For rock elastic properties correlations, dynamic elastic properties determined from compressional sonic velocity, shear sonic velocity and density are plotted against laboratory-measured static elastic properties obtained from triaxial tests. Steps were taken to further refine the properties correlations by separating the data from vertical and horizontal core samples, using data from tests conducted at in-situ confining stress condition, and focusing on data only taken from Field A and nearby fields. Similar steps were also taken to develop the correlations for rock strength properties. Correlations for the shale anisotropic elastic properties were also developed based on ratio of horizontal and vertical elastic properties. Blind tests were conducted on three wells in Field A using the new rock properties correlations which showed good matching of the predicted geomechanical properties with the new correlations and core measured test data.