Acoustic and mechanical tests of sandstone-shale composites in Songliao Basin and prediction of uniaxial compressive strength

Abstract

Rock uniaxial compressive strength is a vital rock mechanics parameter, which accurate assessment is critical for high-efficiency unconventional reservoir development. However, its realization for standard cores is quite problematic due to difficulties and high costs related to the collection and preparation of samples. Unconventional fracturing treatment have evolved from single to composite lithology. This study collected shale and sandstone samples at different bedding angles (0°, 45°, 90°)to prepare the sandstone-shale composite samples at different interlayer ratios. It measured the prepared composites’ longitudinal wave and transverse wave velocities with ultrasonic velocity testing. The uniaxial compressive strength of the sandstone-shale composites with various bedding angles were tested via a servo rock triaxial testing machine. The anisotropic characteristics of the prepared sandstone-shale composites with various bedding angles were analyzed, and relation between the uniaxial compressive strength of the anisotropic sandstone-shale composite and P-wave velocity was derived and experimentally validated. The results show that: the wave velocity test results of the sandstone-shale combination show that with the increasing proportion of shale, the wave velocity of the longitudinal wave and the transverse wave both increase; The wave velocity results of different bedding planes in shale are as follows: Vp(0°)> Vp(45°)> Vp(90°). The average P-wave and S-wave velocities at 45° are 0.92, while the average P-wave and S-wave velocities at 90° are 0.85 compared to 0°; the P-wave and S-wave anisotropy of shale are both 0.14, and the shale shows significant anisotropy. In the sandstone-shale composite, the uniaxial compressive strength gradually decreases and the strain increases with the increase of shale proportion. The value of uniaxial compressive strength is UCS(0°) > UCS(90°) > UCS(45°). Based on the P-wave modulus, a fitting relationship formula for the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstone-shale composites with different bedding angles and interlayer ratios was established and verified. The anisotropic strength predictive formula established based on experimental data is simple, precise, and easy to obtain, with strong practicability. The present research results can provide proper technical support for sandstone-shale composite fracturing optimization and reservoir development.