Dynamics of inelastic deformation of porous rocks and formation of localized compaction zones studied by numerical modeling

Abstract

The paper presents a numerical analysis of the inelastic deformation process in porous rocks during different stages of its development and under non-equiaxial loading. Although numerous experimental studies have already investigated many aspects of plasticity in porous rocks, numerical modeling gives valuable insight into the dynamics of the process, since experimental methods cannot extract detailed information about the specimen structure during the test and have strong limitations on the number of tests. The numerical simulations have reproduced all different modes of deformation observed in experimental studies: dilatant and compactive shear, compaction without shear, uniform deformation, and deformation with localization. However, the main emphasis is on analysis of the compaction mode of plastic deformation and compaction localization, which is characteristic for many porous rocks and can be observed in other porous materials as well. The study is largely inspired by applications in petroleum industry, i.e. surface subsidence and reservoir compaction caused by extraction of hydrocarbons and decrease of reservoir pressure. Special attention is given to the conditions, evolution, and characteristic patterns of compaction localization, which is often manifested in the form of compaction bands. Results of the study include stress–strain curves, spatial configurations and characteristics of localized zones, analysis of bifurcation of stress paths inside and outside localized zones and analysis of the influence of porous rocks properties on compaction behavior. Among other results are examples of the interplay between compaction and shear modes of deformation. To model the evolution of plastic deformation in porous rocks, a new constitutive model is formulated and implemented, with the emphasis on selection of adequate functions defining evolution of yield surface with deformation. The set of control parameters of the model is kept as short as possible; the parameters are carefully selected to have simple and intuitive physical interpretation whenever possible. Results demonstrate that evolution of the yield surface with deformation has major influence on the resulting characteristics of deformation patterns, which is not sufficiently acknowledged in the literature.