loading page

Validation of hydro-geomechanical properties in high pressure triaxial device for hydrate-bearing core analysis
  • +1
  • Alejandro Cardona,
  • Yi Fang,
  • Joshua O'Connell,
  • Peter Flemings
Alejandro Cardona
The University of Texas at Austin,King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:alejandro.cardona@utexas.edu

Author Profile
Yi Fang
University of Texas at Austin
Author Profile
Joshua O'Connell
The University of Texas at Austin
Author Profile
Peter Flemings
University of Texas
Author Profile

Abstract

In the last 20 years, there has been an international effort to develop approaches to experimentally measure the petrophysical and geomechanical properties of hydrate-bearing core samples. The measurements are extremely challenging because sub-sampling, sample preparation, and testing must be conducted at high pressure and low temperature. Despite these challenges, multiple laboratories are now measuring the geotechnical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments. However, there have been relatively few attempts to validate these measurements. We developed experimental protocols to accurately conduct zero-lateral strain tests at effective stresses up to 20 MPa using a pressure core triaxial device. We directly measure displacement during compression through periodic instantaneous undrained loading. To evaluate the accuracy of our measurement system, we conducted a benchmark study to compare properties obtained in our pressure core test chamber against classical geotechnical devices. We prepared a Boston Blue Clay specimen through re-sedimentation. Comprehensive properties databases favor the use of this material for comparison analyses. A compression test to 20 MPa accurately reproduced the compression, lateral stress, and permeability behavior demonstrated in previous testing programs. This experimental procedure provides a convenient framework for future validation studies in a broad range of pressure core laboratory devices.