Multi-scale analysis of the influence of sedimentary fabric and composition on the geomechanical properties of organic-rich mudstones: a case study from the Duvernay Formation, Alberta, Canada

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dc.contributor.advisorPedersen, Per
dc.contributor.advisorEaton, David
dc.contributor.authorVenieri, Marco
dc.contributor.committeememberGhanizadeh, Amin
dc.contributor.committeememberPriest, Jeffrey
dc.contributor.committeememberWust, Raphael
dc.contributor.committeememberHart, Bruce
dc.date2021-11
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-12T15:51:52Z
dc.date.available2021-07-12T15:51:52Z
dc.date.issued2021-06-24
dc.description.abstractIn this research, the influence of sedimentary fabric and composition on the geomechanical properties of organic-rich mudstones has been investigated at the seismic, wireline log and core scale with resolution ranging from 50m- to the cm-scale. Our analysis reveals that a relationship is observable between composition, fabric, and elastic properties of the rock units at each scale of observation. Generally, carbonate-rich facies show the highest values of Young’s modulus (YM) and Poisson’s ratio (PR); clay-rich facies show the lowest YM and intermediate PR; biogenic silica-rich (“organic-rich”) facies show intermediate YM and the lowest PR. At the seismic scale, for which the resolution does not allow for assessment of intra-Duvernay mechanical heterogeneity characterization, significant difference in computed elastic moduli is observed between the organic-rich Duvernay Formation and its bounding strata which show different mineralogy. Analysis at the m- and cm-scale of compositional and geomechanical properties of the Duvernay Formation from outcrop samples reveals significant heterogeneity within the Duvernay Formation. Our research suggests that geological and geomechanical heterogeneity within the Duvernay Formation is facies-dependent. In fact, organic-rich mudstones show nearly twice as much variability in composition and mechanical hardness than carbonate-rich facies. This, in conjunction with our analysis of vertical and lateral geological heterogeneity within the Duvernay Formation from subsurface data, suggests that a cautionary approach should be adopted when using averaged or upscaled data for subsurface modeling which risk oversimplifying reservoir complexity. In this case, heterogeneity of rock properties should be included in reservoir models as a measure of uncertainty on the input data.en_US
dc.identifier.citationVenieri, M. (2021). Multi-scale analysis of the influence of sedimentary fabric and composition on the geomechanical properties of organic-rich mudstones: a case study from the Duvernay Formation, Alberta, Canada (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39000
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/113619
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyScienceen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectorganic-rich mudstoneen_US
dc.subjectsedimentologyen_US
dc.subjectpetrophysicsen_US
dc.subjectreservoir heterogeneityen_US
dc.subject.classificationGeologyen_US
dc.titleMulti-scale analysis of the influence of sedimentary fabric and composition on the geomechanical properties of organic-rich mudstones: a case study from the Duvernay Formation, Alberta, Canadaen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineGeoscienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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