Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany) Springer Verlag
Résumé : Direct numerical simulations of flow through two millimeter-scale rock samples of limestone and sandstone are performed using three diverse fluid dynamic simulators. The resulting steady-state velocity fields are compared in terms of the associated empirical probability density functions (PDFs) and key statistics of the velocity fields. The pore space geometry of each sample is imaged at 5.06−μm voxel size resolution using X-ray microtomography. The samples offer contrasting characteristics in terms of total connected porosity (about 0.31 for the limestone and 0.07 for the sandstone) and are typical of several applications in hydrogeology and petroleum engineering. The three-dimensional fluid velocity fields within the explicit pore spaces are simulated using ANSYS® FLUENT® ANSYS Inc. (2009), EULAG Prusa et al. (Comput. Fluids 37, 1193–1207 2008), and SSTOKES Sarkar et al. (2002). These computational approaches are highly disperse in terms of algorithmic complexity, differ in terms of their governing equations, the adopted numerical methodologies, the enforcement of internal no-slip boundary conditions at the fluid-solid interface, and the computational mesh structure. As metrics of comparison to probe in a statistical sense the internal similarities/differences across sample populations of velocities obtained through the computational systems, we consider (i) integral quantities, such as the Darcy flux and (ii) main statistical moments of local velocity distributions including local correlations between velocity fields. Comparison of simulation results indicates that mutually consistent estimates of the state of flow are obtained in the analyzed samples of natural pore spaces despite the considerable differences associated with the three computational approaches. We note that in the higher porosity limestone sample, the structures of the velocity fields obtained using ANSYS FLUENT and EULAG are more alike than either compared against the results obtained using SSTOKES. In the low-porosity sample, the structures of the velocity fields obtained by EULAG and SSTOKES are more similar than either is to the fields obtained using ANSYS FLUENT. With respect to macroscopic quantities, ANSYS FLUENT and SSTOKES provide similar results in terms of the average vertical velocity for both of the complex microscale geometries considered, while EULAG tends to render the largest velocity values. The influence of the pore space structure on fluid velocity field characteristics is also discussed.
ISSN: 1420-0597

hal-01174152
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01174152
DOI : 10.1007/s10596-015-9486-7

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The interplay between fault zone cataclasis and cementation is important since both processes can drastically reduce the permeability of faults in porous sandstones. Yet the prediction of fault cementation in high-porosity sandstone reservoirs remains elusive. Nevertheless, this process has rarely been investigated in shallowly buried faults (<2 km; T°<80 °C) where its sealing capacity could be acquired early in the geological history of a reservoir. In this paper, the macro- and microscopic analysis of a fault zone in the porous Cenomanian quartz arenite sands of Provence (France) shows that silica diagenesis occurs in the most intensely-deformed cataclastic parts of the fault zone. This fault zone shows 19–48% of its total thickness occupied by low-porosity quartz-cemented cataclastic shear bands whose porosities range from 0 – ca. 5%. The analysis of the weathering profile around the fault zone reveals the presence of groundwater silcretes in the form of tabular, tightly silicified concretions cross-cut by the fault. Detailed transmitted light, cold-cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy analyses of the silica cements (from the fault and the silcrete) reveal that all the silica cements originate from groundwater diagenetic processes. This study therefore shows that silica cementation can occur specifically in fault zones and as groundwater silcrete in the shallow context of a groundwater system, generated at the vicinity of an erosional unconformity.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-01278286
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01278286
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2015.10.001

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : We report here our findings on the chemistry of methane, manganese and chloride dissolved in the interstitial water of the Barbados accretionary complex. The decollement separating the subduction plate from the accretionary wedge is geochemically characterized by high methane and manganese and low chloride concentrations relative to buried seawater. Sandstone layers occurring below the decollement and the compressive structures recording some of the earliest effects of offscraping are also characterized by similar anomalies. A fluid with the same characteristics is also found six kilometres to the east of the deformation front within the oceanic plate. High manganese concentration and low chlorinity also occur in the pore water of the offscraped sediment packages, but without associated anomalous methane concentrations. These results suggest that: Dewatering processes occur below the decollement in association with thermogenic methane production; Fluid with low chlorinity and high methane concentrations circulates mainly along the decollement, its propagation in the oceanic domain and along the main fracture zones being associated with these detachment surfaces; Diagenetic processes essentially control the dissolved manganese concentration and probably affect the methane content of the interstitial waters; The observations made in this paper illustrate advective processes in the front of an accretionary prism.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1991 , Vol. 14 , N. 1 , P. 33-49

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21262/18873.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21262/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Contractional deformation of highly porous sandstones is poorly explored, as compared to extensional deformation of such sedimentary rocks. In this work we explore the highly porous Aztec Sandstone in the footwall to the Muddy Mountain thrust in SE Nevada, which contains several types of deformation bands in the Buffington tectonic window: 1) Distributed centimeter-thick shear-enhanced compaction bands (SECBs) and 2) rare pure compaction bands (PCBs) in the most porous parts of the sandstone, cut by 3) thin cataclastic shear-dominated bands (CSBs) with local slip surfaces. Geometric and kinematic analysis of the SECBs, the PCBs and most of the CSBs shows that they formed during ∼E–W (∼100) shortening, consistent with thrusting related to the Cretaceous to early Paleogene Sevier orogeny of the North American Cordilleran thrust system. Based on stress path modeling, we suggest that the compactional bands (PCBs and SECBs) formed during contraction at relatively shallow burial depths, before or at early stages of emplacement of the Muddy Mountains thrust sheet. The younger cataclastic shear bands (CSBs, category 3), also related to E–W Sevier thrusting, are thinner and show larger shear offsets and thus more intense cataclasis, consistent with the initiation of cataclastic shear bands in somewhat less porous materials. Observations made in this work support earlier suggestions that contraction lead to more distributed band populations than what is commonly found in the extensional regime, and that shear-enhanced compaction bands are widespread only where porosity (and permeability) is high.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-01171854
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01171854
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2015.02.014

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Large sand intrusions often exhibit conical morphologies analogous to magmatic intrusions such as saucer-shaped or cup-shaped sills. Whereas some physical processes may be similar, we show with scaled experiments that the formation of conical sand intrusions may be favoured by the pore-pressure gradients prevailing in the host rock before sand injection. Our experiments involve injecting air into a permeable and cohesive analogue material to produce hydraulic fractures while controlling the pore pressure field. We control the state of overpressure in the overburden by applying homogeneous basal pore pressure, and then adding a second local pore pressure field by injecting air via a central injector to initiate hydraulic fractures near the injection point. In experiments involving small vertical effective stresses (small overburden, or high pore fluid overpressure), the fracturing pressure (lambda(fract)) is supralithostatic and two dipping fractures are initiated at the injection point forming a conical structure. From theoretical considerations, we predict that high values of lambda(fract), are due to strong cohesion or high pore fluid overpressure distributed in the overburden. Such conditions are favoured by the pore pressure/stress coupling induced by both pore pressure fields. The dips of cones can be accounted for elastic-stress rotation occurring around the source. Contrary to magmatic chamber models, the aqueous fluid overpressure developed in a parent sandbody (and prevailing before the formation of injectites) may diffuse into the surrounding overburden, thus favouring stress rotation and the formation of inclined sheets far from the parent source. For experiments involving higher vertical effective stresses (thick overburden or low pore fluid overpressure), the fracturing pressure is lower than the lithostatic stress, and a single fracture is opened in mode I which then grows vertically. At a critical depth, the fracture separates into two dilatant branches forming a flat cone. We make use of a P.I.V. (Particle Imaging Velocimetiy) technique to analyse plastic deformation, showing that these inclined fractures are opened in mixed modes. Close to the surface, they change into steep shear bands where fluids can infiltrate. The final morphology of the fracture network is very similar to the common tripartite architecture of various injection complexes, indicating that different mechanisms may be involved in the formation of dykes. Feeder dykes under the sill zones may open as tensile fractures, while overlying dykes may be guided by the deformation induced by the growth of sills. These deformation conditions may also favour the formation of fluid escape structures and pockmarks. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00745640
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00745640
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2011.10.029

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Résumé : In reservoir engineering, hydrodynamic properties can be estimated from downhole electrical data using heuristic models (e.g., Archie and Kozeny-Carman's equations) relating electrical conductivity to porosity and permeability. Although proven to be predictive for many sandstone reservoirs, the models mostly fail when applied to carbonate reservoirs that generally display extremely complex pore network structures. In this article, we investigate the control of the three-dimensional (3-D) geometry and morphology of the pore network on the electrical and flow properties, comparing core-scale laboratory measurements and 3-D x-ray microtomography image analysis of samples from a Miocene reefal carbonate platform located in Mallorca (Spain). The results show that micrometer- to centimeter-scale heterogeneities strongly influence the measured macroscopic physical parameters that are then used to evaluate the hydrodynamic properties of the rock, and therefore, existing models might not provide accurate descriptions because these heterogeneities occur at scales smaller than those of the integration volume of the borehole geophysical methods. However, associated with specific data processing, 3-D imagery techniques are a useful and probably unique mean to characterize the rock heterogeneity and, thus, the properties variability.
ISSN: 0149-1423

hal-00950066
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00950066
DOI : 10.1306/05221312134

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Underground CO2 sequestration is highly recommended as an effective means of significantly decreasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Mineral storage is the more secure technology, but requires the presence of high concentration of divalent cations in the pore-fluid. Results from CO2 percolation experiments through chlorite/zeolite-rich sandstone samples from the Pretty Hill Formation (Otway Basin, Australia) are presented. The dissolution of the laumontite (7 wt.%) and chamosite (7 wt.%) are the potential sources of calcium, iron and magnesium required for carbonate precipitation. The percolation experiment was setup to reproduce, at laboratory scale, the in situ temperature and pressure conditions (T = 95 degrees C and P = 10 MPa). The fluid injected at constant flow rate is a rock-equilibrated brine subsequently enriched in CO2 up to partial pressure of 6 MPa. We observe feldspars, laumontite and chamosite dissolution, kaolinite and silica precipitation and a noticeable sink of CO2 in the sample which is attributed to the precipitation of both amorphous carbon due to the reduction of CO2 and Fe-rich carbonate. Permeability decreases of about one order of magnitude due to the localization of the kaolinite precipitation in the main flow paths, while porosity increases. The high reactivity of this sandstone makes this reservoir a valuable target for CO2 mineralization, but the associated permeability decrease may limit the injection rate and the spreading of the CO2 in the reservoir.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-00712829
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00712829
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.11.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Résumé : International audience
Determination of the membrane seal capacity of deformation bands is critical for managing geologic reservoirs in porous sandstones. In this study, we have analyzed a cataclastic shear-band network developed in uncemented porous sandstone in Provence, France. Geometrical analyses of the bands show significant differences between three types of bands (single strand, multistrand, and band cluster), sorted by their number of strands, their amount of shear displacement, and their thicknesses. At the microscopic scale, the image-analysis porosities and the grain-size distributions allow definition of three different types of microstructural deformation: damage zone, protocataclastic, and cataclastic. Whereas damage zone and protocataclastic deformations are observed in each type of band, cataclastic strands are observed in clusters and, sometimes, in multistrands. Cataclastic strands are characterized by a porosity reduction of 10 to 25% and a permeability reduction of three to five orders of magnitude compared to the host rock. Field observations of iron hydroxide precipitations around the bands suggest that cataclastic strands were membrane seals to water flow under vadose condition. This study therefore highlights the importance of the degree of cataclasis in shear bands as membrane seals to subsurface fluid flows in sandstone reservoirs.
ISSN: 0149-1423

hal-00766557
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00766557
DOI : 10.1306/04051211097

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Field observations of highly porous and permeable sandstone in the Orange area (S-E Basin, France) show that networks of shear-enhanced compaction bands can form in a contractional regime at burial depths of about 400 m ± 100 m. These bands show equal compaction and shear displacements, are organized in conjugate and densely distributed networks, and are restricted to the coarse-grained (mean grain diameter of 0.6 ± 0.1 mm) and less porous (porosity of 26 ± 2%) sand layers. The bands are crush microbreccia with limited grain comminution and high grain microfracture density. They show reductions of permeability (mD) ranging from 0 to little more than 1 order of magnitude. They show no control on the alteration products related to meteoric water flow, which suggests that these shear-enhanced compaction bands have no or only negligible influence on subsurface fluid flow. Their selective occurrence and small (20%) reduction in transmissibility in densely populated layers prevented them from compartmentalizing the sandstone reservoirs. A comparison with compaction-band populations in the Navajo and Aztec sandtsones (western U.S.) emphasizes the role of burial depth and the presence of chemical compaction processes for the sealing potential of deformation bands.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-00807309
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00807309
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2012.11.008

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : This study is designed to improve the understanding of structural, mechanical and petrophysical characteristics of deformation bands in porous sandstone such as their potential influence on fluid storage or migration in reservoir setting. Structural and petrophysical analysis of band networks from Provence show that permeability of band is mainly controlled by the degree of cataclasis and diagenetic processes at depth. Map-scale analysis of band networks underlines the major influence of tectonic regime on band distribution, organization and permeability. Band associated to normal-fault regime (cataclasis and low-permeability) are located around map-sclae-fault whereas band associated to thurst-fault regime (moderate cataclasis and permeability) are pervasively distributed in all the area. Reverse-sense band are cataclastic and low-permeabiilty around the Roquemaure thrust, which show the potential role of large-scale fault on structural and petrophysical characteristics of bands. This analysis also shows the influence of fault propagation on formation of low permeability catacastic bands. This analysis suggests also granulometry as factor controlling organization of band networks.A mechanical analysis of deformation bands is realized based on results from Provence. Yield envelopes of these materials are calculated from analytical solution. Triaxial tests done on sandstone (L'Etang quarry, Orange) confirm the shape of yield envelope theoretically calculated. Triaxial tests done on the poorly-lithified sands (Boncavaï quarry, Uchaux) show grain size, sorting and packing influencing yield envelope and cataclastic band localization at shallow burial depth. Stress paths are calculated for burial and tectonic event (extension and contraction) using the relationship between main stress and secondary stresses (K0) calibrated from well data. These different results are integrated into a model which allows to estimate type and structural characteristics of bands susceptible to form for a known geological setting.A structural, mechanical and petrophysical model is established form these results. This model is calibrated by permeability data from deformation bands of Provence and results from the mechanical model of strain localization. This model is also confronted to a synthesis of permeability data from literature, which confirms the influence of the different controlling parameters integrated to the model. This model is applied for two sites of uranium exploration/exploitation in porous sandstone reservoirs and validated by field observations.
Cette étude est destinée à améliorer la compréhension des caractéristiques structurales, pétrophysiques et mécaniques des bandes de déformation dans les grès poreux ainsi que de leur rôle potentiel sur la migration ou le piégeage des fluides en milieu réservoir. L'analyse structurale et pétrophysique des réseaux de bandes de Provence montre que leur perméabilité découle principalement de l'intensité de la cataclase dans leur microstructure et des processus diagénétiques qui peuvent s'y localiser avec la profondeur. L'analyse régionale de ces réseaux de bandes souligne l'influence majeure du régime tectonique sur leur distribution, leur organisation et leur perméabilité. Les bandes associées au régime normal (cataclactiques et peu perméables) sont localisées autour des failles cartographiques, tandis que les bandes associées au régime inverse (modérement cataclastiques et perméables) sont distribuées dans toute la région. Les bandes inverses sont fortement cataclastiques et imperméables uniquement autour du chevauchement de Roquemaure ce qui montre le rôle potentiel de la présence de grande faille sur les caractéristiques structurales et pétrophysiques de ces bandes. D'autre part, cette analyse suggère que la granulométrie de l'encaissant peut influencer l'initiation et l'organisation des réseaux. L'analyse mécanique des bandes de déformation a ensuite été réalisée à partir des résultats obtenus en Provence. L'enveloppe de plasticité de ces matériaux est calculée à l'aide d'une solution analytique. Les essais triaxiaux menés sur le grès de la carrière de l'Etang (orange) confirment la forme de ces enveloppes estimées théoriquement. Les essais réalisés sur les sables de Boncavaï (Uchaux) montrent que la taille des grains, le tri et de la compaction dans ces matériaux peu lithifiés influent sur leurs enveloppes de plasticité et la localisation des bandes cataclastiques à faibles profondeurs. Les trajets de contraintes sont estimés pour les phases d'enfouissement et de chargement tectonique (extension et compression) à partir de la relation entre contrainte principale et contraintes secondaires (K0), calibrée à partir de données de forage. Ces résultats sont intégrés à un modèle permettant d'estimer la nature et les caractéristiques structurales des bandes susceptibles de se former dans un contexte géologique donné. Un modèle structural, mécanique et pétrophysique a été établir à partir de ces différents résultats. Ce modèle est calibré à partir des données de perméabilité mesurées sur les bandes de Provence et des résultats du modèle mécanique de localisation cité précédemment. Ce modèle a ensuite été confronté à une synthèse des données de perméabilité disponibles dans la littérature et confirme l'influence des différents paramètres de contrôle pris en compte dans le modèle. Ce modèle a enfin pu être appliqué sur deux sites d'explorations/exploitations d'uranium en réservoir gréseux poreux et validé par les résultats obtenus, en concordance avec les observations de terrain.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01001389

NNT : 2013MON20067
tel-01001389
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01001389
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01001389/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01001389/file/36072_BALLAS_2013_archivage-1_cor.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Improving the prediction of sub-seismic structures and their petrophysical properties is essential for realistic characterization of deformed sandstone reservoirs. In the present paper, we describe permeability contrasts induced by cataclastic deformation bands and faults in porous sandstones (766 data synthesized from field examples and the literature). We also discuss the influence of several factors, including tectonic regime, presence of a fault, burial depth, host sandstone porosity, and grain size and sorting for their initiation and permeability. This analysis confirms that permeability decrease is as a function of grain-crushing intensity in bands. Permeability reduction ranges from very limited in crush-microbreccia of compaction bands to high permeability reduction in cataclasites and ultracataclasites of shear-dominated bands, band clusters and faults. Tectonic regime, and especially normal-fault regime, with its tendency to localize strain and generate faults, is identified as the most important factor, leading to the formation of cataclastic bands with high permeability contrasts. Moreover, moderate burial depth (1–3 km) favors cataclastic bands with high permeability contrasts with respect to the host sandstone. High porosity, coarse-grain size and good grain sorting can slightly amplify the permeability reductions recorded in bands.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-01218408
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01218408
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2015.03.013

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Propagation energies for five examples of deformation bands in porous sandstones from four field sites in Nevada, Utah, and France were calculated by using the J-integral approach. Pure compaction bands that accommodate primarily closing displacements from the Valley of Fire (Nevada) site have a closing-mode band propagation energy of J I = 5.5 ± 1.6 kJ/m2. Shear-enhanced compaction bands having subequal amounts of normal (closing) and shear strains across them from the same site have propagation energies of J I = 6.11 ± 1.8 kJ/m2 and J II = 1.52 ± 0.5 kJ/m2 for closing and shearing modes respectively. Closing- and shearing-mode band propagation energies for shear-enhanced compaction bands from the Buckskin Gulch (Utah) site, 5.63 ± 1.7 and 1.91 ± 0.57 kJ/m2 and the Uchaux (France) site, 11.0 ± 3.3 and 2.35 ± 0.7 kJ/m2 respectively are comparable to the values for similar structures from the Valley of Fire site. Cataclastic deformation bands at the Orange (France) site accommodate significantly larger values of shear offset than do shear-enhanced compaction bands, with a ratio of shear to closing offset that exceeds 7. The calculated closing- and shearing-mode propagation energies for these shear bands, 17.8 ± 5.4 and 3.3 ± 1.0 kJ/m2 respectively are comparable to those for pure or shear-enhanced compaction bands deformed at approximately the same depth of burial. Strain softening of cataclastic compactional shear bands implies unstable shearing, whereas stable and perhaps strain-hardening shearing may be inferred for shear-enhanced compaction bands. Displacement-length scaling relations for shear-enhanced compaction bands of the form D∝L are consistent with the results and with suggestions of band thickening during growth obtained from bifurcation analyses and with field observations of shear zones in porous host rock.
ISSN: 0376-9429

hal-00750341
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00750341
DOI : 10.1007/s10704-012-9730-2

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The carbon capture and storage is considered as one of the solutions of reducing the effects of global warming. It consists in injecting large quantities of CO 2 in supercritical form directly into deeply located geological formations. One of the methods involves sequestration in the carbonate sedimentary rocks (sandstones and limestones) which are considered as a promising solution. The morphology of the pore network and solid skeleton defines important macroscopic prop-erties of the rock (permeability, stiffness). Modelling at micro scale of random heterogeneous materials (porous media) should be based on morphological and statistical characterisation 1,2 of the investigated microstructure. The work is focused on a reconstruction method by grains deposit 3 , for various range of pa-rameters, to obtain equivalent model of natural rock samples (oolitic limestone and fontainebleau sandstone). Generated samples satisfy morphological and statistical informations 4 which were obtained by 3D image analysis of X-ray tomography of the natural rock samples. For validation of the modelling numerical computations of mechanical and transfer properties are also provided.
14th European Mechanics of Materials Conference - EMMC14
Gothembourg, Sweden

hal-01103163
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01103163

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Electrical resistivity soundings are used by geophysicists to determine the structure and composition of the Earth's crust and mantle and to explore natural resources (ore, oil, gas, water). Their interpretations in terms of composition and in-situ physical conditions depend mainly on laboratory measurements of electrical conductivity of rocks at simulated crustal conditions of temperature, pressure, saturation and pore pressures. These measurements present a numbers of limitations, in particular, in the case where conductive pore fluids are present, as in the case of deep reservoir conditions, where temperature exceeds 250 A degrees C. Here, we present a new cell capable of measuring electrical conductivity of large saturated samples at confining pressure up to 200 MPa, pore pressure up to 50 MPa, and temperature up to 500 A degrees C. The measurement cell has been developed in a commercial, internally heated, gas pressure apparatus (Paterson press). It is based on the concept of "guard ring" electrode, which is adapted to samples that are jacketed by a very conductive, metallic material. Numerical modeling of the current flow in the electrical cell allowed defining the optimal cell geometry. Calibration tests have been performed on Fontainebleau sandstones saturated with electrolytes of different conductivities, up to 350 A degrees C. The resulting electrical formation factor and temperature dependence of electrical conductivity are in very good agreement with previous studies. This new cell will improve the exploration and exploitation of deep fluid reservoirs, as in unconventional, high enthalpy geothermal fields. In particular, the investigations address possible effects of fluid-rock interactions on electrical resistivity of a reservoir host rock.
ISSN: 0169-3913

hal-00681997
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00681997
DOI : 10.1007/s11242-011-9846-2

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
Both flow field heterogeneity and mass transfer between mobile and immobile domains have been studied separately for explaining observed anomalous transport. Here we investigate non-Fickian transport using high-resolution 3-D X-ray microtomographic images of Berea sandstone containing microporous cement with pore size below the setup resolution. Transport is computed for a set of representative elementary volumes and results from advection and diffusion in the resolved macroporosity (mobile domain) and diffusion in the microporous phase (immobile domain) where the effective diffusion coefficient is calculated from the measured local porosity using a phenomenological model that includes a porosity threshold ( inline image) below which diffusion is null and the exponent n that characterizes tortuosity-porosity power-law relationship. We show that both flow field heterogeneity and microporosity trigger anomalous transport. Breakthrough curve (BTC) tailing is positively correlated to microporosity volume and mobile-immobile interface area. The sensitivity analysis showed that the BTC tailing increases with the value of inline image, due to the increase of the diffusion path tortuosity until the volume of the microporosity becomes negligible. Furthermore, increasing the value of n leads to an increase in the standard deviation of the distribution of effective diffusion coefficients, which in turn results in an increase of the BTC tailing. Finally, we propose a continuous time random walk upscaled model where the transition time is the sum of independently distributed random variables characterized by specific distributions. It allows modeling a 1-D equivalent macroscopic transport honoring both the control of the flow field heterogeneity and the multirate mass transfer between mobile and immobile domains.
ISSN: 0043-1397

hal-01278285
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01278285
DOI : 10.1002/2015WR017645

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Geological Society of America
Résumé : International audience
Porous sandstones tend to deform by the formation of low-permeability deformation bands that influence fluid flow in reservoir settings. The bands may be distributed or localized into clusters, and limited recent data suggest that tectonic regime may exert control on their distribution and clustering. In order to explore this suggestion, we performed a synthetic analysis based of 73 sets of bands, including 22 new sets measured for a reverse Andersonian regime that fill the important gap in data for this context. We find a surprisingly strong correlation between clustering and tectonic regime, where bands clearly are more distributed in the reverse regime compared to the normal regime. Together with the observed band distributions, capillary pressure data show evidence that efficient membrane seals are expected for extension, whereas pervasive permeability anisotropy is expected for contraction. Such a basic new rule concerning tectonic regime is very useful for assessment of reservoir properties where deformation bands are common but below seismic resolution.
ISSN: 0091-7613

hal-01355925
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01355925
DOI : 10.1130/G37585.1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Urucum region (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) contains Neoproterozoic–Cambrian manganese ore in the layers Mn-1, Mn-2, and Mn-3, which are interbedded with iron formations (IFs) from the Santa Cruz Formation (Jacadigo Group) and surrounded by carbonate rocks from the Bocaina and Tamengo Formations (Corumbá Group). These rocks fill an ancient graben, with sediments from the Santa Cruz Formation overlying fluvial deposits from the Urucum Formation and limestones from the Bocaina and Tamengo Formations deposited in the shallow marginal regions. As the graben deepened, it was flooded with microbe-rich seawater and hydrothermalism began. Iron and manganese precipitated within the pores in arkosic sandstones, thereby forming the clastic Lower Mn-1 ore layer. The remaining manganese was simultaneously deposited on the basin floor with clastic clay and silt from turbidity currents, thereby forming the Upper Mn-1 clastic–chemical ore layer. The sedimentation of Mn-1 and its host IFs was controlled by seawater saturation and homogeneous oxidation, which caused manganese and iron sedimentation and the death of microorganisms, generating mangano-ferriferous sediments with high P, Co and Ni contents. Mn-2 formed during periods of tectonic quiescence through water influxes that carried abundant microbes, Fe(II), Mn(II), and SiO2. Under UV radiation, these microbes oxidized Mn(II) and Fe(II) to form hydroxides and died, thereby forming biomass that was enriched in P, Co and Ni and minor carbonate adjacent to and below the oxycline. These microbes also formed kremydilites, oblate structures that resemble manganese stromatolites, within the biomass and produced CH4 and/or H2 gas bubbles. During early diagenesis, wormlike organisms inhabited the biomass and probably separated iron from manganese to produce cryptomelane microbialites, which agglutinated to form manganese micronodules that coalesced to form the massive layer Mn-2. This process ended with the disappearance of microorganisms and the sedimentation of the IFs, and a new water influx generated layer Mn-3 via the same process. The final seawater upwelling precipitated IFs in the basin depocenter, whereas limestone from the Tamengo Formation was deposited along the basin’s edges. The diagenesis initially transformed the manganese oxides into cryptomelane and then into hollandite.
ISSN: 0169-1368

hal-01684668
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01684668
DOI : 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.09.018

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The analysis of three cataclastic band sets from Provence (France) reveals that the band density, their conjugate angles, their ratio of shear displacement to compaction, and the amount of cataclasis within the bands differ and can be expressed as functions of tectonic setting and petrophysical properties. We identify (1) a dense and closely spaced network of shear-enhanced (reverse) compaction bands; (2) a regularly spaced less dense network of reverse compactional shear bands; and (3) a localized network of normal shear bands. The field data show that strain localization is favored in an extensional regime and is characterized by shear bands with a large shear to compaction ratio and a small conjugate band angle. In contrast, distributed strain is favored in a contractional regime and is characterized by compactional bands with a low ratio of shear to compaction and a large conjugate band angle. To explain the mechanical origin of this strain localization, we quantify the yield strength and the stress evolution in extensional and contractional regimes in a frictional porous granular material. We propose a model of strain localization in porous sands as a function of tectonic stresses, burial depth, material properties, strain hardening and fluid pressure. Our model suggests that stress reduction, inherent to extensional regime, favors strain localization as shear bands, whereas stress increase during contraction favors development of compactional bands.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-00856921
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00856921
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2012.11.011

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
From outcrops located in Provence (South-East France), we describe the distribution, the microstructures, and the petrophysical properties of deformation band networks related to both contractional and extensional tectonic events. In contraction, pervasively distributed networks of reverse-sense compactional shear bands are observed in all folded sand units of the foreland, whereas localized networks of clustered reverse-sense shear bands are only observed close to a large-scale thrust. In extensional setting, networks of clustered normal-sense shear bands are generally observed adjacent to map-scale faults (100 m–10 km scale), although some randomly distributed bands are also observed between these faults. Normal-sense cataclastic faults, i.e. zone of deformation bands containing a localized slip-surface, are also observed to be restricted to sand units, suggesting that faults initiated in the sands during extension, but not during contraction. Shear bands and faults show cataclastic microstructures with high-permeability reduction whereas compactional shear bands show crush microbreccia or protocataclastic microstructures with moderate permeability reduction. This basin-scale analysis underlines the major role of tectonic settings (thrust-fault versus normal-fault andersonian-stress regime) and the influence of inherited large-scale faults on the formation/localization of low-permeability shear bands. We also provide a geometrical analysis of the band network properties (spacing, thickness, shear/compaction ratio, degree of cataclasis, petrophysical properties) with respect to the median grain size, porosity and grain sorting of host sand. This analysis suggests that grain size, although less important than stress-state conditions and the presence of large-scale faults, has a non-negligible effect on band network geometry. No correlations are observed between the grain sorting, porosity and band network geometry.
ISSN: 0264-8172

hal-01116421
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01116421
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.12.020