Low-frequency laboratory measurements of the elastic properties of solids using a distributed acoustic sensing system

In recent decades,low-frequency(LF)experiments based on the forced-oscillation(FO)method have become common practice in many rock physics laboratories for measuring the elastic and anelastic properties of rocks.However,the use of the electronic displacement sensors in traditional acquisition systems of FO devices such as conventional capacitive transducers or strain gauges seriously limits both the efficiency and productivity of LF measurements,and,due to the limited contact area of the displacement sensors with a sample under test,increases the requirements for sample homogeneity.In this paper,we present the first results obtained in the development of a new laboratory method elaborated to measure the elastic properties of solids.The method is a further development of the FO method where traditional data acquisition is replaced by acquisition based on fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing(DAS)technology.The new method was tested in a laboratory study using two FO setups designed for measurements under uniaxial and confining pressures.The study was carried out on a sample made from polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA)and an aluminium standard,first under uniaxial pressure at FO frequencies of 1,10,30,60 and 100 Hz,and then under confining pressure at an FO frequency of 1 Hz.Both uniaxial and confining pressures were equal to 10 MPa,and the strain in the PMMA sample in all measurements did not exceed 4×10^(-8).The performance of DAS acquisition was compared with the measurements conducted at a strain of 1×10^(-6) using the traditional FO method based on the use of semiconductor strain gauges and the ultrasonic method.The results of the DAS measurements are in good agreement with the FO measurements carried out using semiconductor strain gauges and with the literature data.

Evaluation of opening of fractures in the Logovskoye carbonate reservoir, Perm Krai, Russia

The development of naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs is extremely challenging. Such reservoirshave a dual pore structure consisting of low-permeable matrix with large pore volume and highpermeable fractures constituting main paths for fluid flow. Productivity of wells drilled in such formations tends to decrease rapidly due to the drop in the reservoir pressure and closure of fractures.Therefore, it is crucial to monitor opening of fractures for the effective development of carbonate reservoirs. Three methods for monitoring of opening of fractures including tracer indicators method,Warren and Root method and Victorin’s empirical relation, are applied in the Logovskoye oil reservoir, acarbonate Tournaisian-Famennian formation in Upper Kama Region, Perm Krai, Russia. The threemethods provide reliable estimation of the opening of fractures, which match the reported laboratorydata obtained on thin sections of core samples. The limitations of each method are also discussed. Thetracer indicator method is time-consuming, the Warren and Root method includes hydrodynamic studiesand requires shutdown of wells influencing the oil production, and the application of Victorin’s relationrequires estimation of initial opening and current compressibility of fractures, which can be done usinganalysis of cores or tracer indicators studies. The appropriate method for monitoring of opening offractures should be chosen according to available resources, time, and economic targets of the development project.