Rock Physics: A study of micromechanics of rocks and granulated materials

When an oil reservoir is depleting, the load balance between the pressure of the hydrocarbon inside the porous structure of the reservoir and the mechanical rigidity of the reservoir rock changes. This compaction of the rock provides a mechanism to squeeze out hydrocarbon, but can also lead to blocking of the hydrocarbon s pathways. We propose a fundamental study to investigate how the local geometrical rearrangement at the level of constituent grains accounts for this macroscopic mechanical instability of the reservoir rock. Further, we will investigate the effect of compaction on fluid flow properties within the reservoir rock.