The Effect of Repeated Impact Loading on Reservoir Rock Properties

The objective of this paper is to present the results of a research program launched to investigate the mechanism and amount of changes of reservoir rock properties due to pulse stress waves. These waves are induced in cylindrical samples by applying repeated impact loading along the sample axes in a falling weight testing apparatus. After each step of loading, permeability, effective porosity, wave velocities are measured by standard methods and CT images are prepared. Results show that if the amplitude of dynamic stress exceeds the dynamic fracture strength and spall strength of the samples, micro fracture will emerge and permeability will increase significantly while the effective porosity decreases at first steps of loading but, recovers during the subsequent steps. Emerging and growth of new fractures are visible in CT images, too. Total energy consumption prior to complete breakage, and the strain rate of incident wave, affect the results.