Role of Rock Fabric in Mechanical Failures at Reservoir: Laboratory Test Results and its Engineering Implications

Summary Understanding the elastic and mechanical properties of carbonate and caprock layers with varying fabric is crucial for well design and completion. Microstructural features, microporosity, pressure solution, microcracks, water content and bimodal pore size distribution within carbonate samples brings uncertainties in rock mechanics characterization ( Stanley et. al 2014 , Cilona et.al 2012 ). These variations often pose high risks in field operations involving depletion and injection programs. The field under study has two major carbonate reservoirs with different sub layers subjected to depletion and injection over long time. Intermediate tight layers with a mix of anhydrite and dolomitic layers act as caprock. To manage safe injection limit avoiding caprock integrity and losses within reservoir, a calibrated geomechanical model mapping rock fabric is required. The present study discusses the plug selection process to interpretation against rock fabric for laboratory testing results involving compressive and tensile failure modes.