Multiscale Characterization of the Caney Shale — An Emerging Play in Oklahoma

From a hydrocarbon perspective, the Caney Shale has historically been evaluated as a sealing unit, which resulted in limited studies characterizing the rock properties of the Caney Shale and its suitability for hydraulic fracturing. The objective of our research is to help bridge the current knowledge gap through the integration of multiscale laboratory techniques and to characterize the macro- and microscale rock properties of the Caney Shale. We employed an integrated approach for the characterization of the Caney using 200 ft (61 m) of Caney core from a target well in southern Oklahoma. Core observation and petrographic analysis of thin sections were combined to characterize the general rock types and associated fabrics and textures. Mineralogical composition, pore system architecture, and rock fabric were analyzed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM. In addition, rebound hardness and indentation testing were carried out to determine rock hardness (brittleness) and elasticity, respectively. With the integrated multiscale characterization, three mixed carbonate-siliciclastic rock types were identified — mudstone, calcareous siltstone, and silty carbonate — likely representing a spectrum of deposition from low to relatively high energy environments in the distal portions of a ramp system. Silty carbonate contains mostly interparticle pores. The calcareous siltstones and silty mudstones contain a combination of organic matter pores and interparticle pores. Each of the rock types shows unique mineralogical compositions based on XRD. The mudstone lithofacies has the highest clay content and the least carbonate content. Calcareous siltstones show moderate carbonate and clay content. Silty carbonate indicates the highest carbonate content with the least clay content. In an order of mudstone, calcareous siltstone, and silty carbonate, rebound hardness and Young’s modulus show an increasing trend. As a result of rock-fluid interactions, there are potential scaling reactions during completion and production that could ultimately affect permeability and production rates. Overall, the proposed multiscale integration approach is critical for the geologic characterization of most rocks. However, in shale reservoirs dominated by microporosity and microstructure where engineered fractures are expected to provide permeability at a reservoir scale, successful integration is essential. An optimized, integrated geological characterization of the Caney Shale that is well aligned with the engineering designs in drilling, completing, and producing wellbores will ultimately lead to optimal production while providing safe and environmentally responsible operations.

Assessing the uniaxial compressive strength and tangent Young’s modulus of basalt rock using the Leeb rebound hardness test

Basalt was used as an ornamental stone in any historic and ancient cities in Jordan. Measuring the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and the tangent Young’s modulus (Et) in the laboratory requires premium quality specimens with special core dimensions. This research focuses on correlations both UCS and Et with Leeb Rebound Hardness Test (LRH). In the laboratory, UCS, Et, and LRH were performed on 90 core samples extracted from 30 different rock boulders collected from the neighboring area of Umm al-Jimal, a historic city in northeastern Jordan. A strong power correlation with (R2 = 0.888, RMSE = 5.464) was found between non-destructive LRH value and UCS. On the other hand, a moderately strong linear regression with (R2 = 0.792, RMSE = 4.661) was found between Et and LRH. In conclusion, non-destructive LRHs can be used as indictors for evaluating both UCS and Et during the restoration of the historic city Umm al-Jimal and the rehabilitation of other existing structures.

Reusing Iraqi Construction and Aggregates Waste to Manu-facturing Eco-Friendly Polymer Concrete

The recycling and reusing of waste materials to produce suitable materials is very important subjects to scientific research in world now, because the decrease natural resources and create a hole or risk in future of the world. The aim of our research to produce polymer concrete (PC) has high mechanical and physical characteristic. This PC was prepared by using the waste of aggregates and demolitions to make PC have good mechanical and physical characteristic with low cost as compared as cement concrete. In this research different types of construction and demolition waste were used as aggregates replacement (i.e. waste of cement/concrete debris, waste of ceramics and the waste of blocks) while the type of polymer resins (i.e. Epoxy) as cement replacements. The weight percentages of resin were changed within (20, 25 and 30) % to manufacture this polymer concrete. The tests we done like physical such as den-sity and mechanical such as compressive strength, flexural strength. Splitting tensile strength and Schmidt hammer rebound hardness.