Nano to Macro Mechanical Characterization of Shale

Abstract

Abstract We report on a nano-indentation study of shales from the Barnett, Woodford, Ordovician, Eagle Ford and Haynesville plays. Careful selection of load and displacement during nano-indentation testing yields micro to macro-mechanical properties, Young's modulus and hardness, of shale. Scanning Electron Microscope coupled and nano-indentation were used to study the mechanical behavior of kerogen. The measured Young's modulus of kerogen varied from 5 to 9 GPa. Mineralogy is found to play an important role in controlling mechanical properties of shales; an increase in carbonate and quartz content is correlated with an increase in Young's modulus whereas, an increase in TOC, clay content and porosity decreases Young's modulus. Close agreement is found between indentation moduli measured on small samples (mm scale) and dynamic moduli calculated from velocity and density measurements made on larger samples (centimeter scale). Tests conducted on cuttings provided results comparable to measurements made on larger core samples. Nano-indentation can provide a viable means of assessing quantitative measure of shale "fraccability."