Effect of fabric on the behaviour of reservoir sandstones

A laboratory investigation was undertaken on the mechanical behaviour of two sandstones that are commonly used as analogous hydrocarbon reservoir sandstones, using triaxial apparatuses with a capacity of up to 70 MPa confining pressure. Both materials are lightly cemented, but show a mechanical behaviour at large strains that is similar to that seen in rocks with much stronger cementation. At small strains, however, these materials behave more like uncemented sands in that they show a strong stress dependency of the shear modulus and yield takes places at relatively small strains. It is believed that fabric plays a fundamental role in the observed behaviour and this is supported by the experimental evidence, so that the concept of strong fabric in sandstones is introduced.