Geomechanical properties

Outcrops exploration provides samples of seal and storage formation, to evaluate some properties such as hydrogeology and geomechanical properties (permeability, porosity, etc.)... 

Thomas, G., Nathan, D. Richard, J.C. 2009. A method to predict geomechanical properties and model well stability in horizontal boreholes. International Journal of Coal Geology 78 149-160. 

Table 5.28. Geomechanical properties of some igneous and metamorphic rocks...

Table 5.32. Some geomechanical properties of British carbonate rocks (after Bell, 1981)...

Table 5.34. Geomechanical properties of anhydrite and gypsum, from the north and midlands of England, range and average values (after Bell, 1994c)...

Bell, F. G. and Culshaw, M. G. 1993. A survey of the geomechanical properties of some relatively weak Triassic sandstones. In The Engineering Geology of Weak Rock, Engineering Geology Special Publication No. 8, Cripps, J. C., Coulthard, J.M., Culshaw, M.G., Forster, A., Hencher, S.R. and Moon, C.F. (Eds.), Geological Society, A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 139-148. 

Bell, F.G. and Lindsay, P. 1999. The petrographic and geomechanical properties of some sandstones from the Newspaper Member of the Natal Group, near Durban, South Africa. Engineering Geoiogy, 52, 57-81. 

In this Manual the design of a hydraulic fill will mainly relate to the geometry of the reclamation area and the geomechanical properties of the fill mass, because the results of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) are considered to be part of the boundary conditions. Note that in the Building with Nature philosophy, the findings of an EIA may be additional starting points of the design rather than purely boundary conditions. 

The main design aspects of hydraulic fills are discussed in the previous chapters which mainly focus on the geomechanical properties of the fill mass and subsoil. There are, however, more design aspects such as drainage, wind erosion and slope protection that require attention as well. Although this Manual will not discuss these aspects in detail, an overview and relevant references will be presented. 

On the other hand, physical rock properties (for example elastic, electrical, nuclear properties) can be used to characterize rocks with respect to properties and parameters of interest (for example reservoir properties, geomechanical properties). This leads to a classification of rock properties into the following two main groups or types ... 

FIGURE 7.1 The physical problem of geomechanical properties evaluation in terms of geophysical parameters. 

Dewhurst, D.N., Hennig, A.L., 2003. Geomechanical properties related to top seal leakage in the Carnarvon Basin, Northwest Shelf, Australia. Pet. Geosci. 9, 255-263. 

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