EFFECT OF PORE FLUIDS ON THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF SANDSTONE

Abstract

Bulk compressibility, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio were measured on three sandstones. Measurements were made on both dry and water saturated samples. Several runs were made on each sandstone to establish the statistical validity of the differences observed between the wet and dry samples. Bulk compressibility of wet sandstone was 10 to 30 percent greater than for dry. Young’s modulus was 8 to 20 percent less for wet sandstone, and Poisson’s ratio was 100 percent greater on one type of sandstone when wet and only slightly greater or about the same on wet samples of the others. A high clay content is believed to lead to a large effect of water on the elastic moduli of sandstone.