Localized Shear and Compaction in Porous Sandstone
John Rudnicki
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University
ABSTRACT: In porous rock (15–25% porosity) shear localization is accompanied by compaction. In limiting cases, bands with minimal shear offset (compaction bands) can form perpendicular to the most compressive principal stress. Because reduction in porosity reduces permeability, localized compaction can affect processes involving fluid injection or withdrawal from reservoirs, such as energy recovery, waste disposal, or sequestration of CO2. Rudnicki reviews laboratory and field observations of localized compaction and presents simple models for their onset and propagation.
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