Mechanical characterization of synthetic carbonate rocks for application in oil reservoir analysis

This research aims to present the preparation and mechanical characterization of a synthetic carbonate porous medium for application in oil reservoir Analysis. Eight samples of synthetic carbonate rock were prepared with dimensions of 8 x 4 cm (height x diameter), using a proportion of 85% limestone powder and 15% epoxy resin, consolidated through the compaction process at 20 MPa and oven dried at 60ºC for 24 hours. Then, rocks produced were been instrumented and submitted to Unconfined Compressive Strength tests (UCS), where the stress-strain behavior, Young’s Modulus (E) and Poisson's coefficient were determined. Among the results obtained, the synthetic rock presented maximum compressive strength of 86.92 MPa, with an average UCS of 80.20 MPa, in addition to average values of Young’s Modulus and Poisson's ratio of 7.28 GPa and 0.34, respectively. It is observed through the values presented, that these do not present great variations if compared with data extracted from analyzes of natural rocks, indicating a greater homogeneity and meeting one of the objectives of the preparation of synthetic porous media, which aims at a repeatability for a better understanding of rock-fluid interactions, which can be applied in analyzes that simulate processes involving oil wells.