Anisotropic energy and ultrasonic characteristics of black shale under triaxial deformation revealed utilizing real-time ultrasonic detection and post-test CT imaging

SUMMARY For evaluating the fracturing-related activities in a deep shale formation, it is important to investigate the effect of anisotropy on its geomechanical properties. Many effects have been performed to reveal the strength and deformation anisotropy of shale, however, the influence of bedding planes on the anisotropic energy evolution and velocity-energy dependency are still not well understood, especially under high confinement condition. In this study, triaxial compression tests with a high confining pressure of 60 MPa in combination with real-time ultrasonic detection and post-test CT scanning were performed to the shale samples cored along an angle of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° with respect to bedding planes. The effect of the bedding orientation on the shale geomechanical, ultrasonic, energy dissipation and energy release characteristics are explored. The experimental results show that shale structural features highly affect the total energy, elastic energy and dissipated energy. The increasing trend of elastic energy shows a slow, fast and slow mode, and the dissipate energy increases rapidly near sample failure. Good correlations have been found among the P- and S-wave velocities and the elastic and dissipated strain energy. The mesostructural changes during deformation are considered to be the primary factor controlling the energy sensitivity to the velocities. CT images further reveal the anisotropic fracture pattern which is in good agreement with energy release and dissipation analysis. The analysis of the strain energy and velocities suggests that the strain energy evolution and fracture anisotropy are bedding orientation dependent.