Compaction localization in porous sandstone: Implications for reservoir mechanics

Compaction of porous rocks can occur in two modes: uniform and localized. Recent experimental work has demonstrated that compaction can occur in tabular zones that expand with increasing applied deformation. The appearance of compaction bands and their growth has a strong influence on the measured permeability of the host rock. The rock behind the moving compaction front can be either uniformly compacted or can consist of intercalated bands of uncompacted and compacted material. These three types of compaction would have very different effects on production from reservoirs undergoing compaction. We review the status of experimental results on localized compaction and the bifurcation theory of strain localization for compaction.