eee Ptabtene Mates n Gotecnen Fgincng Lo ec) © 1989 Bens, Rate IND 54103095 A statistical study on shale properties: Relationships among principal shale properties G.R.Lashkaripour & Maurice B.Dusseault Departmen of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Ont, Canada ABSTRACT: Our study has been carried out to develop models for predicting mechanical behaviour of shales using index properties. A statistical analysis has been perforne available geological information and relationships ‘anong sone index properties, geologicel data, and mechanical properties are ented. Such relationships may be of vse for petroleum engineers in a Stability analysis during drilling and production, and for civil engineers in foundations, dans, and underground excavations, thus these aodels may ald preliminary estimates of proper rogulrenents. 1. eRenocrrON Shale is one of the most_problenatic raterials for geotechnical and petroleum engineers. Little infomation is available nthe sechonical properties of shales, largely because these rocks are difficult to characterize ‘and test oo a practical basis, For’ designing and construction of stroctures in shale, laboratory and in-situ tests are usually carried out to determine physical and mechanical propertiess fomwr, test results may not be used effectively after they have bnen obtained. In this study, available experinental cata on shales have been collected fron different sources, ‘The ‘reference cats Points at the tine of writing amber 315, ‘Sod physical and mechanical properties, 25 tell 'ss geological information, are stsred Than easily sed database format. ‘Statistical investigations have been performed to evaluste the dita and to ‘xain simple and multiple regression relations" anoog “index properties, ‘geological information, and ‘mechanical Properties. The goal of the statistical Bnalyses is to identity useful ‘scientific ‘and ' engineering insigits into shale behaviour, and to explore the possibility that strong predictive relatienships could be developed for use in practice. 1m adlition, a Limited test progran has been ‘carried’ Out ‘on several southern ‘tes and perhaps even reduce testing ontario (Canada) shales to test and obtain Perancters describin the physical and Rechanical behaviour, mse are useful to Verify the statistical rodels. 2. DATA ANALYSIS Data have been extracted fram joumale, ‘conference proceedings, tectnical reports, Dooks, theses, as well as fron our test results. If errors or explained diserepancies wore detected in the results fof laboratory ared field tests, these date wore excluded (for eaple, if the data are ‘cbvicusly ‘ost of the range of ell other Published datay. ‘he principal physical and mochanical properties of the Collected data are listed In Table 1, showing a wide range of mean values, ‘and substantial. standard deviations. For uawle, the range in compressive strength valves is fram less than 1 Wa (che range of soil) to a maximn ‘of 239.94 MPa (the range of high strength rocks “according ‘to 1st classificatiens (981). Standard ‘deviations 6.0.) and cvefficients of variation (C:V.) also Contin the “wide ranges of shale properties: . ‘The distributions of capressive strength, static modulus of elasticity, and Poisson's ratio are presented in Fig. 1- These distributions — graphically demonstrate the wide ranges in’ shale 195