Poroelastic Lab

The lab’s primary tool is the NER AutoLab 1500, which is a servo-hydraulic operated system for biaxial measurements with software-controlled arbitrary stress paths on rock specimens up to 50.8 mm (2.0 in) in diameter at in-situ stress conditions with pore pressure and temperature controls. The high pressure biaxial system consists of a pressure vessel with an internal piston for differential stress and servo-hydraulic intensifiers for differential stress, confining and pore pressure. This instrument allows us to make measurements at reservoir pressures up to 69 MPa (10,000 psi) and temperatures up to 120°C (248°F).

The instrument’s key features are the following: 

• Servo-hydraulic control of confining pressure, pore pressure, flow rate, strain rate, and force.
• Control of stresses and temperatures at reservoir conditions.
• Pore pressure intensifier compatible with water, brine, oil, and gas (including CO2).
• AutoLab software for system data acquisition and reduction.
• Integrated electronics console for servo-amplifiers and signal conditioning

The NER Autolab 1500 measures the following parameters:

1. Compressional and shear wave velocities
2. Electrical resistivity
3. Permeability