Abstract

Modelling of rock masses is important to assess the geomechanical behaviour of oil & gas reservoirs, especially in fractured tight reservoirs. The presence of discontinuities will significantly influence the general behaviour of the rock masses. In order to achieve realistic simulation process a good knowledge of rock behaviour is required together with calibration or matching data of actual and controlled tests on rock. Artificial saw-cut joints on granitic rock specimens have been used to simulate a rock mass analogues at the laboratory scale with the aim of attempting to identify and quantify pre- and post-peak behaviour trends for different levels of confinement and jointing. The mechanical behaviour of intact and jointed rock samples are studied using an equivalent continuum modelling approach and a discrete approach. Advantages and limitations of each numerical approach are identified and give us an insight into the response of rock masses modelling at engineering scale.