Design and operational requirements for the GeoTriax centrifuge triaxial cell
| Feature | Target / specification | Design purpose / description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum acceleration | Up to 30g | Reproduce prototype stress levels and simulate field-scale effective stresses |
| Sample dimensions | 538 mm (diameter) × 150 mm (height) | Large representative element minimising boundary effects and capturing stress gradients |
| Maximum horizontal stresses in a radial geometry | ≈3.5 MPa | Reproduce in situ horizontal stress around a wellbore |
| Maximum vertical stress | ≈2.5 MPa (pneumatically applied) | Simulate overburden and enable independent stress control |
| Stress anisotropy control | Independent radial and vertical loading | Allow variable triaxial stress states and anisotropy |
| Fluid types | Water, oil, gas (CO2 or N2) | Enable multiphase flow and saturation experiments |
| Flow system pressure capacity | Up to 2.5 MPa (The production flow system is connected to a back-pressure regulator that reduces the flow pressure to 100 kPa, allowing drainage into the acrylic cells located on both sides of the set-up) | Support high-pressure injection and production |
| Wellbore system | Remotely activated concentric perforated tubes | Permit sand and fluid production during spinning |
| Instrumentation | Pressure transducers, load cell, displacement sensors, DAQ integration | Monitor stress, pore pressure, and production in real time |
| Operating environment | 2 m-radius beam centrifuge (GeoCERF) | Safe and stable operation under high-g conditions |
| Total cell weight | ∼350 kg | Within centrifuge payload capacity and structural limits |
| Feature | Target / specification | Design purpose / description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum acceleration | Up to 30 | Reproduce prototype stress levels and simulate field-scale effective stresses |
| Sample dimensions | 538 mm (diameter) × 150 mm (height) | Large representative element minimising boundary effects and capturing stress gradients |
| Maximum horizontal stresses in a radial geometry | ≈3.5 MPa | Reproduce in situ horizontal stress around a wellbore |
| Maximum vertical stress | ≈2.5 MPa (pneumatically applied) | Simulate overburden and enable independent stress control |
| Stress anisotropy control | Independent radial and vertical loading | Allow variable triaxial stress states and anisotropy |
| Fluid types | Water, oil, gas (CO2 or N2) | Enable multiphase flow and saturation experiments |
| Flow system pressure capacity | Up to 2.5 MPa (The production flow system is connected to a back-pressure regulator that reduces the flow pressure to 100 kPa, allowing drainage into the acrylic cells located on both sides of the set-up) | Support high-pressure injection and production |
| Wellbore system | Remotely activated concentric perforated tubes | Permit sand and fluid production during spinning |
| Instrumentation | Pressure transducers, load cell, displacement sensors, | Monitor stress, pore pressure, and production in real time |
| Operating environment | 2 m-radius beam centrifuge (GeoCERF) | Safe and stable operation under high- |
| Total cell weight | ∼350 kg | Within centrifuge payload capacity and structural limits |
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