Core Laboratories' Rock and Soils Mechanics Testing Laboratory provides problem-solving data to support a wide variety of drilling, completion and recovery -optimizing applications. Supporting geologists, log analysts, engineers and geophysicists around the world, the stateof-the-art geomechanics facility is part of Core Laboratories newest Advanced Technology Center, which opened in 2000 in Houston, Texas. Advanced Testing and Analysis Tools The Rock and Soils Mechanics Testing Laboratory is one of the most extensive geomechanics facilities in the world. Its testing and analysis equipment includes:y y y y y y y y

A 400,000 pounds of force (lbf), computer -controlled load frame with triaxial cells for testing core samples of 1" - 4" diameter at confining stresses up to 20,000 psi A 100,000 lbf load frame with triaxial cells for testing 1" and 1.5" diameter unconsolidated and soft cores at confining pressures up to 10,000 psi and temperatures up to 300 F. Acoustic velocity equipment for testing a variety of core sizes at confining stresses up to 15,000 psi and temperatures up to 300 F. Hydrostatic (HPVC) and Uniaxial strain pore volume compressibility (UPVC) apparatus. Unconfined compressive strength and thick wall cylinder equipment Brinell hardness tester Proppant embedment equipment Fracture azimuth and sonic velocity anisotropy equipment A new computer-controlled 250,000 lbf load frame with triaxial cell that uses all digital electronics for testing 1" and 1.5" diameter samples at confining and pore pressures up to 20,000 psi Applications for Rock Mechanics Data The geomechanics data developed by the Rock and Soils Mechanics Testing Laboratory provides critical problem-solving information used to:

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Evaluate stresses and borehole stability of deviated and horizontal wells Determine the azimuth angle for maximum horizontal stress direction and direction of natural formation fractures Evaluate reservoirs by pore volume compressibility testing Develop sand-control and gravel-packing strategies using mechanical properties data Optimize hydraulic and acid-fracturing designs Select proppants to reduce embedment and flowback Calibrate and correct dipole sonic logs Fine-tune and calibrate 3D and 4D seismic surveys using low - frequency lab data Testing Capabilities for Rock, Soil and Proppant Mechanics

Using its array of advanced equipment, the Rock and Soils Mechanics Testing Laboratory is able to apply a broad range of problem -solving tests and procedures. These tests include:y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

Triaxial and uniaxial testing for Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio, and compressive strength Sonic velocity testing for dynamic Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio Mohr-Coulomb envelope analysis and construction Sonic velocity and acoustic impedance testing at stress Sonic velocity in crude oils and brines Seismic velocity testing at 10Hz Hydrostatic and uniaxial pore volume compressibility Calibration of sonic and dipole log Fracture azimuth and max stress azimuth (sonic velocity anisotropy) Evaluation of natural fracture conductivity Thick wall cylinder test to determine onset of sand production Fracture toughness analysis Brinell hardness test for closure stress analysis Proppant embedment testing vs. closure stress Brazil tensile strength for wellbore stability analysis Point load tensile test for wellbore stability analysis Computer analysis and field recommendations y Borehole stability analysis y Critical drawdown pressure y Sand control and perforation stability y Data extension from dry to wet conditions Sonic velocities, Young's Modulus, and Poisson's Ratio estimation from x -ray data y Dipole sonic analysis and calibration y Biot's poroelastic constant y Acid fracture conductivity analysis y Proppant embedment and conductivity analysis y Sonic velocity testing at 0.001 to 1,000,000 Hz Biot's poroelastic testing and horizontal stress analyses