Methods and systems of testing formation samples using a rock hydrostatic compression chamber

1. A rock sample inspection method, comprising:

preparing a sample of formation rock by encapsulating the sample;

inserting the sample into a vessel body assembly comprising a vessel body and an interior chamber;

enclosing the sample within a fixed volume of a low compressibility fluid in the interior chamber;

increasing a fluidic pressure applied to the sample by the fixed volume of the low compressibility fluid in the interior chamber by adjusting the volume of the interior chamber;

monitoring the fluidic pressure;

conducting a measurement scanning test on the sample; and

recording results of the measurement scanning test.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to conducting the measurement scanning test on the sample, allowing the vessel body and fluid to reach temperature equilibrium.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said increasing fluidic pressure to the interior chamber, conducting the measurement scanning test on the sample without additional increased fluidic pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing the sample of formation rock comprises cutting the sample into a shape.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising compressing a compressible fluid within an air chamber of the vessel body when the volume is adjusted.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising encapsulating the sample in a covering that is impermeable to the low compressibility fluid.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising depressurizing the interior chamber and repressurizing the interior chamber to test elastic recovery of the sample.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cleaning the vessel body.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the low compressibility fluid compresses less than 0.2 percent at the pressure.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement scanning test comprises a micro-CT scanning test.

11. A method of inspecting a rock sample, comprising:

inserting the rock sample into a hydraulic fluid chamber of a vessel body;

injecting hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic fluid chamber;

increasing a fluidic pressure applied to the rock sample by a fixed volume of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid chamber by adjusting the volume of the hydraulic fluid chamber; and

conducting a measurement scanning test on the sample.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising allowing the vessel body and hydraulic fluid to reach temperature equilibrium prior to conducting the measurement scanning test on the sample.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising conducting the measurement scanning test on the sample prior to increasing the fluidic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising monitoring the fluidic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber of the vessel body during the measurement scanning test.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising compressing a compressible fluid within an air chamber of the vessel body when the volume of the hydraulic fluid chamber is adjusted.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the measurement scanning test comprises a CT scan.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising encapsulating the sample in a covering that is impermeable to the hydraulic fluid.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising decreasing the fluidic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber and then conducting a second test.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising decreasing the fluidic pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber and then conducting a third test.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein conducting a measurement scanning test comprises conducting a micro-CT scanning test.