Physical properties of rock. Geotechnical description of rock masses and discontinuities. Primary and secondary porosity and permeability of rock masses.
In situ and laboratory tests for the characterization of Rock masses and discontinuities. Mohr Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria. Role of pore pressure in rock resistance. Deformability of rocks and elastic properties. Peak resistance and Barton-Bandis criteria.
Geomechanical characterization of reservoirs through the analysis of rock cores (core logging). Analysis of core fractures and definition of pre-existing and drilling related fractures. Calculation of RQD during core logging.
Analysis of rocks stress-strain relationship at depth and near-surface. Wellbore failures.
Introduction to the use of stochastic methods for the study of fractures (discrete fracture network).