The correlation of stress sensitivity to various petrophysical parameters w
as studied by analysis of experimental results from a range of sandstone co
re plugs tested hydrostatically at room temperature. The parameters measure
d were: compressional wave velocity, porosity permeability and electrical r
esistivity, More detailed information on the effects of sorting and grain s
ize distributions mas obtained from experiments on artificial, unconsolidat
ed sandstone cores. The measurements showed a high degree of stress sensiti
vity, which was different for each core but, broadly, could be classified a
s either high or low stress sensitivity, Cores from the high permeability c
lean sand were less stress sensitise than the cores from the low permeabili
ty coarsening-upwards sequence and the petrophysical values when combined i
nto a synthetic log distinguished between the two Lithologies. The results
were compared to the predictions of a simple asperity deformation model. Th
e experimental results and the model suggested a possible logging strategy
to deduce permeability, by varying wellbore pressure.