Rock Anisotropy

1972 ◽  
pp. 131-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Barla
Keyword(s):  
Rock Anisotropy

A comparative study of the anisotropic dynamic and static elastic moduli of unconventional reservoir shales: Implication for geomechanical investigations

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. D245-D261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Meléndez-Martínez ◽  
Douglas R. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Bedding Plane ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Pressure Sensitivity ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Fracture Pressure ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Rock Anisotropy ◽  
Minimum Stress ◽  
Sonic Logging ◽  
Static Elastic Moduli

We obtained the complete set of dynamic elastic stiffnesses for a suite of “shales” representative of unconventional reservoirs from simultaneously measured P- and S-wave speeds on single prisms specially machined from cores. Static linear compressibilities were concurrently obtained using strain gauges attached to the prism. Regardless of being from static or dynamic measurements, the pressure sensitivity varies strongly with the direction of measurement. Furthermore, the static and dynamic linear compressibilities measured parallel to the bedding are nearly the same whereas those perpendicular to the bedding can differ by as much as 100%. Compliant cracklike porosity, seen in scanning electron microscope images, controls the elastic properties measured perpendicular to the rock’s bedding plane and results in highly nonlinear pressure sensitivity. In contrast, those properties measured parallel to the bedding are nearly insensitive to stress. This anisotropy to the pressure dependency of the strains and moduli further complicates the study of the overall anisotropy of such rocks. This horizontal stress insensitivity has implications for the use of advanced sonic logging techniques for stress direction indication. Finally, we tested the validity of the practice of estimating the fracture pressure gradient (i.e., horizontal stress) using our observed elastic engineering moduli and found that ignoring anisotropy would lead to underestimates of the minimum stress by as much as 90%. Although one could ostensibly obtain better values or the minimum stress if the rock anisotropy is included, we would hope that these results will instead discourage this method of estimating horizontal stress in favor of more reliable techniques.

Visualizing effects of anisotropy on seismic moments and their potency-tensor isotropic equivalent

Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. C85-C97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nepomuk Boitz ◽  
Anton Reshetnikov ◽  
Serge A. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Pattern ◽  
Elastic Anisotropy ◽  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Matrix Multiplication ◽  
Tensor Decomposition ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Propagation Path ◽  
Tectonic Deformation ◽  
Radiation Patterns ◽  
Rock Anisotropy

Radiation patterns of earthquakes contain important information on tectonic strain responsible for seismic events. However, elastic anisotropy may significantly impact these patterns. We systematically investigate and visualize the effect of anisotropy on the radiation patterns of microseismic events. For visualization, we use a vertical-transverse-isotropic (VTI) medium. We distinguish between two different effects: the anisotropy in the source and the anisotropy on the propagation path. Source anisotropy mathematically comes from the matrix multiplication of the anisotropic stiffness tensor with the source strain expressed by the potency tensor. We analyze this effect using the corresponding radiation pattern and the moment tensor decomposition. Propagation anisotropy mathematically comes from the deviation between the polarization and the propagation direction of a quasi P-wave in an anisotropic medium. We investigate both effects separately by either assuming the source to be anisotropic and the propagation to be isotropic or vice versa. We find that both effects have a significant impact on the radiation pattern of a pure-slip source. Finally, we develop an alternative visualization of source mechanisms by plotting beach balls proportional to their potency tensors. For this, we multiply the potency tensor with an isotropic elasticity tensor having the equivalent shear modulus [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this way, we visualize the tectonic deformation in the source, independently of the rock anisotropy.

Rock Mesoscopic Structural Plane, Mesoscopic Anisotropy and Mesoscopic Anisotropy Index

2012 ◽  
Vol 594-597 ◽  
pp. 230-236
Author(s):  
Hui Ning Xu ◽  
Jin Xu ◽  
Zhong Hong Li
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Mesoscopic Scale ◽  
Structural Plane ◽  
Testing Method ◽  
Anisotropy Index ◽  
Rock Anisotropy

In this article, we define rock structural planes caused by mineral orientation and layering distribution of some rock ingredients which is different from both rock mass scale structural planes and micro structural plane at crystal scale, as rock mesoscopic structural plane, and the rock anisotropy caused by the existence of these structural planes as rock mesoscopic anisotropy. Rock mesoscopic scale anisotropy index is introduced and its simple but efficient testing method is suggested. With the rock mesoscopic anisotropy index, the degree of rock mesoscopic anisotropy can be quantified easily and the process in simplified.

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