Relationships among compressional wave attenuation, porosity, clay content, and permeability in sandstones

Geophysics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 998-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Klimentos ◽  
C. McCann
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Spectral Ratio ◽  
Confining Pressure ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Biot Theory ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
High Attenuation

Anelastic attenuation is the process by which rocks convert compressional waves into heat and thereby modify the amplitude and phase of the waves. Understanding the causes of compressional wave attenuation is important in the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of high‐resolution seismic data, and in deducing the physical properties of rocks from seismic data. We have measured the attenuation coefficients of compressional waves in 42 sandstones at a confining pressure of 40 MPa (equivalent to a depth of burial of about 1.5 km) in a frequency range from 0.5 to 1.5 MHz. The compressional wave measurements were made using a pulse‐echo method in which the sample (5 cm diameter, 1.8 cm to 3.5 cm long) was sandwiched between perspex (lucite) buffer rods inside the high‐pressure rig. The attenuation of the sample was estimated from the logarithmic spectral ratio of the signals (corrected for beam spreading) reflected from the top and base of the sample. The results show that for these samples, compressional wave attenuation (α, dB/cm) at 1 MHz and 40 MPa is related to clay content (C, percent) and porosity (ϕ, percent) by α=0.0315ϕ+0.241C−0.132 with a correlation coefficient of 0.88. The relationship between attenuation and permeability is less well defined: Those samples with permeabilities less than 50 md have high attenuation coefficients (generally greater than 1 dB/cm) while those with permeabilities greater than 50 md have low attenuation coefficients (generally less than 1 dB/cm) at 1 MHz at 40 MPa. These experimental data can be accounted for by modifications of the Biot theory and by consideration of the Sewell/Urick theory of compressional wave attenuation in porous, fluid‐saturated media.

A theory of compressional wave attenuation in noncohesive sediments

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1311-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. McCann ◽  
D. M. McCann
Keyword(s):  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Biot’S Theory ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Biot's Theory ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Water Saturated

Published reviews indicate that attenuation coefficients of compressional waves in noncohesive, water‐saturated sediments vary linearly with frequency. Biot’s theory, which accounts for attenuation in terms of the viscous interaction between the solid particles and pore fluid, predicts in its presently published form variation proportional to [Formula: see text] at low frequencies and [Formula: see text] at high frequencies. A modification of Biot’s theory which incorporates a distribution of pore sizes is presented and shown to give excellent agreement with new and published attenuation data in the frequency range 10 kHz to 2.25 MHz. In particular, a linear variation of attenuation with frequency is predicted in that range.

Role of the inhomogeneity angle in anisotropic attenuation analysis

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. WB177-WB191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Behura ◽  
Ilya Tsvankin
Keyword(s):  
Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Spectral Ratio ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
Anisotropic Models ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anisotropy Parameters ◽  
Attenuation Anisotropy

The inhomogeneity angle (the angle between the real and imaginary parts of the wave vector) is seldom taken into account in estimating attenuation coefficients from seismic data. Wave propagation through the subsurface, however, can result in relatively large inhomogeneity angles [Formula: see text], especially for models with significant attenuation contrasts across layer boundaries. Here we study the influence of the angle [Formula: see text] on phase and group attenuation in arbitrarily anisotropic media using the first-order perturbation theory verified by exact numerical modeling. Application of the spectral-ratio method to transmitted or reflected waves yields the normalized group attenuation coefficient [Formula: see text], which is responsible for amplitude decay along seismic rays. Our analytic solutions show that for a wide range of inhomogeneity angles, the coefficient [Formula: see text] is close to the normalized phase attenuation coefficient [Formula: see text] computed for [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. The coefficient[Formula: see text] can be inverted directly for the attenuation-anisotropy parameters, so no knowledge of the inhomogeneity angle is required for attenuation analysis of seismic data. This conclusion remains valid even for uncommonly high attenuation with the quality factor [Formula: see text] less than 10 and strong velocity and attenuation anisotropy. However, the relationship between group and phase attenuation coefficients becomes more complicated for relatively large inhomogeneity angles approaching so-called ‘‘forbidden directions.’’ We also demonstrate that the velocity function remains practically independent of attenuation for a wide range of small and moderate angles [Formula: see text]. In principle, estimation of the attenuation-anisotropy parameters from the coefficient [Formula: see text] requires computation of the phase angle, which depends on the anisotropic velocity field. For moderately anisotropic models, however, the difference between the phase and group directions should not significantly distort the results of attenuation analysis.

scholarly journals Event couple spectral ratio Q method for earthquake clusters: application to North-West Bohemia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Kriegerowski ◽  
Simone Cesca ◽  
Matthias Ohrnberger ◽  
Torsten Dahm ◽  
Frank Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Attenuation Factor ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Spectral Ratio ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Earthquake Swarms ◽  
North West ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
West Bohemia ◽  
Spectral Ratio Method

Abstract. We develop an amplitude spectral ratio method for event couples from clustered earthquakes to estimate seismic wave attenuation (Q−1) in the source volume. The method allows to study attenuation within the source region of earthquake swarms or aftershocks at depth, independent of wave path and attenuation between source region and surface station. We exploit the high frequency slope of phase spectra using multitaper spectral estimates. The method is tested using simulated full wavefield seismograms affected by recorded noise and finite source rupture. The synthetic tests verify the approach and show that solutions are independent of focal mechanisms, but also show that seismic noise may broaden the scatter of results. We apply the event couple spectral ratio method to North-West Bohemia, Czech Republic, a region characterized by the persistent occurrence of earthquake swarms in a confined source region at mid-crustal depth. Our method indicates a strong anomaly of high attenuation in the source region of the swarm with an averaged attenuation factor of Qp 

Evaluation of direct hydrocarbon indicators through comparison of compressional‐ and shear‐wave seismic data: a case study of the Myrnam gas field, Alberta

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Alan Ensley
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Bright Spot ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Gas Reservoir ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
The Relationship

Shear waves differ from compressional waves in that their velocity is not significantly affected by changes in the fluid content of a rock. Because of this relationship, a gas‐related compressional‐wave “bright spot” or direct hydrocarbon indicator will have no comparable shear‐wave anomaly. In contrast, a lithology‐related compressional‐wave anomaly will have a corresponding shear‐wave anomaly. Thus, it is possible to use shear‐wave seismic data to evaluate compressional‐wave direct hydrocarbon indicators. This case study presents data from Myrnam, Alberta which exhibit the relationship between compressional‐ and shear‐wave seismic data over a gas reservoir and a low‐velocity coal.

Sonic to ultrasonic Q of sandstones and limestones: Laboratory measurements at in situ pressures

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. WA93-WA101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive McCann ◽  
Jeremy Sothcott
Keyword(s):  
Wave Attenuation ◽  
Shear Waves ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Ultrasonic Frequency ◽  
Laboratory Measurements ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Poisson's Ratios ◽  
Poisson’S Ratios

Laboratory measurements of the attenuation and velocity dispersion of compressional and shear waves at appropriate frequencies, pressures, and temperatures can aid interpretation of seismic and well-log surveys as well as indicate absorption mechanisms in rocks. Construction and calibration of resonant-bar equipment was used to measure velocities and attenuations of standing shear and extensional waves in copper-jacketed right cylinders of rocks ([Formula: see text] in length, [Formula: see text] in diameter) in the sonic frequency range and at differential pressures up to [Formula: see text]. We also measured ultrasonic velocities and attenuations of compressional and shear waves in [Formula: see text]-diameter samples of the rocks at identical pressures. Extensional-mode velocities determined from the resonant bar are systematically too low, yielding unreliable Poisson’s ratios. Poisson’s ratios determined from the ultrasonic data are frequency corrected and used to calculate thesonic-frequency compressional-wave velocities and attenuations from the shear- and extensional-mode data. We calculate the bulk-modulus loss. The accuracies of attenuation data (expressed as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the quality factor) are [Formula: see text] for compressional and shear waves at ultrasonic frequency, [Formula: see text] for shear waves, and [Formula: see text] for compressional waves at sonic frequency. Example sonic-frequency data show that the energy absorption in a limestone is small ([Formula: see text] greater than 200 and stress independent) and is primarily due to poroelasticity, whereas that in the two sandstones is variable in magnitude ([Formula: see text] ranges from less than 50 to greater than 300, at reservoir pressures) and arises from a combination of poroelasticity and viscoelasticity. A graph of compressional-wave attenuation versus compressional-wave velocity at reservoir pressures differentiates high-permeability ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) brine-saturated sandstones from low-permeability ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) sandstones and shales.

Direct estimation of shear‐wave interval velocities from seismic data

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Carrion ◽  
S. Hassanzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Small Angle ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Mode Conversion ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
Common Depth Point ◽  
Interval Velocities ◽  
Wave Decomposition

Conventional velocity analysis of seismic data is based on normal moveout of common‐depth‐point (CDP) traveltime curves. Analysis is done in a hyperbolic framework and, therefore, is limited to using the small‐angle reflections only (muted data). Hence, it can estimate the interval velocities of compressional waves only, since mode conversion is negligible when small‐angle arrivals are concerned. We propose a new method which can estimate the interval velocities of compressional and mode‐converted waves separately. The method is based on slant stacking or plane‐wave decomposition (PWD) of the observed data (seismogram), which transforms the data from the conventional T-X domain into the intercept time‐ray parameter domain. Since PWD places most of the compressional energy into the precritical region of the slant‐stacked seismogram, the compressional‐wave interval velocities can be estimated using the “best ellipse” approximation on the assumption that the elliptic array velocity (stacking velocity) is approximately equal to the root‐mean‐square (rms) velocity. Similarly, shear‐wave interval velocities can be estimated by inverting the traveltime curves in the region of the PWD seismogram, where compressional waves decay exponentially (postcritical region). The method is illustrated by examples using synthetic and real data.

Comparison of P‐ and S‐wave seismic data: A new method for detecting gas reservoirs

Geophysics ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1420-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Alan Ensley
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Bright Spot ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Compressional Waves

Compressional waves are sensitive to the type of pore fluid within rocks, but shear waves are only slightly affected by changes in fluid type. This suggests that a comparison of compressional‐ and shear‐wave seismic data recorded over a prospect may allow an interpreter to discriminate between gas‐related anomalies and those related to lithology. This case study documents that where a compressional‐wave “bright spot” or other direct hydrocarbon indicator is present, such a comparison can be used to verify the presence of gas. In practice, the technique can only be used for a qualitative evaluation. However, future improvement of shear‐wave data quality may enable the use of more quantitative methods as well.

The effects of porosity‐permeability‐clay content on the velocity of compressional waves

Geophysics ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1930-1939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodoros Klimentos
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
High Pressures ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Compressional Waves ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Seismic Frequencies ◽  
Water Saturated ◽  
Compressional Velocity

Compressional velocities [Formula: see text] were measured in laboratory samples at ultrasonic frequencies (0.5–1.5 MHz) and under varying confining and pore fluid pressures (up to 40 MPa). Forty‐two water saturated sandstones having a range of porosities Φ (2 to 36 percent), permeabilities K (0.001 to 306 mD) and clay contents C (negligible to 30 percent) were studied. I found that at 40 MPa the compressional velocity is inversely proportional to clay content. P‐wave velocity decreases with increasing porosity, but the scatter is large even at very high pressures. The velocity‐porosity scatter is reduced when the clay content is included. The dependence of [Formula: see text] on permeability for a wide range of porosities (6 to 36 percent) is indeterminable due to a large scatter. When the rocks are grouped into identical porosities the scatter is reduced and [Formula: see text] increases with decreasing clay content and increasing permeability. However, the effect of permeability alone on [Formula: see text] was found to be negligible in rocks with identical porosity, lithology, and negligible or similar clay content. Hence, the velocity‐permeability relationship is controlled by the velocity‐clay content and permeability‐clay content interrelations. For all samples, the compressional‐wave velocity [Formula: see text] in km/s at ultrasonic frequencies and 40 MPa is related to porosity Φ (fractional), clay content C (fractional) and permeability K (millidarcy) by [Formula: see text] r = 0.96 where r is the correlation coefficient. The relationship shows empirically that the permeability effect is very small compared to that of porosity and clay content. By calculating the elastic moduli, I extrapolated from ultrasonic to seismic frequencies and obtained [Formula: see text], r = 0.93 for porosities 6–36 percent.

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