Effects of ellipsoidal heterogeneities on wave propagation in partially saturated double-porosity rocks

Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. WC71-WC81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weitao Sun ◽  
Fansheng Xiong ◽  
Jing Ba ◽  
José M. Carcione
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Lagrange Equations ◽  
Wave Dissipation ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
The Impact

Reservoir rocks are heterogeneous porous media saturated with multiphase fluids, in which strong wave dissipation and velocity dispersion are closely associated with fabric heterogeneities and patchy saturation at different scales. The irregular solid inclusions and fluid patches are ubiquitous in nature, whereas the impact of geometry on wave dissipation is still not well-understood. We have investigated the dependence of wave attenuation and velocity on patch geometry. The governing equations for wave propagation in a porous medium, containing fluid/solid heterogeneities of ellipsoidal triple-layer patches, are derived from the Lagrange equations on the basis of the potential and kinetic energies. Harmonic functions describe the wave-induced local fluid flow of an ellipsoidal patch. The effects of the aspect ratio on wave velocity are illustrated with numerical examples and comparisons with laboratory measurements. The results indicate that the P-wave velocity dispersion and attenuation depend on the aspect ratio of the ellipsoidal heterogeneities, especially in the intermediate frequency range. In the case of Fort Union sandstone, the P-wave velocity increases toward an upper bound as the aspect ratio decreases. The example of a North Sea sandstone clearly indicates that introducing ellipsoidal heterogeneities gives a better description of laboratory data than that based on spherical patches. The unexpected high-velocity values previously reported and ascribed to sample heterogeneities are explained by varying the aspect ratio of the inclusions (or patches).

Using laboratory data to understand how pore aspect ratio influences elastic parameters and AVO

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-50
Author(s):  
Kamal Moravej ◽  
Alison Malcolm
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Elastic Properties ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Selective Laser Sintering ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Water Saturated ◽  
The Impact

Pore geometry is an important parameter in reservoir characterization that affects the permeability of reservoirs and can also be a controlling factor on the impact of pressure and saturation on reservoirs elastic properties. We use SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing technology to build physical models to experimentally investigate the impacts of pore aspect ratio on P-, and S- wave velocities and amplitude variation with offset (AVO). We printed six models to study the effects of the pore aspect ratio of prolate and oblate pore structures on elastic properties and AVO signatures. We find that the P-wave velocity is reduced by decreasing the pore aspect ratio (flatter pore structure), whereas the shear wave velocity is less sensitive to the pore aspect ratio. This effect is reduced when the samples are water saturated. We present new experimental and processing techniques to extract realistic AVO signatures from our experimental data and show that the pore aspect ratio has similar effects on AVO as fluid compressibility. This shows that not considering the pore aspect ratio in AVO analysis can lead to misleading interpretations. We further show that these effects are reduced in water-saturated samples.

scholarly journals Simulation of the effect of stress-induced anisotropy on borehole compressional wave propagation

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. D205-D216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinding Fang ◽  
Michael C. Fehler ◽  
Arthur Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Stress Concentration ◽  
Elastic Properties ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Wave Amplitude ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Azimuthal Variation ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Region

Formation elastic properties near a borehole may be altered from their original state due to the stress concentration around the borehole. This can lead to an incorrect estimation of formation elastic properties measured from sonic logs. Previous work has focused on estimating the elastic properties of the formation surrounding a borehole under anisotropic stress loading. We studied the effect of borehole stress concentration on sonic logging in a moderately consolidated Berea sandstone using a two-step approach. First, we used an iterative approach, which combines a rock-physics model and a finite-element method, to calculate the stress-dependent elastic properties of the rock around a borehole subjected to an anisotropic stress loading. Second, we used the anisotropic elastic model obtained from the first step and a finite-difference method to simulate the acoustic response of the borehole. Although we neglected the effects of rock failure and stress-induced crack opening, our modeling results provided important insights into the characteristics of borehole P-wave propagation when anisotropic in situ stresses are present. Our simulation results were consistent with the published laboratory measurements, which indicate that azimuthal variation of the P-wave velocity around a borehole subjected to uniaxial loading is not a simple cosine function. However, on field scale, the azimuthal variation in P-wave velocity might not be apparent at conventional logging frequencies. We found that the low-velocity region along the wellbore acts as an acoustic focusing zone that substantially enhances the P-wave amplitude, whereas the high-velocity region caused by the stress concentration near the borehole results in a significantly reduced P-wave amplitude. This results in strong azimuthal variation of P-wave amplitude, which may be used to infer the in situ stress state.

Fracture-porosity inversion from P-wave AVOA data along 2D seismic lines: An example from the Austin Chalk of southeast Texas

Geophysics ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. B1-B7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Fracture Porosity ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Austin Chalk ◽  
Southeast Texas

Vertical aligned fractures can significantly enhance the horizontal permeability of a tight reservoir. Therefore, it is important to know the fracture porosity and direction in order to develop the reservoir efficiently. P-wave AVOA (amplitude variation with offset and azimuth) can be used to determine these fracture parameters. In this study, I present a method for inverting the fracture porosity from 2D P-wave seismic data. The method is based on a modeling result that shows that the anisotropic AVO (amplitude variation with offset) gradient is negative and linearly dependent on the fracture porosity in a gas-saturated reservoir, whereas the gradient is positive and linearly dependent on the fracture porosity in a liquid-saturated reservoir. This assumption is accurate as long as the crack aspect ratio is less than 0.1 and the ratio of the P-wave velocity to the S-wave velocity is greater than 1.8 — two conditions that are satisfied in most naturally fractured reservoirs. The inversion then uses the fracture strike, the crack aspect ratio, and the ratio of the P-wave velocity to the S-wave velocity to invert the fracture porosity from the anisotropic AVO gradient after inferring the fluid type from the sign of the anisotropic AVO gradient. When I applied this method to a seismic line from the oil-saturated zone of the fractured Austin Chalk of southeast Texas, I found that the inversion gave a median fracture porosity of 0.21%, which is within the fracture-porosity range commonly measured in cores from the Austin Chalk.

Variation in P-wave modulus with frequency and water saturation: Extension of dynamic-equivalent-medium approach

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. D479-D494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Kobayashi ◽  
Gary Mavko
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Mesoscopic Scale ◽  
Original Theory ◽  
Saturated Rock ◽  
Pressure Diffusion ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Dynamic Equivalent

We have developed a new modeling approach for the complex-valued P-wave modulus of a rock saturated with two-phase fluid accounting for the variation with frequency and water saturation. Our method is based on the dynamic-equivalent-medium approach theory, which predicts P-wave modulus dispersion due to mesoscopic-scale wave-induced fluid flow (WIFF). Although the application of the original theory was limited to small fluctuation media, we have extended it to also be applicable for high-fluctuation media such as partially saturated rock. Our modification and extension consists of two components. The first is introducing a scaling by the rigorous bounds for P-wave velocity dispersion by mesoscopic-scale WIFF. The second is to develop a model representing the effective patch size of stiffer fluid that controls the location of the dispersion curve. We have found that the spatial correlation length of heterogeneity of saturated rock used in the original theory does not appropriately capture the effective heterogeneity scale responsible for mesoscale pressure diffusion. Its variation with saturation can be properly accounted for by the proposed patch-sized variation model. The comparison of the theoretical prediction with the published laboratory velocity and attenuation measurements suggests that our approach predicts the wave properties for high-fluctuation media with reasonable accuracy. The effect of mesoscopic-scale pressure diffusion is significant and the amount of velocity dispersion and attenuation is large in high-fluctuation media; therefore, our extension will improve quantitative characterization of, for example, a [Formula: see text]-sequestrated reservoir either by P-wave velocity or attenuation.

Pore-scale modeling of elastic wave propagation in carbonate rocks

Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. D51-D63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zizhen Wang ◽  
Ruihe Wang ◽  
Ralf J. Weger ◽  
Tianyang Li ◽  
Feifei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Elastic Wave ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Carbonate Rocks ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Pore Scale ◽  
Scale Modeling ◽  
P Wave Velocity

The relationship between P-wave velocity and porosity in carbonate rocks shows a high degree of variability due to the complexity of the pore structure. This variability introduces high uncertainties to seismic inversion, amplitude variation with offset analysis, porosity estimation, and pore-pressure prediction based on velocity data. Elastic wave propagation in porous media is numerically modeled on the pore scale to investigate the effects of pore structure on P-wave velocities in carbonate rocks. We built 2D models of porous media using pore structure information and the similarity principle. Then, we simulated normal incidence wave propagation using finite element analysis. Finally, the velocity was determined from received modeled signals by means of crosscorrelation. The repeatability and accuracy of this modeling process was verified carefully. Based on the modeling results, a simple formulation of Sun’s frame flexibility factor ([Formula: see text]), aspect ratio (AR, the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis), and pore density was developed. The numerical simulation results indicated that the P-wave velocity increases as a power function as the AR increases. Pores with small AR ([Formula: see text]) or large [Formula: see text] created softening effects that decrease P-wave velocity significantly. The P-wave velocity of carbonate rocks was dispersive; it depends on the ratio of the wavelength to pore size ([Formula: see text]). Such scale-dependent dispersion was more evident for carbonate rocks with higher porosity, lower AR, and/or lower P-wave impedance of pore fluids. The P-wave velocity of carbonate rocks with complicated pore geometries (low AR, high [Formula: see text], small [Formula: see text]) was much lower than that of rocks with simple pore geometries (high AR, small [Formula: see text], large [Formula: see text]) at low and high [Formula: see text]. The pore-scale modeling of elastic wave properties of porous rocks may explain the poor velocity-porosity correlation in carbonate rocks.

Effective properties of a porous medium with aligned cracks containing compressible fluid

2019 ◽  
Vol 221 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjia Song ◽  
Hengshan Hu ◽  
Bo Han
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Elastic Scattering ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Compressible Fluid ◽  
Effective Properties ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Fluid Compressibility

SUMMARY Understanding the wave propagation in fluid-saturated cracked rocks is important for detecting and characterizing cracked reservoirs and fault zones with applications in geomechanics, hydrogeology, exploration geophysics and reservoir engineering. In sedimentary rocks, microscopic-scale pores are usually filled with fluid. One logical means of modelling the essential features of such rocks is to use poroelasticity theory. But previous models of wave propagation in cracked porous medium are either restricted to low frequencies at which effects of the elastic scattering (scattering into fast-P and S waves via mode conversion at the crack faces) are negligible or to the case that the crack-filling fluid is assumed to be incompressible. To overcome these restrictions, we consider the effects of crack fluid compressibility by extending spring condition into poroelasticity and derive exact solutions of the scattering problem of an incident P wave by a circular crack containing compressible fluid in a porous medium. Based on the solutions, we develop two different effective medium models to estimate frequency-dependent effective velocity and attenuation in a fluid-saturated porous rock with a set of aligned cracks. The mixed-boundary value problem reveals that both the wave-induced fluid flow (WIFF) and elastic wave scattering can cause important velocity dispersion and attenuation. The diffusion-type WIFF dominates the velocity change and attenuation for the low frequency range, while the elastic scattering dominates them for the relatively higher frequency range. The dependences of the P-wave velocity on the crack fluid compressibility are different at different frequencies. For the WIFF-dominated frequency range and Rayleigh-scattering frequency range, the P-wave velocity decreases with the crack fluid compressibility. In contrast, for the Mie scattering frequency range, the opposite occurs (the P-wave velocity increases with the crack fluid compressibility).

scholarly journals Laboratory observations of frequency-dependent ultrasonic P-wave velocity and attenuation during methane hydrate formation in Berea sandstone

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (1) ◽  
pp. 713-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sourav K Sahoo ◽  
Laurence J North ◽  
Hector Marín-Moreno ◽  
Tim A Minshull ◽  
Angus I Best
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Methane Hydrate ◽  
Hydrate Formation ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Gas Bubble ◽  
Berea Sandstone ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
Hydrate Saturation

SUMMARY Knowledge of the effect of methane hydrate saturation and morphology on elastic wave attenuation could help reduce ambiguity in seafloor hydrate content estimates. These are needed for seafloor resource and geohazard assessment, as well as to improve predictions of greenhouse gas fluxes into the water column. At low hydrate saturations, measuring attenuation can be particularly useful as the seismic velocity of hydrate-bearing sediments is relatively insensitive to hydrate content. Here, we present laboratory ultrasonic (448–782 kHz) measurements of P-wave velocity and attenuation for successive cycles of methane hydrate formation (maximum hydrate saturation of 26 per cent) in Berea sandstone. We observed systematic and repeatable changes in the velocity and attenuation frequency spectra with hydrate saturation. Attenuation generally increases with hydrate saturation, and with measurement frequency at hydrate saturations below 6 per cent. For hydrate saturations greater than 6 per cent, attenuation decreases with frequency. The results support earlier experimental observations of frequency-dependent attenuation peaks at specific hydrate saturations. We used an effective medium rock-physics model which considers attenuation from gas bubble resonance, inertial fluid flow and squirt flow from both fluid inclusions in hydrate and different aspect ratio pores created during hydrate formation. Using this model, we linked the measured attenuation spectral changes to a decrease in coexisting methane gas bubble radius, and creation of different aspect ratio pores during hydrate formation.

Use of P-Wave Velocity to Estimate the Strength of Hardened Self-Consolidating Concrete

2011 ◽  
Vol 250-253 ◽  
pp. 1025-1030
Author(s):  
Yi Ching Lin ◽  
Yung Chiang Lin ◽  
Yu Feng Lin
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity ◽  
Ultrasonic Pulse ◽  
Pulse Velocity ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Self Consolidating Concrete ◽  
Impact Echo ◽  
P Wave Velocity ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the feasibility of using the P-wave velocity measured by the impact-echo technique to estimate the strength of hardened self-consolidating concrete. The relationship between the through-transmission ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and the strength of high performance concrete was established previously by performing experimental studies on water-cured cylinders made of concrete having variations in water-cementitious amterial ratio and aggregate content. However, the through-transmission UPV measurement is not applicable to concrete elements with only one accessible surface. In this paper, two plate-like specimens were made of self-consolidating concrete and they had different curing conditions. One specimen was immersed in water and the other was covered with wet gunny sack for 7 days. The impact-echo technique, one-sided wave velocity measurement technique, is adopted to determine the P-wave velocity of the plate-like concrete specimens at an age of 28 days. The difference between the impact-echo P-wave velocity (IE-PV) and the through-transmission ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) is studied. In addition, the measured IE-PV is used to estimate the strength of the plate-like concrete specimen and the estimated strength is verified by taking cores from the specimen.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document