scholarly journals How Nanopores Influence Dry-Frame VP Pressure Sensitivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Raj ◽  
Priyank Jaiswal ◽  
Yulun Wang ◽  
G. Michael Grammer ◽  
Ralf J. Weger

This paper investigates how nanopore size distribution influences dry-frame P-wave velocity (VP) pressure sensitivity. The study uses a set of twenty-three samples belonging to a single vertical core from the Mississippian-age Meramec formation of the mid-continent US. Individual samples had their facies interpreted, composition estimated, He-gas porosity (ΦHe) determined, and P-wave and S-wave transit times systematically measured for dry core-plugs in a 5–40 MPa loading and unloading cycle. Data from the unloading cycle were linearized in the log scale, and the slope of the best fitting line was considered as a representative of the dry-frame VP pressure sensitivity. A series of photomicrographs from each sample were analyzed using image processing methods to obtain the shape and size of the individual pores, which were mostly in the nanopore (10−6–10–9 m) scale. At the outset, the pore-shape distribution plots were used to identify and discard samples with excessive cracks and complex pores. When the remaining samples were compared, it was found that within the same facies and pore-shape distribution subgroups VP pressure sensitivity increased as the dominant pore-size became smaller. This was largely independent of ΦHe and composition. The paper postulates that at the nanopore scale in the Meramec formation, pores are mostly isolated, and an increase in the confining pressure increased the bulk moduli of the fluids in the isolated pores, which in turn increased the VP pressure sensitivity. The study proposes incorporating this effect quantitatively through a dual-fluid model where the part of the fluid in unconnected pores is considered compressible while the remaining is considered incompressible. Results start to explain the universal observation of why the presence of microporosity quintessentially enhances VP pressure sensitivity.

Geophysics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1512-1529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopa S. De ◽  
Donald F. Winterstein ◽  
Mark A. Meadows

We compared P‐ and S‐wave velocities and quality factors (Q’S) from vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and sonic log measurements in five wells, three from the southwest San Joaquin Basin of California, one from near Laredo, Texas, and one from northern Alberta. Our purpose was to investigate the bias between sonic log and VSP velocities and to examine to what degree this bias might be a consequence of dispersion. VSPs and sonic logs were recorded in the same well in every case. Subsurface formations were predominantly clastic. The bias found was that VSP transit times were greater than sonic log times, consistent with normal dispersion. For the San Joaquin wells, differences in S‐wave transit times averaged 1–2 percent, while differences in P‐wave transit times averaged 6–7 percent. For the Alberta well, the situation was reversed, with differences in S‐wave transit times being about 6 percent, while those for P‐waves were 2.5 percent. For the Texas well, the differences averaged about 4 percent for both P‐ and S‐waves. Drift‐curve slopes for S‐waves tended to be low where the P‐wave slopes were high and vice versa. S‐wave drift‐curve slopes in the shallow California wells were 5–10 μs/ft (16–33 μs/m) and the P‐wave slopes were 15–30 μs/ft (49–98 μs/m). The S‐wave slope in sandstones in the northern Alberta well was up to 50 μs/ft (164 μs/m), while the P‐wave slope was about 5 μs/ft (16 μs/m). In the northern Alberta well the slopes for both P‐ and S‐waves flattened in the carbonate. In the Texas well, both P‐ and S‐wave drifts were comparable. We calculated (Q’s) from a velocity dispersion formula and from spectral ratios. When the two Q’s agreed, we concluded that velocity dispersion resulted solely from absorption. These Q estimation methods were reliable only for Q values smaller than 20. We found that, even with data of generally outstanding quality, Q values determined by standard methods can have large uncertainties, and negative Q’s may be common.


Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. N35-N47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remy Agersborg ◽  
Tor Arne Johansen ◽  
Morten Jakobsen ◽  
Jeremy Sothcott ◽  
Angus Best

The effects of fluid substitution on P- and S-wave velocities in carbonates of complex texture are still not understood fully. The often-used Gassmann equation gives ambiguous results when compared with ultrasonic velocity data. We present theoretical modeling of velocity and attenuation measurements obtained at a frequency of [Formula: see text] for six carbonate samples composed of calcite and saturated with air, brine, and kerosene. Although porosities (2%–14%) and permeabilities [Formula: see text] are relatively low, velocity variations are large. Differences between the highest and lowest P- and S-wave velocities are about 18% and 27% for brine-saturated samples at 60 and [Formula: see text] effective pressure, respectively. S-wave velocities are measured for two orthogonal polarizations; for four of six samples, anisotropy is revealed. TheGassmann model underpredicts fluid-substitution effects by [Formula: see text] for three samples and by as much as 5% for the rest of the six samples. Moreover, when dried, they also show decreasing attenuation with increasing confining pressure. To model this behavior, we examine a pore model made of two pore systems: one constitutes the main and drainable porosity, and the other is made of undrained cracklike pores that can be associated with grain-to-grain contacts. In addition, these dried rock samples are modeled to contain a fluid-filled-pore system of grain-to-grain contacts, potentially causing local fluid flow and attenuation. For the theoretical model, we use an inclusion model based on the [Formula: see text]-matrix approach, which also considers effects of pore texture and geometry, and pore fluid, global- and local-fluid flow. By using a dual-pore system, we establish a realistic physical model consistently describing the measured data.


Geophysics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lev Vernik

Laboratory measurements of ultrasonic velocity and anisotropy in kerogen‐rich black shales of varying maturity suggest that extensive, bedding‐parallel microcracks exist in situ in most mature source rocks undergoing the major stage of hydrocarbon generation and migration. Given the normal faulting regime with the vertical stress being the maximum principal stress typical of most sedimentary basins, this microcrack alignment cannot be accounted for using simplified fracture mechanics concepts. This subhorizontal microcrack alignment is consistent with (1) a model of local principal stress rotation and deviatoric stress reduction within an overpressured formation undergoing hydrocarbon generation, and with (2) a strong mechanical strength anisotropy of kerogen‐rich shales caused by bedding‐parallel alignment of kerogen microlayers. Microcracks originate within kerogen or at kerogen‐illite interfaces when pore pressure exceeds the bedding‐normal total stress by only a few MPa due to the extremely low‐fracture toughness of organic matter. P‐wave and, especially, S‐wave anisotropy of the most mature black shales, measured as a function of confining pressure, indicate the effective closure pressure of these microcracks in the range from 10 to 25 MPa. Estimates of pore pressure cycles in the matrix of the active hydrocarbon‐generating/expelling part of the source rock formation show that microcracks can be maintained open over the sequence of these cycles and hence be detectable via high‐resolution in‐situ sonic/seismic studies.


SPE Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 635-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bitao Lai ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Jilin Zhang ◽  
David Jacobi ◽  
Dan Georgi

Summary Acoustic-velocity measurements are an important nondestructive way to investigate dynamic rock-mechanical properties. Water content and bedding-plane-induced anisotropy are reported to significantly affect the acoustic velocities of siliciclastic sandstones and laminated carbonates. This relationship in organic-rich shales, however, is not well-understood and has yet to be investigated. The mechanical properties of organic-rich shales are affected by changes in water content, laminations, total organic content (TOC), and microstructures. In particular, kerogen density that accompanies changes in the composition of the TOC during maturity can significantly influence the acoustic responses within source rocks. To understand how these variables influence acoustic responses in organic shales, two sets of cores from the Eagle Ford shale were investigated: one set cut parallel to bedding and the other perpendicular to bedding. Textures of the samples from each set were characterized by use of computed-tomography (CT) scanning. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to measure the water content, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to analyze the mineralogy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also used to characterize the microstucture. Acoustic-velocity measurements were then made on each set at various confining pressures with the ultrasonic pulse-transmission technique. The results show that confining pressure, water content, and laminations have significant impact on both compressional-wave (P-wave) and shear-wave (S-wave) velocity. Both velocities increase as confining pressure increases. Velocities measured from cores cut parallel to bedding are, on average, 20% higher than those cut perpendicular to bedding. Increasing water content decreases both velocities. The impact of water content on shear velocity was found to be significant compared with the response with compressional velocity. As a result, the water content was found to lower both Young's modulus and shear modulus, which is opposite to the reported results in conventional reservoir lithology. In addition, both P- and S-wave velocities show a linear decrease as TOC increases, and they both decrease with increasing of clay content. The mechanisms that lead to water-content alteration of rock-mechanical properties might be a combined result of the clay/water interaction, the chemical reaction, and the capillary pressure changes.


Geophysics ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. R15-R23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbert van Vossen ◽  
Andrew Curtis ◽  
Jeannot Trampert

Detailed knowledge of near-surface P- and S-wave velocities is important for processing and interpreting multicomponent land seismic data because (1) the entire wavefield passes through and is influenced by the near-surface soil conditions, (2) both source repeatability and receiver coupling also depend on these conditions, and (3) near-surface P- and S-wave velocities are required for wavefield decomposition and demultiple methods. However, it is often difficult to measure these velocities with conventional techniques because sensitivity to shallow-wave velocities is low and because of the presence of sharp velocity contrasts or gradients close to the earth's free surface. We demonstrate that these near-surface P- and S-wave velocities can be obtained using a propagator inversion. This approach requires data recorded by at least one multicomponent geophone at the surface and an additional multicomponent geophone at depth. The propagator between them then contains all information on the medium parameters governing wave propagation between the geophones at the surface and at depth. Hence, inverting the propagator gives local estimates for these parameters. This technique has been applied to data acquired in Zeist, the Netherlands. The near-surface sediments at this site are unconsolidated sands with a thin vegetation soil on top, and the sediments considered are located above the groundwater table. A buried geophone was positioned 1.05 m beneath receivers on the surface. Propagator inversion yielded low near-surface velocities, namely, 270 ± 15 m/s for the compressional-wave velocity, which is well below the sound velocity in air, and 150 ± 9 m/s for the shear velocity. Existing methods designed for imaging deeper structures cannot resolve these shallow material properties. Furthermore, velocities usually increase rapidly with depth close to the earth's surface because of increasing confining pressure. We suspect that for this reason, subsonic near-surface P-wave velocities are not commonly observed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Burtscher ◽  
Jeannette Oostlander

Abstract. Team cognition plays an important role in predicting team processes and outcomes. Thus far, research has focused on structured cognition while paying little attention to perceptual cognition. The lack of research on perceptual team cognition can be attributed to the absence of an appropriate measure. To address this gap, we introduce the construct of perceived mutual understanding (PMU) as a type of perceptual team cognition and describe the development of a respective measure – the PMU-scale. Based on three samples from different team settings ( NTotal = 566), our findings show that the scale has good psychometric properties – both at the individual as well as at the team-level. Item parameters were improved during a multistage process. Exploratory as well as confirmatory factor analyses indicate that PMU is a one-dimensional construct. The scale demonstrates sufficient internal reliability. Correlational analyses provide initial proof of construct validity. Finally, common indicators for inter-rater reliability and inter-rater agreement suggest that treating PMU as a team-level construct is justified. The PMU-scale represents a convenient and versatile measure that will potentially foster empirical research on perceptual team cognition and thereby contribute to the advancement of team cognition research in general.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. D245-D261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Meléndez-Martínez ◽  
Douglas R. Schmitt

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram S. Dharodi ◽  
Amita Das

Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) and buoyancy-driven (BD) instabilities are driven by gravity in a fluid system with inhomogeneous density. The paper investigates these instabilities for a strongly coupled dusty plasma medium. This medium has been represented here in the framework of the generalized hydrodynamics (GHD) fluid model which treats it as a viscoelastic medium. The incompressible limit of the GHD model is considered here. The RT instability is explored both for gradual and sharp density gradients stratified against gravity. The BD instability is discussed by studying the evolution of a rising bubble (a localized low-density region) and a falling droplet (a localized high-density region) in the presence of gravity. Since both the rising bubble and falling droplet have symmetry in spatial distribution, we observe that a falling droplet process is equivalent to a rising bubble. We also find that both the gravity-driven instabilities get suppressed with increasing coupling strength of the medium. These observations have been illustrated analytically as well as by carrying out two-dimensional nonlinear simulations. Part 2 of this paper is planned to extend the present study of the individual evolution of a bubble and a droplet to their combined evolution in order to understand the interaction between them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Balling ◽  
Christoph Grützner ◽  
Bruno Tomljenović ◽  
Wim Spakman ◽  
Kamil Ustaszewski

AbstractThe Dinarides fold-thrust belt on the Balkan Peninsula resulted from convergence between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates since Mid-Jurassic times. Under the Dinarides, S-wave receiver functions, P-wave tomographic models, and shear-wave splitting data show anomalously thin lithosphere overlying a short down-flexed slab geometry. This geometry suggests a delamination of Adriatic lithosphere. Here, we link the evolution of this continental convergence system to hitherto unreported sets of extensively uplifted Oligocene–Miocene (28–17 Ma) marine terraces preserved at elevations of up to 600 m along the Dinaric coastal range. River incision on either side of the Mediterranean-Black Sea drainage divide is comparable to the amounts of terrace uplift. The preservation of the uplifted terraces implies that the most External Dinarides did not experience substantial deformation other than surface uplift in the Neogene. These observations and the contemporaneous emplacement of igneous rocks (33–22 Ma) in the internal Dinarides suggest that the Oligo-Miocene orogen-wide uplift was driven by post-break-off delamination of the Adriatic lithospheric mantle, this was followed by isostatic readjustment of the remaining crust. Our study details how lithospheric delamination exerts an important control on crustal deformation and that its crustal signature and geomorphic imprint can be preserved for millions of years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Wawerzinek ◽  
Hermann Buness ◽  
Hartwig von Hartmann ◽  
David C. Tanner

AbstractThere are many successful geothermal projects that exploit the Upper Jurassic aquifer at 2–3 km depth in the German Molasse Basin. However, up to now, only P-wave seismic exploration has been carried out. In an experiment in the Greater Munich area, we recorded S-waves that were generated by the conventional P-wave seismic survey, using 3C receivers. From this, we built a 3D volume of P- to S-converted (PS) waves using the asymptotic conversion point approach. By combining the P-volume and the resulting PS-seismic volume, we were able to derive the spatial distribution of the vp/vs ratio of both the Molasse overburden and the Upper Jurassic reservoir. We found that the vp/vs ratios for the Molasse units range from 2.0 to 2.3 with a median of 2.15, which is much higher than previously assumed. This raises the depth of hypocenters of induced earthquakes in surrounding geothermal wells. The vp/vs ratios found in the Upper Jurassic vary laterally between 1.5 and 2.2. Since no boreholes are available for verification, we test our results against an independently derived facies classification of the conventional 3D seismic volume and found it correlates well. Furthermore, we see that low vp/vs ratios correlate with high vp and vs velocities. We interpret the latter as dolomitized rocks, which are connected with enhanced permeability in the reservoir. We conclude that 3C registration of conventional P-wave surveys is worthwhile.


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