Effective velocities in fractured media: a numerical study using the rotated staggered finite‐difference grid

The modelling of elastic waves in fractured media with an explicit finite‐difference scheme causes instability problems on a staggered grid when the medium possesses high‐contrast discontinuities (strong heterogeneities). For the present study we apply the rotated staggered grid. Using this modified grid it is possible to simulate the propagation of elastic waves in a 2D or 3D medium containing cracks, pores or free surfaces without hard‐coded boundary conditions. Therefore it allows an efficient and precise numerical study of effective velocities in fractured structures. We model the propagation of plane waves through a set of different, randomly cracked media. In these numerical experiments we vary the wavelength of the plane waves, the crack porosity and the crack density. The synthetic results are compared with several static theories that predict the effective P‐ and S‐wave velocities in fractured materials in the long wavelength limit. For randomly distributed and randomly orientated, rectilinear, non‐intersecting, thin, dry cracks, the numerical simulations of velocities of P‐, SV‐ and SH‐waves are in excellent agreement with the results of the modified (or differential) self‐consistent theory. On the other hand for intersecting cracks, the critical crack‐density (porosity) concept must be taken into account. To describe the wave velocities in media with intersecting cracks, we propose introducing the critical crack‐density concept into the modified self‐consistent theory. Numerical simulations show that this new formulation predicts effective elastic properties accurately for such a case.     

Simulation of full-waveform log in saturated cracked formations using Hudson's approach

We study the propagation of elastic waves that are generated in a fluid‐filled borehole surrounded by a cracked transversely isotropic medium. In the model studied the anisotropy and borehole axes coincide. To obtain the effective elastic moduli of a cracked medium we have applied Hudson's theory that enables the determination of the overall properties as a function of the crack orientation in relation to the symmetry axis of the anisotropic medium. This theory takes into account the hydrodynamic mechanism of the elastic‐wave attenuation caused by fluid filtration from the cracks into a porous matrix. We have simulated the full waveforms generated by an impulse source of finite length placed on the borehole axis. The kinematic and dynamic parameters of the compressional, shear and Stoneley waves as functions of the matrix permeability, crack orientation and porosity were studied. The modelling results demonstrated the influence of the crack‐system parameters (orientation and porosity) on the velocities and amplitudes of all wave types. The horizontally orientated cracks result in maximal decrease of the elastic‐wave parameters (velocities and amplitudes). Based on the fact that the shear‐ and Stoneley‐wave velocities in a transversely isotropic medium are determined by different shear moduli, we demonstrate the feasibility of the acoustic log to identify formations with close to horizontal crack orientations.     

随机弹性介质中地震波散射衰减分析(英文)

地震波衰减一直是许多学科研究的热点,因为可以反映介质的特性。导致地震波衰减的因素很多,如:传播过程中由于能量扩散导致的几何衰减,固体岩石内部晶粒间相对滑移导致的摩擦衰减,岩石结构不均匀引起的地震波散射衰减。本文主要从统计的观点出发,通过多次数值模拟的方法研究纵波散射在随机弹性介质中所引发的衰减。首先用随机理论建立了二维空间随机弹性介质模型,然后用错格伪谱法的数值方法模拟了波在随机介质中的传播,再通过波场中虚拟检波器的记录,用谱比法估计了弹性波在随机介质中的散射衰减。不同非均匀程度随机弹性介质中的数值结果表明:介质不均匀程度越高,散射衰减越大;在散射体尺寸小于波长的前提下,不同散射体尺寸的计算结果说明:散射体尺寸越大,弹性波衰减越明显。最后提出了一种不均匀孔隙介质中流体流动衰减的方法。通过对随机孔隙介质中地震波的总衰减和散射衰减分别进行了计算,并定量得出了随机孔隙介质中流体流动衰减,结果表明:在实际地震频段下,当介质不均匀尺度101米量级时,散射衰减比流体流动衰减要大,散射衰减是地震波在实际不均匀岩石孔隙介质中衰减的主要原因。     

含孔隙、裂隙致密介质中多极子声波的传播特征

非常规油气藏（如致密性地层及蕴藏油气的页岩地层）的重要特征是低孔、低渗,但裂隙或裂缝比较发育.为满足非常规勘探的需求,本文将孔、裂隙介质弹性波传播理论应用于多极子声波测井的井孔声场模拟,重点研究了致密介质中裂隙发育时多极子声波的传播机理以及衰减特征.井孔声场的数值计算结果表明裂隙的存在明显改变了弹性波和井孔模式波的频散、衰减和激发强度,尤其是井壁临界折射纵波的激发谱的峰值随着频率的增加逐渐降低,这与应用经典的Biot理论下的计算结果相反,且裂隙的存在也使得饱含水和饱含气时临界折射纵波激发强度的差异变大.井孔模式波的衰减与地层横波衰减和井壁流体交换有关,井壁开孔边界下致密地层裂隙发育还使得井孔斯通利波和艾里相附近的弯曲波对孔隙流体的敏感性增强,在井壁闭孔边界条件下引起井孔模式波衰减的主要因素是裂隙引起的地层横波衰减造成的,且在截止频率附近弯曲波的衰减与地层的横波衰减一致.数值计算结果为解释非常规油气地层的声学响应特征提供了参考.     

Pseudospectral modeling and dispersion analysis of Rayleigh waves in viscoelastic media

Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) is one of the most widely used techniques in environmental and engineering geophysics to determine shear-wave velocities and dynamic properties, which is based on the elastic layered system theory. Wave propagation in the Earth, however, has been recognized as viscoelastic and the propagation of Rayleigh waves presents substantial differences in viscoelastic media as compared with elastic media. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out numerical simulation and dispersion analysis of Rayleigh waves in viscoelastic media to better understand Rayleigh-wave behaviors in the real world. We apply a pseudospectral method to the calculation of the spatial derivatives using a Chebyshev difference operator in the vertical direction and a Fourier difference operator in the horizontal direction based on the velocity–stress elastodynamic equations and relations of linear viscoelastic solids. This approach stretches the spatial discrete grid to have a minimum grid size near the free surface so that high accuracy and resolution are achieved at the free surface, which allows an effective incorporation of the free surface boundary conditions since the Chebyshev method is nonperiodic. We first use an elastic homogeneous half-space model to demonstrate the accuracy of the pseudospectral method comparing with the analytical solution, and verify the correctness of the numerical modeling results for a viscoelastic half-space comparing the phase velocities of Rayleigh wave between the theoretical values and the dispersive image generated by high-resolution linear Radon transform. We then simulate three types of two-layer models to analyze dispersive-energy characteristics for near-surface applications. Results demonstrate that the phase velocity of Rayleigh waves in viscoelastic media is relatively higher than in elastic media and the fundamental mode increases by 10–16% when the frequency is above 10 Hz due to the velocity dispersion of P and S waves.     

Seismic wavefield modeling in media with fluid-filled fractures and surface topography

We present a finite difference (FD) method for the simulation of seismic wave fields in fractured medium with an irregular (non-flat) free surface which is beneficial for interpreting exploration data acquired in mountainous regions. Fractures are introduced through the Coates-Schoenberg approach into the FD scheme which leads to local anisotropic properties of the media where fractures are embedded. To implement surface topography, we take advantage of the boundary-conforming grid and map a rectangular grid onto a curved one. We use a stable and explicit second-order accurate finite difference scheme to discretize the elastic wave equations (in a curvilinear coordinate system) in a 2D heterogeneous transversely isotropic medium with a horizontal axis of symmetry (HTI). Efficiency tests performed by different numerical experiments clearly illustrate the influence of an irregular free surface on seismic wave propagation in fractured media which may be significant to mountain seismic exploration. The tests also illustrate that the scattered waves induced by the tips of the fracture are re-scattered by the features of the free surface topography. The scattered waves provoked by the topography are re-scattered by the fractures, especially Rayleigh wave scattering whose amplitudes are much larger than others and making it very difficult to identify effective information from the fractures.     

An equivalent medium model for wave simulation in fractured porous rocks

Seismic wave propagation in reservoir rocks is often strongly affected by fractures and micropores. Elastic properties of fractured reservoirs are studied using a fractured porous rock model, in which fractures are considered to be embedded in a homogeneous porous background. The paper presents an equivalent media model for fractured porous rocks. Fractures are described in a stress‐strain relationship in terms of fracture‐induced anisotropy. The equations of poroelasticity are used to describe the background porous matrix and the contents of the fractures are inserted into a matrix. Based on the fractured equivalent‐medium theory and Biot's equations of poroelasticity, two sets of porosity are considered in a constitutive equation. The porous matrix permeability and fracture permeability are analysed by using the continuum media seepage theory in equations of motion. We then design a fractured porous equivalent medium and derive the modified effective constants for low‐frequency elastic constants due to the presence of fractures. The expressions of elastic constants are concise and are directly related to the properties of the main porous matrix, the inserted fractures and the pore fluid. The phase velocity and attenuation of the fractured porous equivalent media are investigated based on this model. Numerical simulations are performed. We show that the fractures and pores strongly influence wave propagation, induce anisotropy and cause poroelastic behaviour in the wavefields. We observe that the presence of fractures gives rise to changes in phase velocity and attenuation, especially for the slow P‐wave in the direction parallel to the fracture plane.     

孔、裂隙并存地层中的声波测井理论及多极子声场特征

在油、气储层的勘探和开发中观察到的一个现象是储层岩石中普遍存在孔隙和裂隙.随着近年来孔、裂隙介质弹性波动理论的进展,我们可以将此理论应用于测井技术,以此来指导从声波测井中测量孔、裂隙地层的声学参数.本文计算了孔、裂隙地层里充流体井眼中的多极子声场,分析了声场随裂隙介质的两个主要参数(即裂隙密度和裂隙纵横比)的变化特征.井孔声场的数值计算表明裂隙密度可以大幅度地降低井中声波纵、横波的波速和振幅.随着裂隙密度的增加,在测井频段内也可以看到纵、横波速的频散现象(这种频散在孔隙地层中一般是观察不到的).本文还研究了多极子模式波 (即单极的Stoneley波、伪瑞利波以及偶极的弯曲波)随裂隙参数的变化特征.结果表明,这些模式波的振幅激发和速度频散都受裂隙密度的影响.裂隙密度越高影响越大.此外,裂隙还对模式波的传播造成较大的衰减.相对裂隙密度而言,裂隙纵横比是一个频率控制参数,它控制裂隙对声场影响的频率区间.本文的分析结果对裂缝、孔隙型地层的声波测井具有指导意义.     

具有空间分布裂缝岩石的随机介质模型

利用随机过程的谱展开理论以及Hudson等人的裂纹介质模型构造一种裂纹数密度是空间平稳随机过程的随机介质模型。这个模型可以将裂纹的微观参数(裂纹数密度)与裂纹介质的宏观性质(弹性常数)联系起来,能灵活、有效地描述实际非均匀裂纹介质。模型算例表明,弹性常数的空问分布特征与裂纹数密度的有差别,而且对不同的弹性常数影响不同。通过改编自相关长度的大小,可以模拟裂缝在两个坐标轴方向上具有不同分布尺度的情况。最后,利用高阶的交错网格有限差分方法,我们模拟了地震波在具有随机分布裂缝岩石中的传播特征。     

Attenuation mechanisms in fractured fluid-saturated porous rocks: a numerical modelling study

Seismic attenuation mechanisms receive increasing attention for the characterization of fractured formations because of their inherent sensitivity to the hydraulic and elastic properties of the probed media. Attenuation has been successfully inferred from seismic data in the past, but linking these estimates to intrinsic rock physical properties remains challenging. A reason for these difficulties in fluid-saturated fractured porous media is that several mechanisms can cause attenuation and may interfere with each other. These mechanisms notably comprise pressure diffusion phenomena and dynamic effects, such as scattering, as well as Biot's so-called intrinsic attenuation mechanism. Understanding the interplay between these mechanisms is therefore an essential step for estimating fracture properties from seismic measurements. In order to do this, we perform a comparative study involving wave propagation modelling in a transmission set-up based on Biot's low-frequency dynamic equations and numerical upscaling based on Biot's consolidation equations. The former captures all aforementioned attenuation mechanisms and their interference, whereas the latter only accounts for pressure diffusion phenomena. A comparison of the results from both methods therefore allows to distinguish between dynamic and pressure diffusion phenomena and to shed light on their interference. To this end, we consider a range of canonical models with randomly distributed vertical and/or horizontal fractures. We observe that scattering attenuation strongly interferes with pressure diffusion phenomena, since the latter affect the elastic contrasts between fractures and their embedding background. Our results also demonstrate that it is essential to account for amplitude reductions due to transmission losses to allow for an adequate estimation of the intrinsic attenuation of fractured media. The effects of Biot's intrinsic mechanism are rather small for the models considered in this study.     

Boundary element simulation of scattering of elastic waves by 3-D cracks

Numerical modelling techniques are now becoming common for understanding the complicated nature of seismic wave propagation in fractured rock. Here the Indirect Boundary Element Method (IBEM) is applied to study scattering of elastic waves by cracks. The problem addressed in this paper is the diffraction of P and S waves by open 3-D cracks of arbitrary shape embedded in a homogeneous isotropic medium. The IBEM yields the value of the jump of displacements between opposite surfaces of the crack, often called Crack Opening Displacement (COD). This is used to evaluate the solution away from the crack. We use a multi-regional approach which consists of splitting a surface S into two identical surfaces S⁺ and S⁻ chosen such that the crack lies at the interface. The resulting integral equations are not hyper-singular and wave propagation within media that contain open cracks can be rigorously solved. In order to validate the method, we compare results of displacements of a penny-shaped crack for a vertical incident P-wave with the classic results by Mal (1970) obtaining excellent agreement. This comparison gives us confidence to study cases where no analytic solutions exist. Some examples of incidence of P or S waves upon cracks with various shapes are depicted and the salient aspects of the method are also discussed. Both frequency and time-domain results are included.     

Analytical approximations of bulk and shear moduli for dry rock based on the differential effective medium theory

Differential effective medium theory has been applied to determine the elastic properties of porous media. The ordinary differential equations for bulk and shear moduli are coupled and it is more difficult to obtain accurate analytical formulae about the moduli of dry porous rock. In this paper, in order to decouple these equations we first substitute an analytical approximation for the dry‐rock modulus ratio into the differential equation and derive analytical solutions of the bulk and shear moduli for dry rock with three specific pore shapes: spherical pores, needle‐shaped pores and penny‐shaped cracks. Then, the validity of the analytical approximations is tested by integrating the full differential effective medium equation numerically. The analytical formulae give good estimates of the numerical results over the whole porosity range for the cases of the three given pore shapes. These analytical formulae can be further simplified under the assumption of small porosity. The simplified formulae for spherical pores are the same as Mackenzie's equations. The analytical formulae are relatively easy to analyse the relationship between the elastic moduli and porosity or pore shapes and can be used to invert some rock parameters such as porosity or pore aspect ratio. The predictions of the analytical formulae for experimental data show that the formulae for penny‐shaped cracks are suitable to estimate the elastic properties of micro‐crack rock such as granite, they can be used to estimate the crack aspect ratio while the crack porosity is known and also to estimate the crack porosity evolution with pressure if the crack aspect ratio is given.     

TTI介质的交错网格伪P波正演方法

研究了三维弱各向异性近似下,利用伪P波(伪纵波)模拟弹性波场P分量在倾斜对称轴的横向各向同性(TTI)介质中的传播过程,并对比了分别基于弹性Hooke定律、弹性波投影和运动学色散方程所建立的三种二阶差分伪P波方程的正演特点.目前这些伪P波方程数值计算主要采用规则网格差分,但是规则网格在TTI模拟中有低效率、低精度以及不稳定的缺点.为了提高计算的精度,本文构建出相应方程的交错网格有限差分格式.通过对比伪P波方程在三维TTI介质中不同的数值模拟的表达形式,本文认为基于色散方程所建立的伪P波方程在模拟弹性波中P波传播的过程中具有最小的噪声.本文分析不同的各向同性对称轴空间角度的频散特征,并引入适当的横波速度维持计算的稳定.二维模型算例表明,本文提出的交错网格正演算法可以得到稳定光滑的伪P波正演波场.使用本文交错网格算法对二维BP TTI模型的逆时偏移也具有较稳定的偏移结果.     

三维层状孔隙介质中弹性波的一种积分表达式I：理论

孔隙介质弹性波传播理论在地球物理勘探、地震工程和岩土动力学等领域有着广泛的应用.而孔隙介质中的弹性波受孔隙度、渗透率、流体黏滞系数等参数的影响,因此研究波场的传播特征将有助于分析和提取这些信息.本文在Biot理论的基础上,针对三维层状孔隙介质模型,利用在合成理论地震图的研究中已经被证实具有稳定、高效且适用范围较广的Luco-Apsel-Chen（LAC）广义反透射方法,给出了弹性波场的一种积分形式的半解析解,可通过数值方法高效、准确地计算层状孔隙介质中的理论波场,所以该积分形式的半解析解可为三维层状孔隙介质波场传播特征的理论数值模拟研究提供一种新的途径和手段.     

有效应力变化对致密砂岩孔隙结构及弹性波响应的影响规律

致密砂岩气藏具有裂缝发育和有效应力高的特征,研究不同有效压力下孔、裂隙介质地震波传播特征,有利于地震解释与地下储层的识别.但是前人的研究较少考虑岩石内部微观孔隙结构特征与孔隙、裂隙间流体流动的关系.本文首先通过选取四川盆地典型致密砂岩岩样,在不同有效压力下对岩石样本进行超声波实验测量.然后基于实验测得的纵、横波速度进行裂隙参数反演,得到不同有效压力下致密砂岩样本的裂隙孔隙度.再将裂隙孔隙度和样本岩石物理参数代入双重孔隙介质模型,模拟得到不同有效压力下饱水致密砂岩样本纵横波速度频散和衰减的变化规律.结果表明模型预测的速度频散曲线与纵波速度实验测量结果能够较好的吻合.最后统计分析了致密砂岩裂隙参数,得到了致密砂岩储层裂隙参数随有效压力及孔隙度变化特征.依据实际岩石物理参数建立模型,其裂隙参数三维拟合结果能够较好描述致密砂岩裂隙结构与孔隙度、应力的关联,可为实际地震勘探中预测储层裂缝性质提供基础依据.     

Seismic attenuation in Faroe Islands basalts

We analysed vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data from two boreholes at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna on the island of Streymoy, Faroe Islands, to determine the magnitude and causes of seismic attenuation in sequences of basalt flows. The work is part of SeiFaBa, a major project integrating data from vertical and offset VSP, surface seismic surveys, core samples and wireline log data from the two boreholes. Values of effective seismic quality factor (Q) obtained at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna are sufficiently low to significantly degrade the quality of a surface reflection seismic image. This observation is consistent with results from other VSP experiments in the North Atlantic region. We demonstrate that the most likely cause of the low values of effective Q at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna is a combination of 1D scattering and intrinsic attenuation due to seismic wave‐induced fluid flow within pores and micro‐cracks. Tests involving 3D elastic wave numerical modelling with a hypothetical basalt model based on field observations, indicate that little scattering attenuation is caused by lateral variations in basalt structure.     

黏弹性介质瑞雷波有限差分模拟与特性分析

本文通过数值模拟研究了介质黏弹性对瑞雷波传播的影响.模拟采用结合了交错Adams-Bashforth时间积分法、应力镜像法和多轴完美匹配层的标准交错网格高阶有限差分方案.通过模拟结果和理论结果对比,测试了方法的精度,验证了结果的正确性.在均匀半空间模型中,分别从波场快照、波形曲线及频散能量图三个角度,对黏弹性介质瑞雷波衰减和频散特性进行了详细分析.两层速度递增模型被用于进一步分析瑞雷波在黏弹性层状介质中的特性.结果表明：由于介质的黏弹性,瑞雷波振幅发生衰减,高频成分比低频成分衰减更剧烈,衰减程度随偏移距增大而增强;瑞雷波相速度发生频散,且随频率增大而增大,频散能量的分辨率有所降低;黏弹性波动方程中的参考频率,不会影响瑞雷波振幅衰减和相速度频散的程度,但决定了黏弹性和弹性介质瑞雷波相速度相等的频率位置.本研究有助于人们更好地理解地球介质中瑞雷波的行为,并为瑞雷波勘探的应用和研究提供了科学和有价值的参考.     

Dispersion and attenuation of elastic waves due to multiple scattering from inclusions

The propagation of elastic waves in a medium containing many inclusions is considered. Under the assumption that the spatial distribution of inclusions is uniform, a general equation is derived for the determination of the velocity dispersion and attenuation coefficient of the effective waves. A simple example is presented where scatterers are infinitesimally thin cracks. The calculated results show that the attenuation coefficient Q^?1 takes a peak value for the wavelength nearly equal to twice the crack length.     

A PHYSICAL MODEL STUDY OF SCATTERING OF WAVES BY ALIGNED CRACKS: COMPARISON BETWEEN EXPERIMENT AND THEORY1

An approximation to plane-wave propagation through a composite material is examined using a physical model with oriented but randomly distributed penny-shaped rubber inclusions within an isotropic epoxy resin matrix. A pulse transmission method is used to determine velocities of shear and compressional waves as a function of angle of incidence and crack density. The experimental and theoretical results of Hudson were compared and limitations within the crack parameters used in this study have been determined. Results from both polarized shear waves (S1, S2) compare favourably with the theory for a composite with up to 7% crack density, but theory and experiment diverge at higher crack densities. On the other hand, compressional-wave velocities at low crack densities (1% and 3%) compare favourably with the theory. It is also shown that the velocity ratio V_p/V_s for two extreme cases, i.e. propagation normal and parallel to the cracks, as a function of crack density and porosity, has a strong directional dependence.     

Finite-difference modeling of surface waves in poroelastic media and stress mirror conditions

During seismic wave propagation on a free surface, a strong material contrast boundary develops in response to interference by P- and S- waves to create a surfacewave phenomenon. To accurately determine the effects of this interface on surface-wave propagation, the boundary conditions must be accurately modeled. In this paper, we present a numerical approach based on the dynamic poroelasticity for a space–time-domain staggeredgrid finite-difference simulation in porous media that contain a free-surface boundary. We propose a generalized stess mirror formulation of the free-surface boundary for solids and fluids in porous media for the grid mesh on which lays the free-surface plane. Its analog is that used for elastic media, which is suitable for precise and stable Rayleigh-type surface-wave modeling. The results of our analysis of first kind of Rayleigh (R1) waves obtained by this model demonstrate that the discretization of the mesh in a similar way to that for elastic media can realize stable numerical solutions with acceptable precision. We present numerical examples demonstrating the efficiency and accuracy of our proposed method.