基于贝叶斯框架的各向异性页岩储层岩石物理反演技术

页岩岩石物理建模旨在建立页岩矿物组分、微观结构、流体填充与岩石弹性参数的关系.对四川盆地龙马溪组页岩进行岩石物理建模研究,针对页岩黏土含量高、层间微裂缝发育等特点,利用Backus平均理论描述页岩黏土矿物弹性参数,利用Chapman理论计算与水平微裂缝有关的VTI各向异性,并利用Bond变换考虑地层倾角的影响.提出以黏土矿物纵、横波速度和孔隙纵横比为拟合参数进行岩石物理反演的方法,并引入贝叶斯框架减小反演的多解性.由已知的黏土矿物纵、横波速度和孔隙纵横比作为先验信息,并以测井纵、横波速度作为约束条件建立反演的目标函数,同时利用粒子群算法进行最优化搜索.计算结果表明,基于先验约束和粒子群算法的反演方法能够较准确地反演黏土矿物的弹性参数、孔隙形态参数以及裂缝密度等参数.计算得到的黏土纵、横波速度较高,并且在一定范围内变化,这可能与龙马溪组页岩的黏土矿物组分中具有较高弹性模量的伊利石含量较高有关,同时也与黏土定向排列等微观物性特征有关.反演得到的裂缝密度与纵波各向异性参数ε呈明显的正相关,而与横波各向异性参数γ相关性较小.另外,页岩各向异性参数与黏土垂向的纵横波速度有较强的相关性.     

横观各向同性页岩岩石物理模型建立——以龙马溪组页岩为例

在龙马溪页岩微观物性特征分析的基础上,综合利用测井解释、微观测试分析资料,建立了一种适用于龙马溪页岩的横观各向同性岩石物理模型,该模型建模过程：将各向异性SCA和DEM模型联合模拟得到的黏土和干酪根混合物作为背景介质;采用SCA模型对脆性矿物混合物进行模拟,利用各向异性DEM将脆性矿物混合物添加到背景介质;进一步将空孔隙添加到页岩基质,并利用Brown-Korringa模型进行各向异性条件下的流体替换,从而得到横观各向同性页岩岩石物理模型.通过对四川盆地A井龙马溪页岩进行岩石物理建模分析,计算了孔隙纵横比、纵横波速、各向异性系数和弹性参数,检验了模型的准确性.研究结果表明：矿物颗粒和孔隙纵横比是影响模型精度的关键参数,黏土和干酪根颗粒纵横比为0.05,图像识别获得的脆性矿物颗粒纵横比主要分布于0.45~1.0（集中分布于0.5~0.85）,横波波速反演获得的孔隙纵横比主要分布于0.1~0.3（平均值约为0.22）;模型预测和实测纵波波速之间误差为-2.40%~2.21%（平均绝对误差仅1.20%）,预测和实测横波波速之间误差为-1.93%~1.42%（平均绝对误差仅0.64%）,证实了本文模型的准确性和精度.本文模型能够准确计算页岩5个独立的刚度系数,为页岩弹性参数、声波波速、各向异性和脆性分析提供了有效手段,也为后续地球物理和工程地质参数分析提供了重要依据.     

致密储层岩石应力各向异性与材料各向异性的实验研究

本文在实验室中对四组来自不同地区的致密砂岩和页岩的波速和波速各向异性开展了研究.结合扫描电镜分析和波速应力敏感性测试,分析了引起致密砂岩和页岩各向异性的主要影响因素及规律.研究结果:(1)层理和微裂隙是引起致密砂岩各向异性的主要影响因素,而页岩的各向异性主要由定向发育的矿物成分导致,本研究中所用的致密砂岩各向异性强于页岩的各向异性.(2)平行地层方向的岩石波速高于垂直地层方向的岩石波速,超声波速随着应力增加而增加(3)波速各向异性随应力的变化分为两阶段,第一阶段随应力增加而减弱的应力各向异性,与定向排列的微裂隙相关.第二阶段随应力不再发生变化的材料各向异性,与基质中的矿物成分相关.(4)利用体积应变获得的裂隙孔隙度,以及矿物成分含量验证了这两类各向异性,应力各向异性与裂隙密度成正比,材料各向异性与黏土矿物含量线性相关.(5)根据波速各向异性随应力变化的两阶段,可以定量区分裂隙和基质(矿物)对岩石各向异性的影响,研究结果对体积压裂的裂缝扩展具有重要的意义.     

致密油粉砂岩脆性特征实验分析研究

岩石脆性直接影响储层压裂,是储层压裂改造之前必不可少的环节。本文对松辽盆地青山口组粉砂岩,分析岩石动、静态脆性特征。基于岩石力学实验获得的应力-应变的关系,调查岩石的脆塑性体特征,结果显示静态弹性参数获得的脆性指数与应力跌落系数呈现负相关性,其中脆性指数B_2(杨氏模量E和泊松比v归一化后的均值)与应力跌落系数相关性最好。分析矿物组分与脆性指数B_2、杨氏模量和泊松比的关系,认为相关层系石英、黄铁矿、碳酸盐岩类矿物可作为脆性矿物。基于B_2,在超声波实验中调查了孔隙流体、孔隙度对岩石动态脆性特征的影响,发现孔隙流体能够增强岩石的塑性,降低岩石脆性,且孔隙度越大,岩石脆性降低幅度越大。在饱含不同流体的岩石中,饱气粉砂岩的脆性最高,饱油次之,饱水最小,且饱油、饱水岩石脆性非常接近。对比岩石力学和超声波实验测量结果显示,整体上超声波实验获得的脆性指数比岩石力学实验获得的脆性指数大,不过,二者均随着孔隙度增大而降低,且差值随孔隙度增大而增大。原因在于超声波属于无损测试,而力学实验过程中导致了岩石内部的微裂缝、孔隙发生了改变。此外,低孔隙度岩石的脆性,主要与岩石内部微裂缝的发育程度有关。     

压力对含裂缝岩石各向异性速度的影响

深入了解压力作用下裂缝性岩石的声学各向异性,在地球物理应用中具有重要意义.本文基于各向异性微分等效介质模型,结合不同压力下含硬币状定向排列裂缝岩石以及不含裂缝岩石在不同方向上的超声速度测量数据,计算得到不同压力下的裂缝参数,并进一步分析了压力引起的裂缝参数的改变,及其对岩石各向异性速度的影响.结果表明,岩石的裂缝密度与裂缝纵横比随着压力的增加呈现指数减小,并且裂缝纵横比与裂缝密度之间线性相关;模型计算结果发现,当岩石所受压力增加时,随着裂缝密度的减小,不同方向的岩石速度呈现不同程度的增加,其中垂直裂缝方向纵波速度的增加最为明显,随着裂缝纵横比的减小,不同方向的岩石速度基本不变;压力增大引起的裂缝密度的降低使岩石的各向异性参数减小,岩石整体的各向异性随之降低.     

含裂缝VTI介质的弹性波传播特性研究

有利油气储集的层状沉积地层中广泛存在裂缝,属于含裂缝VTI介质.综合考虑层状介质和裂缝介质的特点,基于几何相似原理,设计并制作了含定向排列裂缝的VTI介质物理模型,实验研究了测量频率、裂缝特征尺寸、裂缝密度对弹性波透射的影响.结果表明,波垂直裂缝面传播时,纵波首波速度随测量频率的增加而线性增大,峰值速度基本不变,单纯由裂缝导致的衰减以良好的乘幂规律降低;纵波波速随裂缝密度、裂缝特征尺寸的增大而线性增大;衰减随裂缝密度增大而增大,随裂缝特征尺寸的增大而减小.当接收探头波长与特征尺寸比为1~12时,纵波首波速度变化显著,处于射线理论与等效介质理论描述的过渡区间.纵横波速比对裂缝特征尺寸变化敏感,可作为典型的裂缝监测参数,也为基于弹性波相应的预测岩石孔隙结构提供了依据.     

压力及流体对岩石孔隙结构与黏弹性的影响规律研究:理论模型及实验观测

地质成因和构造/热应力导致地壳岩石中的孔隙结构（裂隙和粒间孔）的变化.影响岩石黏弹性的因素包括压力、孔隙度、孔隙中包含的流体和孔隙几何形状等.相对于岩石中的硬孔隙,岩石黏弹性（衰减和频散）受软孔隙（裂隙）的影响更大.本文选取三块白云岩样本,进行了不同围压和流体条件下的超声波实验测量.利用CPEM（Cracks and Pores Effective Medium,裂隙和孔隙有效介质）模型获得了岩石高、低频极限的弹性模量,并通过Zener体（标准线性体）模型将CPEM模型拓展到全频带而得到CPEM-Zener模型,用该模型拟合岩石松弛和非松弛状态下的实验数据,本文得到平均裂隙纵横比和裂隙孔隙度以及纵波速度和品质因子随频率的变化关系.结果表明,饱水岩石的平均裂隙纵横比和裂隙孔隙度均高于饱油岩石,随着压差（围压和孔隙压力的差值）的增加,饱油岩石中的裂隙首先闭合.并且压差在70 MPa以内时,随着压差增大,岩石的平均裂隙纵横比和裂隙孔隙度在饱水和饱油时的差值增大,此时流体类型对于岩石裂隙的影响越来越显著,此外,对饱水岩石,平均裂隙纵横比随压差增加而增大,这可能是由于岩石中纵横比较小的裂隙会随压差增大而逐渐趋于闭合.在饱水和饱油岩石中,裂隙孔隙度和裂隙密度都随着压差增加而减小.通过对裂隙密度和压差的关系进行指数拟合,本文获得压差趋于0时的裂隙密度,且裂隙密度随孔隙度增大而增大,增大速率随压差增加而降低.针对饱水和饱油的白云岩样本,CPEM-Zener模型预测的纵波频散随压差增大而减小,此变化趋势和实验测得的逆品质因子随压差的变化关系基本一致,由此进一步验证了模型的实用性.本研究对岩石的孔隙结构和黏弹性分析以及声波测井、地震勘探的现场应用有指导意义.     

基于数字岩心的含裂隙储层砂岩介电性质研究

了解储层岩石的介电特性在石油工业的各个方面都有重要的应用.小尺度裂隙是影响岩石介电性质的地质因素之一,获得裂隙对含裂隙岩石介电性质影响的定量关系具有重要的理论和实践意义.以含裂隙人造砂岩的三维微观数字结构为基础,通过基于三维有限差分算法计算的岩石介电性质与实验数据的对比验证数值计算方法的有效性.在此基础上,通过理论模型获得不同孔隙度基质的介电性质,并在不含裂隙人造砂岩的三维微观数字结构中人为添加以裂隙密度和纵横比为定量表征参数的裂隙,应用验证后的数值算法模拟随频率变化的含裂隙砂岩的介电性质,分析和研究不同孔隙度基质中定向排列裂隙对砂岩介电性质的影响.结果表明,当裂隙孔隙度随裂隙纵横比或裂隙密度发生改变时,含裂隙砂岩的介电性质与裂隙密度以及裂隙纵横比呈正相关关系,而当裂隙孔隙度保持不变时,含裂隙砂岩的介电性质随裂隙纵横比的减小而增大;裂隙参数的改变对不同基质孔隙度的含裂隙砂岩的介电性质的影响趋势较为一致,但随着基质孔隙度的减小,裂隙对砂岩介电性质的影响逐渐增大.裂隙参数和基质孔隙度对含裂隙砂岩介电性质影响的研究结果为基于介电特性的裂缝性油气储层的定量表征提供了依据,在油气勘探开发中具有重要的应用前景.     

钻孔体应变与面应变观测井孔耦合系数的计算

钻孔应变观测系统（岩石、 膨胀水泥和应变仪钢筒）存在显著的井孔耦合效应,只有确定这一耦合系数,才能得到地壳岩石的真实应变值,从而实现不同测点数据的可比性．本文根据双衬套理论及弹性力学理论,建立了三维空间应力作用下体应变与面应变观测力学模型,并进一步推导各自井孔耦合系数计算式,发现两组系数与井孔的受力状况密切相关,分别与不同力源引起的应变信号相对应．亦即应力比（钻孔轴向应力与平面应力之比）不同,耦合系数也不一样,体应变随应力比的增大而下降,面应变则上升. 本文结果还表明平面应力作用下的耦合系数与外加应力无关,只与观测系统本身有关,故数值保持恒定. 此外,文中对其影响因素也进行了分析,结果表明,体应变和面应变的井孔耦合系数均随岩石弹性模量和泊松系数的增大而增大,且前者的幅度较大,井孔耦合材料水泥对二者影响均很小．      

岩石的等效孔隙纵横比反演及其应用

通过融合Gassmann方程和由微分等效介质理论建立的干岩石骨架模型--DEM解析模型,本文提出根据纵波(和横波)速度反演岩石等效孔隙纵横比进行储层孔隙结构评价和横波速度预测的方法.首先,利用Gassmann方程和DEM解析模型建立岩石的纵、横波速度与密度、孔隙度、饱和度和矿物组分等各参数之间的关系;其次,将岩石孔隙等效为具有单一纵横比的理想椭球孔,应用非线性全局寻优算法来寻找最佳的等效孔隙纵横比使得理论预测与实际测量的弹性模量之间的误差最小;最后,将反演得到的等效孔隙纵横比代入到Gassmann方程和DEM解析模型中构建横波速度.实验室和井孔测量数据应用表明,反演得到的等效孔隙纵横比可准确反映储层的孔隙结构,对于裂缝型储层如花岗岩,其孔隙纵横比通常小于0.025,而对于孔隙型储层如砂岩,其孔隙纵横比通常大于0.08.只利用纵波与同时利用纵、横波反演得到的孔隙纵横比结果几乎完全一致,而且由纵波构建的横波与实测横波吻合良好,说明本文提出的等效孔隙纵横比反演及其横波速度预测方法是有效的.     

Effective medium theory and multiple linear regression-based velocity estimation in syn-rift clastic sequence of the Krishna–Godavari basin,India

An inclusion model, based on the Kuster–Toksöz effective medium theory along with Gassmann theory, is tested to forward model velocities for fluid-saturated rocks. A simulated annealing algorithm, along with the inclusion model, effectively inverts measured compressional velocity (V_P) to achieve an effective pore aspect ratio at each depth in a depth variant manner, continuously along with depth. Early Cretaceous syn-rift clastic sediments at two different depth intervals from two wells [well A (2160–2274 m) and well B (5222–5303 m)], in the Krishna–Godavari basin, India, are used for this study. Shear velocity (V_S) estimated using modelled pore aspect ratio offers a high correlation coefficient (>0.95 for both the wells) with measured data. The modelled pore aspect ratio distribution suggests the decrease in pore aspect ratio for the deeper interval, mainly due to increased effective vertical stress. The pore aspect ratio analysis in relation to total porosity and volume of clay reveals that the clay volume has insignificant influence in shaping the pore geometry in the studied intervals. An approach based on multiple linear regression method effectively predicts velocity as a linear function of total porosity, the volume of clay and the modelled pore-space aspect ratio of the rock. We achieved a significant match between measured and predicted velocities. The correlation coefficients between measured and modelled velocities are considerably high (approximately 0.85 and 0.8, for V_P and V_S, respectively). This process indicates the possible influence of pore geometry along with total porosity and volume of clay on velocity.     

Quantitative characterization of reservoir space in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale,southern Sichuan,China

Based on the drilling data of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Shale and the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in southern Sichuan Basin,the construction of matrix pores and the development condition of fractures in a marine organic-rich shale are quantitatively evaluated through the establishment of the reservoir petrophysical models and porosity mathematical models.Our studies show that there are four major characteristics of the Longmaxi Shale confirmed by the quantitative characterization:(1)the pore volume of per unit mass is the highest in organic matter,followed in clay minerals,finally in brittle minerals;(2)the porosity of the effective shale reservoir is moderate and equal to that of the Barnett Shale,and the main parts of the shale reservoir spaces are interlayer pores of clay minerals and organic pores;(3)the porosity of the organic-rich shale is closely related to TOC and brittle mineral/clay mineral ratio,and mainly increases with TOC and clay mineral content;(4)fractures are developed in this black shale,and are mainly micro ones and medium-large ones.In the Longmaxi Shale,the fracture density increases from top to bottom,reflecting the characteristics with high brittle mineral content,high Young’s modulus,low Poisson's ratio and high brittleness at its bottom.     

龙马溪页岩弹性各向异性与矿物分布之间的关系探讨

岩石弹性各向异性特征是普遍存在的,但导致岩石弹性各向异性的原因复杂且仍然存在一定争议.本研究以龙马溪页岩为例,试图建立页岩弹性各向异性和矿物分布之间关系.研究使用无损超声波探测获取岩石弹性各向异性参数,并使用背散射技术获取岩石矿物分布特征.研究通过引进变异系数来描述矿物或孔裂隙在不同方向的差异性,并通过2个正交方向的变异系数建立微观异质性指标,用于表征微观尺度上矿物或孔裂隙在不同方向的差异程度.微观背散射图像显示,龙马溪组页岩主要由石英和伊利石构成,且这两种矿物和孔裂隙在X和Y面上都有定向排列特征.相应地,它们的变异系数在X面和Y面上均表现出随角度增大而降低的特征;而在Z面,石英、伊利石和孔裂隙变异系数变化不明显,这与Z面上矿物和孔裂隙无明显方向性的特点一致.无损超声波探测结果显示,波速在X和Y面上随角度增加而减小,这与主要矿物和孔裂隙变异系数变化趋势相同;而在Z面,波速变化不大,与主要矿物和孔裂隙变异系数变化不明显的特征一致.以上观测结果说明,宏观波速与矿物的微观变异系数明显相关,暗示岩石弹性各向异性与矿物分布直接相关.     

裂缝-孔隙介质储层渗透率表征及其影响因素分析

含裂缝多孔介质渗透率预测是非常规油气资源勘探开发的一个紧迫问题.现有多孔介质岩石物理模型通常利用圆形孔管模拟宏观岩石孔隙空间,难以定量描述软孔隙/裂缝在压力作用下的闭合情况,缺乏裂缝/孔隙间流量交换的连通机制.本文提出含三维裂缝/软孔隙网络多孔介质模型,将储层岩石裂缝/软孔隙表示为椭圆截面微管,建立了周期性压力作用下微...     

Shales in the Qiongzhusi and Wufeng–Longmaxi Formations: a rock-physics model and analysis of the effective pore aspect ratio

The shales of the Qiongzhusi Formation and Wufeng–Longmaxi Formations at Sichuan Basin and surrounding areas are presently the most important stratigraphic horizons for shale gas exploration and development in China. However, the regional characteristics of the seismic elastic properties need to be better determined. The ultrasonic velocities of shale samples were measured under dry conditions and the relations between elastic properties and petrology were systemically analyzed. The results suggest that 1) the effective porosity is positively correlated with clay content but negatively correlated with brittle minerals, 2) the dry shale matrix consists of clays, quartz, feldspars, and carbonates, and 3) organic matter and pyrite are in the pore spaces, weakly coupled with the shale matrix. Thus, by assuming that all connected pores are only present in the clay minerals and using the Gassmann substitution method to calculate the elastic effect of organic matter and pyrite in the pores, a relatively simple rock-physics model was constructed by combining the self-consistent approximation (SCA), the differential effective medium (DEM), and Gassmann’s equation. In addition, the effective pore aspect ratio was adopted from the sample averages or estimated from the carbonate content. The proposed model was used to predict the P-wave velocities and generally matched the ultrasonic measurements very well.     

The impact of different clay minerals on the anisotropy of clay matrix in shale

Although clay is composed of disconnected anisotropic clay platelets, many rock physics models treat the clay platelets in shale as interconnected. However, the clay matrix in shales can be modelled as anisotropic clay platelets embedded within a soft isotropic interplatelet region, allowing the influence of disconnected clay platelets on the elastic properties of the clay matrix to be analysed. In this model, properties of the interplatelet region are governed by its effective bulk and shear moduli, whereas the effective properties of the clay platelets are governed by their volume fraction, aspect ratio and elastic stiffness tensor. Together, these parameters implicitly account for variations in clay and fluid properties, as well as fluid saturation. Elastic stiffnesses of clay platelets are obtained from the literature, including both experimental measurements and first-principles calculations of the full anisotropic (monoclinic or triclinic) elastic stiffness tensors of layered silicates. These published elastic stiffness tensors are used to compile a database of equivalent transverse isotropic elastic stiffness tensors, and other physical properties, for eight common varieties of layered silicates. Clay matrix anisotropy is then investigated by examining the influence of these different elastic stiffnesses, and of varying model parameters, upon the effective transverse isotropic elastic stiffness tensor of the clay matrix. The relationship between the different clay minerals and their associated anisotropy parameters is studied, and their impact on the resulting anisotropy of the clay matrix is analysed.     

Effects of pore fluid pressure on the seismic response of a fractured carbonate reservoir

An effective medium model for the stress-dependent seismic properties of fractured reservoirs is developed here on the basis of a combination of a general theory of viscoelastic waves in rock-like composites with recently published formulae for deformation of communicating and interacting cavities (interconnected pores/cracks and fractures at finite concentration) under drained loading. The inclusion-based model operates with spheroidal cavities at two different length scales; namely, the microscopic scale of the pores and (grain-boundary) cracks, and the mesoscopic scale of the fractures (controlling the flow of fluid). The different cavity types can in principle have any orientation and aspect ratio, but the microscopic pores/cracks and mesoscopic fractures were here assumed to be randomly and vertically oriented, respectively. By using three different aspect ratios for the relatively round pores (representing the stiff part of the pore space) and a distribution of aspect ratios for the relatively flat cracks (representing the compliant part of the pore space), we obtained a good fit between theoretical predictions and ultrasonic laboratory measurements on an unfractured rock sample under dry conditions. By using a single aspect ratio for the mesoscopic fractures, we arrived at a higher-order microstructural model of fractured porous media which represents a generalization of the first-order model developed by Chapman et al. (2002,2003). The effect of cavity size was here modelled under the assumption that the characteristic time for wave-induced (squirt) flow at the scale of a particular cavity (pore/crack vs. fracture) is proportional with the relevant scale-size. In the modelling, we investigate the effect of a decreasing pore pressure with constant confining pressure (fixed depth), and hence, increasing effective pressure. The analysis shows that the attenuation-peak due to the mesoscopic fractures in the reservoir will move downward in frequency as the effective pressure increases. In the range of seismic frequencies, our modelling indicates that the P-wave velocities may change by more than 20% perpendicular to the fractures and close to 10% parallel to the fractures. In comparison, the vertical S-wave velocities change by only about 5% for both polarization directions (perpendicular and parallel to the fractures) when the effective pressure increases from 0 to 15 MPa. This change is mainly due to the overall change in porosity with pressure. The weak pressure dependence is a consequence of the fact that the S waves will only sense if the fractures are open or not, and since all the fractures have the same aspect ratio, they will close at the same effective pressure (which is outside the analysed interval). Approximate reflection coefficients were computed for a model consisting of the fractured reservoir embedded as a layer in an isotropic shale and analysed with respect to variations in Amplitude Versus Offset and aZimuth (AVOZ) properties at seismic frequencies for increasing effective pressure. For the P-P reflections at the top of the reservoir, it is found that there is a significant dependence on effective pressure, but that the variations with azimuth and offset are small. The lack of azimuthal dependence may be explained from the approximate reflection coefficient formula as a result of cancellation of terms related to the S-wave velocity and the Thomson’s anisotropy parameter δ. For the P-S reflection, the azimuthal dependence is larger, but the pressure dependence is weaker (due to a single aspect ratio for the fractures). Finally, using the effective stiffness tensor for the fractured reservoir model with a visco-elastic finite-difference code, synthetic seismograms and hodograms were computed. From the seismograms, attenuation changes in the P wave reflected at the bottom of the reservoir can be observed as the effective pressure increases. S waves are not much affected by the fractures with respect to attenuation, but azimuthal dependence is stronger than for P waves, and S-wave splitting in the bottom reservoir P-S reflection is clearly seen both in the seismograms and hodograms. From the hodograms, some variation in the P-S reflection with effective pressure can also be observed.     

Joint elastic‐electrical effective medium models of reservoir sandstones

Improvements in the joint inversion of seismic and marine controlled source electromagnetic data sets will require better constrained models of the joint elastic‐electrical properties of reservoir rocks. Various effective medium models were compared to a novel laboratory data set of elastic velocity and electrical resistivity (obtained on 67 reservoir sandstone samples saturated with 35 g/l brine at a differential pressure of 8 MPa) with mixed results. Hence, we developed a new three‐phase effective medium model for sandstones with pore‐filling clay minerals based on the combined self‐consistent approximation and differential effective medium model. We found that using a critical porosity of 0.5 and an aspect ratio of 1 for all three components, the proposed model gave accurate model predictions of the observed magnitudes of P‐wave velocity and electrical resistivity and of the divergent trends of clean and clay‐rich sandstones at higher porosities. Using only a few well‐constrained input parameters, the new model offers a practical way to predict in situ porosity and clay content in brine saturated sandstones from co‐located P‐wave velocity and electrical resistivity data sets.     

ULTRASONIC SPECTROSCOPY IN ROCKS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF HIGHLY POROUS SYNTHETIC SANDSTONES1

Broad-band ultrasonic impulses and the attenuation spectral ratio technique have been used to investigate the characteristics of synthetic rocks for different saturants, by obtaining the attenuation coefficients in the frequency range of 0.1-1.0 MHz. The general trend of the data indicates that the experimental attenuation coefficient increases with an increase in the grain/pore size. Results show that large grains/pores can increase the attenuation coefficient in all mechanisms, and water-saturated synthetic sandstone rocks result in a higher attenuation coefficient than similar oil-saturated rocks.