Shear-wave velocity estimation in porous rocks; Theoretical formulation, preliminary verification and applications

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Geophysical Prospecting; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.1992.tb00371.x· OSTI ID:5255250

Greenberg, M L ^[1]; Castagna, J P ^[2]

---

1. Atlantic Richfield Corp., Plano, TX (US)
2. ARCO Oil and Gas Co., Houston, TX (US)

This paper discusses heat-wave velocity logs, useful for various seismic interpretation applications, including bright spot analyses, amplitude-versus-offset analyses and multicomponent seismic interpretations. Measured shear-wave velocity logs are, however, often unavailable. The authors developed a general method to predict shear-wave velocity in porous rocks. If reliable compressional-wave velocity, lithology, porosity and water saturation data are available, the precision and accuracy of shear-wave velocity prediction are 9% and 3%, respectively. The success of the authors' method depends on: robust relationships between compressional- and shear-wave velocities for water-saturated, pure, porous lithologies; nearly linear mixing laws for solid rock constituents; first-order applicability of the Biot-Gassmann theory to real rocks. The authors verified these concepts with laboratory measurements and full waveform sonic logs. Shear-wave velocities estimated by the authors' method can improve formation evaluation. The authors' method has been successfully tested with data from several locations.

• OSTI ID: 5255250
• Journal Information: Geophysical Prospecting; (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Prospecting; (United States) Vol. 40:2; ISSN 0016-8025; ISSN GPPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
DATA PROCESSING
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
PROCESSING
RESERVOIR ROCK
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SHEAR
SURVEYS
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION
WELL LOGGING