3D Random Patchy Saturation Model For Velocity And Attenuation In Porous Rocks

The partial saturation of a porous rock by different types of fluids can cause the attenuation and dispersion of seismic waves. It is a consequence of wave-induced flow, which arises when a passing wave induces different fluid pressures in regions of rock saturated by different fluid types. The presence of localized spatial gradients in fluid pressure causes fluid to flow and the viscous dissipation of energy. Most attempts at modeling wave-induced flow utilize a periodic arrangement of regular inclusions. Presented below is an alternative approach which allows fluid heterogeneities to be modeled as a 3D continuous random distribution. The attenuation and dispersion predictions generated from this model are compared with the periodic models of White (1975) and Johnson (2001). Attenuation estimates are also compared with experimental data.