Attenuation and Dispersion of Elastic Waves in Porous Rocks

Fluids in the pore space of rocks causes attenuation and dispersion by the mechanism broadly known as wave-induced fluid flow. Of particular interest to exploration geophysics is inelastic attenuation and dispersion of body waves (P- and S-waves). Understanding fluid-related dissipation in hydrocarbon reservoir rocks, combined with improved measurements of attenuation and/or dispersion from recorded seismic data, may be used to estimate the hydraulic properties of these rocks. Discussing macroscopic, mesoscopic, and local flow and including theoretical models and experimental evidence, this book presents a systematic treatment of attenuation and dispersion mechanisms relevant to seismic, sonic, and ultrasonic wave propagation.