Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow

Abstract The standard Biot‐Gassmann theory of poroelasticity fails to explain strong compressional wave velocity dispersion experimentally observed in 12 tight siltstone with clay‐filled pores. In order to analyze and understand the results, we developed a new double‐porosity model of clay squirt fl...

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Main Authors: Jing Ba, Jianguo Zhao, José M. Carcione, Xingxing Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-06-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069312
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author Jing Ba
Jianguo Zhao
José M. Carcione
Xingxing Huang
author_facet Jing Ba
Jianguo Zhao
José M. Carcione
Xingxing Huang
author_sort Jing Ba
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The standard Biot‐Gassmann theory of poroelasticity fails to explain strong compressional wave velocity dispersion experimentally observed in 12 tight siltstone with clay‐filled pores. In order to analyze and understand the results, we developed a new double‐porosity model of clay squirt flow where wave‐induced local fluid flow occurs between the micropores in clay aggregates and intergranular macropores. The model is validated based on the combined study of ultrasonic experiments on specimens at different saturation conditions and theoretical predictions. The presence of a sub‐pore‐scale structure of clay micropores contained in intergranular macropores, where the fluid does not have enough time to achieve mechanical equilibrium at ultrasonic frequencies and thus stiffens the rock matrix, provides a suitable explanation of the experimental data. Moreover, the model provides a new bound for estimating the compressional wave velocity of tight rocks saturated with two immiscible liquids. The theoretical predictions indicate that the velocity variation between gas‐ and liquid‐saturated specimens is predominantly induced by the clay squirt stiffening effect on the rock matrix and not by fluid substitution. The effect contributes more than 90% to the variation in the porosity range of 0–5%. Thus, clay squirt flow dominates the relationships between compressional wave velocity and pore fluid in tight rocks.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0094-8276
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language English
publishDate 2016-06-01
publisher Wiley
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-3d19f6bab5774119b50955a3fc0cf1422025-08-20T03:49:37ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-06-0143126186619510.1002/2016GL069312Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flowJing Ba0Jianguo Zhao1José M. Carcione2Xingxing Huang3School of Earth Science and Engineering Hohai University Nanjing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Beijing ChinaIstituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale Sgonico ItalyState Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Beijing ChinaAbstract The standard Biot‐Gassmann theory of poroelasticity fails to explain strong compressional wave velocity dispersion experimentally observed in 12 tight siltstone with clay‐filled pores. In order to analyze and understand the results, we developed a new double‐porosity model of clay squirt flow where wave‐induced local fluid flow occurs between the micropores in clay aggregates and intergranular macropores. The model is validated based on the combined study of ultrasonic experiments on specimens at different saturation conditions and theoretical predictions. The presence of a sub‐pore‐scale structure of clay micropores contained in intergranular macropores, where the fluid does not have enough time to achieve mechanical equilibrium at ultrasonic frequencies and thus stiffens the rock matrix, provides a suitable explanation of the experimental data. Moreover, the model provides a new bound for estimating the compressional wave velocity of tight rocks saturated with two immiscible liquids. The theoretical predictions indicate that the velocity variation between gas‐ and liquid‐saturated specimens is predominantly induced by the clay squirt stiffening effect on the rock matrix and not by fluid substitution. The effect contributes more than 90% to the variation in the porosity range of 0–5%. Thus, clay squirt flow dominates the relationships between compressional wave velocity and pore fluid in tight rocks.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069312clay squirt flowsubmicrostructureswave propagationelasticity and anelasticityP wave dispersionacoustic properties
spellingShingle Jing Ba
Jianguo Zhao
José M. Carcione
Xingxing Huang
Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
Geophysical Research Letters
clay squirt flow
submicrostructures
wave propagation
elasticity and anelasticity
P wave dispersion
acoustic properties
title Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
title_full Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
title_fullStr Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
title_full_unstemmed Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
title_short Compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
title_sort compressional wave dispersion due to rock matrix stiffening by clay squirt flow
topic clay squirt flow
submicrostructures
wave propagation
elasticity and anelasticity
P wave dispersion
acoustic properties
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069312
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AT jianguozhao compressionalwavedispersionduetorockmatrixstiffeningbyclaysquirtflow
AT josemcarcione compressionalwavedispersionduetorockmatrixstiffeningbyclaysquirtflow
AT xingxinghuang compressionalwavedispersionduetorockmatrixstiffeningbyclaysquirtflow