Responding to the latest developments in rock physics research, this popular reference book has been thoroughly updated while retaining its comprehensive coverage of the fundamental theory, concepts, and laboratory results. It brings together the vast literature from the field to address the relationships between geophysical observations and the underlying physical properties of Earth materials - including water, hydrocarbons, gases, minerals, rocks, ice, magma and methane hydrates. This third edition includes expanded coverage of topics such as effective medium models, viscoelasticity, attenuation, anisotropy, electrical-elastic cross relations, and highlights applications in unconventional reservoirs. Appendices have been enhanced with new materials and properties, while worked examples (supplemented by online datasets and MATLAB® codes) enable readers to implement the workflows and models in practice. This significantly revised edition will continue to be the go-to reference for students and researchers interested in rock physics, near-surface geophysics, seismology, and professionals in the oil and gas industries.

The Rock Physics Handbook

From experimental studies in digital processing of seismic reflection data, geophysicists know that a seismic signal does vary in amplitude, shape, frequency and phase, versus propagation time To enhance the resolution of the seismic reflection method, we must investigate these variations in more detail. We present quantitative results of theoretical studies on propagation of plane waves for normal incidence, through perfectly elastic multilayered media. As wavelet shapes, we use zero-phase cosine wavelets modulated by a Gaussian envelope and the corresponding complex wavelets. A finite set of such wavelets, for an appropriate sampling of the frequency domain, may be taken as the basic wavelets for a Gabor expansion of any signal or trace in a two-dimensional (2-D) domain (time and frequency). We can then compute the wave propagation using complex functions and thereby obtain quantitative results including energy and phase of the propagating signals. These results appear as complex 2-D functions of time and frequency, i.e., as “instantaneous frequency spectra. ’ ’ Choosing a constant sampling rate on the logarithmic scale in the frequency domain leads to an appropriate sampling method for phase preservation of the complex signals or traces. For this purpose, we developed a Gabor expansion involving basic wavelets with a constant time duration/mean period ratio. For layered media, as found in sedimentary basins,

Wave propagation and sampling theory—Part I: Complex signal and scattering in multilayered media

The authors introduce a directionally oriented 2-D filter bank with the property that the individual channels may be critically sampled without loss of information. The passband regions of the component filters are wedge-shaped and thus provide directional information. It is shown that these filter bank outputs may be maximally decimated to achieve a minimum sample representation in a way that permits the original signal to be exactly reconstructed. The authors discuss the theory for directional decomposition and reconstruction. In addition, implementation issues are addressed where realizations based on both recursive and nonrecursive filters are considered. >

A filter bank for the directional decomposition of images: theory and design

Multifold ground coverage by seismic techniques such as the common reflection point method provides a multiplicity of wave travel path information which allows direct determination of root‐mean‐square velocities associated with such paths. Hyperbolic searches for semblance among appropriately gathered arrays of traces form the basis upon which velocities are estimated. Measured semblances are presented as a velocity spectral display. Interpretation of this information can give velocities with meaningful accuracy for primary as well as multiple events. In addition, the velocity data can help correctly label events. This paper outlines the fundamental principles for calculating velocity spectra displays. Examples are included which demonstrate the depth and detail of geological information which may be obtained from the interpretation of such displays.

Velocity spectra-digital computer derivation and applications of velocity functions

Preface 1. Introduction to rock physics 2. Rock physics interpretation of texture, lithology and compaction 3. Statistical rock physics: combining rock physics, information theory, and statistics to reduce uncertainty 4. Common techniques for quantitative seismic interpretation 5. Case studies: lithology and pore-fluid prediction from seismic data 6. Workflows and guide lines 7. Hands-on References Index.

Quantitative Seismic Interpretation: Applying Rock Physics Tools to Reduce Interpretation Risk

A prediction-error style of model parameterization is designed to detect the presence of hydrocarbons as anomalies relative to the background reflectivity. The three-term linearized approximation to the Zoeppritz equations is reformulated such that one term is sufficient to model the background reflectivity (where the apriori assumptions are valid). Two other terms describe the perturbations relative to the apriori assumptions.

Milo M. Backus

Papers

AVO Inversion And Direct Hydrocarbon Detection