Permeability and borehole Stoneley waves: Comparison between experiment and theory

Abstract

We performed laboratory experiments to evaluate theoretical models of borehole. Stoneley wave propagation in permeable materials. A Berea sandstone and synthetic samples made of cemented glass beads were saturated with silicone oils. We measured both velocity and attenuation over a frequency band from 10 kHz to 90 kHz. Our theoretical modeling incorporated Biot theory and Deresiewicz‐Skalak boundary conditions into a cylindrical geometry and included frequency‐dependent permeability. By varying the viscosity of the saturating pore fluid, we were able to study both low‐frequency and high‐frequency regions of Biot theory, as well as the intermediate transition zone. In both low‐frequency and high‐frequency regions of the theory, we obtained excellent agreement between experimental observations and theoretical predictions. Velocity and attenuation (1/Q) are frequency‐dependent, especially at low frequencies. Also at low frequencies, velocity decreases and attenuation increases with increasing fluid mobility (permeability/viscosity). More complicated behavior is observed at high frequencies. These results support recent observations from the oil field suggesting that Stoneley wave velocity and attenuation may be indicative of formation permeability.