Rock physics modeling of static and dynamic reservoir properties - A heuristic approach for cemented sandstone reservoirs

Rock physics models for fluid and stress dependency in reservoir rocks are essential for quantification and interpretation of 4D seismic signatures during reservoir depletion and injection. However, our ability to predict the sensitivity to pressure from first principles is poor. The current state-of-the-art requires that we calibrate the pressure dependence of velocity with core measurements. A major challenge is the fact that consolidated rocks often break up during coring, and hence the stress sensitivity is likely to be overpredicted in the laboratory relative to the in-situ conditions (Furre et al., 2009). For unconsolidated sands, acquisition of core samples is not very feasible due to the friable nature of the sediments. One physical model that has been applied to predict pressure sensitivity in unconsolidated granular media is the Hertz-Mindlin contact theory. Several authors (Vernik and Hamman, 2009, among others) have suggested empirical models with fitting parameters that correlate with microcrack intensity, soft porosity, and aspect ratio of the rock, and feasibility studies can be undertaken based on assumptions about these parameters. These models may not be easy to use for poorly to moderately consolidated sandstones with contact cement, where crack parameters and aspect ratios are difficult to quantify. © 2011 Society of Exploration Geophysicists.