Theory of frequency dependent acoustics in patchy-saturated porous media

The theory of the dynamic bulk modulus, K̃(ω), of a porous rock, whose saturation occurs in patches of 100% saturation each of two different fluids, is developed within the context of the quasi-static Biot theory. The theory describes the crossover from the Biot–Gassmann–Woods result at low frequencies to the Biot–Gassmann–Hill result at high. Exact results for the approach to the low and the high frequency limits are derived. A simple closed-form analytic model based on these exact results, as well as on the properties of K̃(ω) extended to the complex ω-plane, is presented. Comparison against the exact solution in simple geometries for the case of a gas and water saturated rock demonstrates that the analytic theory is extremely accurate over the entire frequency range. Aside from the usual parameters of the Biot theory, the model has two geometrical parameters, one of which is the specific surface area, S/V, of the patches. In the special case that one of the fluids is a gas, the second parameter is a different, but also simple, measure of the patch size of the stiff fluid. The theory, in conjunction with relevant experiments, would allow one to deduce information about the sizes and shapes of the patches or, conversely, to make an accurate sonic-to-seismic conversion if the size and saturation values are approximately known.