The seismic response of fractures and the interrelations among fracture properties

In this paper the author presents a survey of current understanding of the interrelationships among the hydraulic, mechanical, seismic and geometrical properties of single natural factures. The paper also includes a discussion of the methods that have been developed to improve the measurement of fracture geometry including the measurement of fracture specific stiffness, which is the key link in interrelating the physical properties of a fracture. A new approach for determining fracture shear stiffness uses interface waves that propagate along fractures. (A)