Numerical simulation of seismic responses of poroelastic reservoirs using Biot theory

Biot theory provides a framework for computing the seismic response of fluid-saturated reservoirs. Numerical implementation by 2-D finite-differences allows investigation of the effects of spatial variations in porosity, permeability, and fluid viscosity, on seismic displacements of the solid frame and of the fluids (oil, gas, and/or water) in the reservoir. The porosity primarily influences wave velocities; the viscosity-to-permeability ratio primarily influences amplitudes and attenuation. Synthetic crosswell, VSP, and surface survey seismograms for representative reservoir models contain primary and converted reflections from fluid as well as lithologic contacts, and they illustrate the distribution of information available for describing a reservoir.