Abstract
Cracks, broadly defined as compliant discontinuities, are a major cause of elastic anisotropy. However, few models are available for quantifying crack properties relevant to anisotropy. We developed a rock-physics model to quantify crack angular distribution and normal-to-tangential compliance ratio from pressure-dependent acoustic velocities measured in the laboratory. Our model uses a rectangular function of variable width and amplitude to extract the maximum dip angle of cracks, which is a direct quantification of crack alignment relative to the bedding plane. We tested the model on an organic-rich shale data set and confirmed that crack alignment and compliance ratio strongly impact Thomsen anisotropy parameters, thus demonstrating the model as a useful tool for better understanding how cracks affect elastic anisotropy.
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