Influence of interface condition on reflection of elastic waves in fluid-saturated porous media

Abstract

The characteristics of P-wave reflection coefficients can be dependent on the properties of the interface separating the two dissimilar poroelastic media. To evaluate the influence of the interface condition, we have developed a general theoretical formulation of seismic reflection and transmission of waves at arbitrary incidence angles in fluid-saturated porous media. The formulation is derived based on the quasistatic Biot’s theory and incorporates a more general boundary condition for fluid pressure. Simple analytic expressions are obtained for reflection and transmission coefficients at normal incidence. The equations incorporate an interfacial impedance that can be used to effectively characterize the interface condition. Based on the new formulation, we study the coupled effects of dynamic fluid flow and the interface condition on the reflection and transmission coefficients. Two pertinent reflection scenarios in exploration geophysics are considered in the numerical analysis, i.e., a gas-water contact and a free fluid overlying a gas-saturated medium. We examine the corresponding P-wave reflection coefficient resulting from different interface conditions such as imperfect hydraulic contact, capillary pressure, and open- and sealed-pore interfaces. Our results reveal that the interface condition can affect the frequency dependence and amplitude-versus-angle signatures of the reflection coefficient.