S wave attenuation based on Stokes boundary layer

Abstract

ABSTRACTBiot theory was based on two ideas: the coupling factor to quantify the kinetic energy of fluid and Darcy permeability to quantify the dissipation function. As Biot theory did not well predict attenuation of ultrasonic S wave, we modify the theory to better characterize the S wave attenuation. The range of the coupling factor is at first estimated in view of fluid mechanics. Application of the original theory to water‐saturated Boise sandstone and brine‐saturated Berea sandstone shows that the model prediction significantly underestimates the S wave attenuation ultrasonically measured. For this reason, we replace Darcy permeability with variable permeability to improve the fluid momentum equation. The new model yields predictions of phase velocity and the quality factor both close to the ultrasonic measurements. The reason why the improved model is superior to Biot theory is that variable permeability is based on the Stokes boundary layer at the fluid–solid interface, thus accurately quantifying the viscous stress between the two phases. Finally, the length scale of the viscous stress is calculated in the mesoscopic sense.