To investigate velocity anisotropy and dispersion in lacustrine shales, we conducted laboratory measurements of acoustic properties at seismic frequencies (2–100 Hz) and ultrasonic frequencies (1 MHz) under varying effective pressures. Our study reveals significant transverse isotropy, accompanied by notable velocity dispersion and attenuation, with anisotropy coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.74 for P waves and 0.44 to 0.95 for S waves. Attenuation exhibited a weak dependence on frequency and pressure but showed a strong positive correlation with the clay content. We interpreted the data by integrating geologic and physical analyses. Using rock-physics modeling and the propagation matrix method, we found that velocity dispersion primarily caused a mismatch between seismic data and synthetic seismograms, whereas anisotropy had minimal impact on near-offset seismic data. Our findings suggest that anisotropy and dispersion observed at the core scale persist at the seismic scale. Incorporating these effects into seismic workflows is crucial for improving data processing, inversion, and reservoir characterization. This study provides valuable insights for exploration and production strategies in the study area and similar settings.
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