Biot's theory Bourbie et al. (1987) is based on the fundamental assumption of continuum mechanics that the wavelength is large in comparison with the size of the macroscopic elementary volume of the material and that the displacement is small so that the strain tensor is linear. These continuum conditions are readily satisfied by seismic studies. Furthermore, Biot assumes that the rock matrix is elastic and isotropic, that the liquid phase is continuous, that the rock matrix is solid, that the pores are disconnected, and that the porosity is isotropic and uniform. These assumptions are approximately true for many subsurface rocks.
The equation of continuity for a porous rock is
where is the local fluid increase due to the filtration of fluid . If is the displacement of the liquid phase and is the displacement of the solid phase, then the filtration velocity is where is the rock porosity.The constitutive equation is
(25) | ||
(26) |
The constitutive equation is derived from changes in the volumetric energy potential V due to infinitesimal increments in strain and fluid contents
where p is a pressure average in the fluid, sigma is the macroscopic stress tensor. The isotropy of the rock permits an approximation of the general tensor relation by the tensors first two invariants (the tensor's trace is the first invariant). Introduction of the standard Lame coefficients yields the constitutive relation above.The constitutive equation at zero fluid pressure p = 0 and at hydrostatic fluid pressure yields relationships that when expressed in terms of the saturated bulk modulo Ks, the open or dry bulk modulo Kd, the bulk modulo of the fluid Kf, and the bulk modulo of the solid skeleton Km can be combined to the Gassmann equation 15. The equations assume quasi-static behaviour and are only true for low-frequency waves.
The equations of motion for porous rocks are
(27) | ||
(28) |
If there is no average relative fluid movement with respect to the overall macroscopic movement of the rock, i.e. , then the first equation of 28 is reduced to the standard single phase case. If the acceleration of the fluid and the rock are zero - - the motion is a steady state flow and the second equation of 28 reduces to Darcy's classic law of fluid flow in permeable material.
Bourlie 1987 derives The equations of motion from a strain potential expression that yields the constitutive equation, a potential expression for dissipation, and a potential expression for kinetic energy.
Biot's wave equation is, as usual, derived by substitution from the equation of motion 28 and the constitutive equation 26:
(29) | ||
(30) | ||
The equations reduce to the limiting case of a perfect fluid when , , and (since tends to infinity and the viscosity tends to ). Consequently, the first equation disappears of 30 and the second reduces to
If the medium is solid, we have and a tends to infinity. Consequently, the second equation of 30 yields while the first equation reduces to The right-hand-side term of the two equations are equal. Consequently, the left hand expression of the second equation is zero, which is the standard wave equation for single phase solids.Without Dissipation - b=0 which implies transmissibility or porosity - Biot's wave equation for porous rocks predicts two P-waves. For P-waves we can express the displacements and as gradients of a potential :
(31) |
Analogues introducing shear waves
(32) |
With dissipation the P-Wave ansatz 31 reduces the general wave equation 30 to
(33) |
(34) | ||
(35) |
In summary, Biot's model yields a consistent and analytic solution to the propagation of waves in porous media. Its results are backed by laboratory confirmations at a wide variety of rock samples. Unfortunately, its velocity expressions are rather complicated.