Relation between Lithology and

Seismic Velocities

- HARIKRISHNAN P
PE20M005
 What is Seismic Velocity?

•  The rate at which a seismic wave travels

through a medium.

• It can be determined from vertical seismic

profiles or from velocity analysis of seismic
data
Does Lithology Affects Seismic Velocity?
Lithology identification from P and S-wave
 Seismic Velocity

Generally, the velocities depend on the elastic

moduli and density
 Rock Properties
Some of the rock properties that affects seismic
velocity are

 Porosity

 Lithification

 Pressure

 Saturation
 Porosity

The time average relationship by Wyllie defines

Where φ is the porosity

 Porosity

Let us assume the velocity values of calcite is

6.86 km/s and in quartz 5.85 km/s.
P wave velocity of various source
Velocity versus porosity plot
 Lithification

• The lithification or the cementation has a

strong effect on the moduli.

• The combination of porosity reduction and

lithification causes the observed increase of
velocity.
Velocity-Depth, U.S Gulf coast
 Pressure
• Compressional wave velocity is strongly
dependant on effective stress.

• In general velocity rises with increasing

confining pressure and then levels off to a
“terminal velocity” when the effective
pressure is high.
 Saturation
• The compressional wave velocity decreases
with decreasing fluid saturation.
• Vs also decreases with an increase in gas
content.
• The reflection coefficient is strongly affected if
one of the contacting media is gas saturated
because the impedance is lowered by both
the density and velocity decreases
Effect of water saturation on velocity and reflectivity
Effect of water saturation on velocity
 Conclusion
• The formation types have significant effect on
velocity.

• Various other factors also affects the seismic

velocity.

• Considering all these effects yields better

identification of formation.
 References
• Sheriff R.E. and Geldart L.P., Exploration Seismology,
2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
1995.
• Payton C.E., Seismic Stratigraphy and€“ Applications to
Hydrocarbon Exploration, Memoir of the American
Association of Petroleum Geologists 26, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, 1977. Yilmaz O.
• Bath M., Introduction to Seismology, Birkhauser Verlag,
Basel, 1973