Pore fluids and seismic attenuation in rocks

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Abstract
Seismic attenuation and velocities were measured in resonating bars of Massilon sandstone at various degrees of saturation. Whereas shear energy loss simply increases with degree of saturation, bulk compressional energy loss increases to ∼95% saturation and then rapidly decreases as total saturation is achieved. This behavior is analogous to the behavior of shear and compressional velocities, but the effect on attenuation is larger by an order of magnitude. Our observations are in excellent agreement with the predictions of several models of energy loss involving partial or total saturation. Pore fluid attenuation mechanisms are expected to be dominant at least in the shallow crust.