US Geological Survey

 

Date of this Version

1983

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 88, NO. B3, PAGES 2345-2358, MARCH 10, 1983

Abstract

A study of the effects of macroscopic fractures on P and S wave velocities has been conducted in four wells drilled in granitic rock to depths between 0.6 and 1.2km. The effect of macroscopic fractures is to decrease both Vp, and Vs and increase Vp/Vs. In wells with a relatively low density of macroscopic fractures, the in situ velocitiys similar to that of saturated core samples under confining pressure in the laboratory, and there is a clear correlation between zones with macroscopic fractures and anomalously low velocities. In wells with numerous macroscopic fractures, the in situ velocitiy slower than that of intact samples under pressure, and there is a correlation between the rate at which in situ velocity increases with depth and the rate at which the velocity of laboratory samples increases with pressure. Differences in in situ P wave velocity between wells cannot be explained solely by differences in the degree of macroscopic fracturing, thus emphasizing the importance of composition and microcracks on velocity. In one highly fractured well the in situ P wave velocity is essentially the same for frequencies ranging from 10Hz to 20kHz; this suggests that the macrofractures affect velocity similarly over a broad frequency range. Chemical alteration of rock adjacent to macroscopic fractures appears to play an importat role in reducing in situ velocities. Synthetic reflection seismograms generated from the velocity logs suggest that fracture zones are one possible source of deep-crustal reflectors observed on seismic reflection profiles.

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