Saturation effects on the joint elastic–dielectric properties of carbonates

• Joint elastic velocities and dielectric permittivity are modelled in carbonate.
• A unified model based on validated self-consistent theory is employed.
• Effects of porosity and saturation on the joint properties are investigated.

We used a common microstructural model to investigate the cross-property relations between elastic wave velocities and dielectric permittivity in carbonate rocks. A unified model based on validated self-consistent effective medium theory was used to quantify the effects of porosity and water saturation on both elastic properties (compressional and shear wave velocities) and electromagnetic properties (dielectric permittivity). The results of the forward models are presented as a series of cross-plots covering a wide range of porosities and water saturations and for microstructures that correspond to different predominant aspect ratios. It was found that dielectric permittivity correlated approximately linearly with elastic wave velocity at each saturation stage, with slopes varying gradually from positive at low saturation conditions to negative at higher saturations. The differing sensitivities of the elastic and dielectric rock properties to changes in porosity, pore morphology and water saturation can be used to reduce uncertainty in subsurface fluid saturation estimation when co-located sonic and dielectric surveys are available. The joint approach is useful for cross-validation of rock physics models for analysing pore structure and saturation effects on elastic and dielectric responses.