Rock Physics Modeling of Heavy-oil Saturated, Poorly Consolidated Sands

We establish rock physics model of computing effective elastic properties of poorly consolidated, heavy-oil saturated sands. The model precisely incorporates complicated viscoelastic characteristics of the heavy-oil. Particularly, bulk viscosity is taken into account in the model, as well as the shear viscosity. The Generalized Singular Approximation (GSA) method is used as an engine in computation of effective elastic properties. Thus, the model can predict the elastic properties at different reservoir conditions. Furthermore, the viscosity induced-velocity dispersion and the associated attenuation can be estimated. The model is very useful for quantitative interpretation of time-lapse seismic data acquired in heavy-oil reservoirs.