Seismic and electrical properties of sandstones at low saturations

Laboratory measurements of elastic wave velocities, attenuation, and electrical resistivity of sandstones all show distinct changes in the measured properties at very low levels of water saturation. Velocity decreases, attenuation reaches a maximum, and electrical resistivity decreases over a limited range in saturation. Changes in seismic properties can be modeled by considering the effect of adding surface and bulk water to grain contacts. In a similar treatment, the role of contacts is shown to be a dominant factor in the electrical resistivity of sandstones at low saturations. -from Authors