Influence of fluids on $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ ratio: Increase or decrease?

Abstract

The evolution of $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ with increasing fluid-saturated porosity is computed for isotropic rocks containing spheroidal pores. $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ is shown to either decrease or increase with increasing porosity, depending on the aspect ratio $\alpha$ of the pores, fluid to solid bulk modulus ratio $\zeta$, and initial Poisson's ratio $\nu_0$ of the solid. A critical initial Poisson's ratio $\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$ is computed, separating cases where $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ increases (if $\nu_0<\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$) or \emph{decreases} (if $\nu_0>\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$) with increasing porosity. For thin cracks and highly compressible fluids, $\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$ is approximated by $0.157\,\zeta/\alpha$, whereas for spherical pores $\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$ is given by $0.2 + 0.8\zeta$. If $\nu_0$ is close to $\nu_\mathrm{0,crit}$, the evolution of $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ with increasing fluid-saturated porosity is near neutral and depends on subtle changes in pore shape and fluid properties. This regime is found to be relevant to partially dehydrated serpentinites in subduction zone conditions (porosity of aspect ratio near 0.1 and $\zeta$ in the range 0.01--0.1), and makes detection of these rocks and possibly elevated fluid pressures difficult from $V_\mathrm{P}/V_\mathrm{S}$ only.